It has been exactly two years since I visited Tower Dean Culvert and after some unsuccessful searching for an old quarry earlier in the day, my friend and I decided to head up the A1 to the culvert which is located near Cockburnspath. The walk involved getting to the culvert provides a great view of Pease bridge which opened in 1786 and at the time was the highest bridge in the world. Even a tractor pulling a trailer full of what appeared to be huge turnips over the bridge, did not detract me from this incredible feat of engineering.
There is very little history to be found on this culvert, however, It runs through a large earth embankment that carries the East Coast Main Line and would have been built around 1846 when this section of line from Edinburgh to Berwick Upon Tweed opened. At the time it was part of the North British Railway Company.
I've paraphrased much of the following information from my first report two years ago.
The outfall is an impressive structure with large wing walls, headwall and apron, all composed of sandstone. The culvert itself is 10ft diameter (approx) and is composed of vertical sandstone masonry side walls and red brick arch. Concrete has been laid down giving a bowl shaped profile which appears to have been done at a much later date. A great deal of this has now eroded into deep pits and gullies which makes traversing this culvert a little tricky. The flow was greatly reduced compared to 2016 so the use of the cable affixed to the sidewall wasn't necessary this time.
As you'll see in the photos, the culvert heads straight and takes a right hand bend after 40 metres. This is followed by a left hand bend at around 48 metres. A straight section continues before heading right again and up a much steeper incline before heading left and straight up to the infall. Last time I didn't photograph the infall but I had to on this occasion. A heavy duty fence constructed of old rail which I presume is to hold back debris is angled in such a way that we climbed the barely attached ladders instead. Judging by the markers in the culvert, it comes to around 160+ metres.
The outfall is choked by vegetation.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/M4J8E4]
A view just within the outfall.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NG5nLY]
Looking towards the first right turn in the culvert.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NG5mqw]
The turn to the right is followed almost immediately by a left hand turn. A small opening on the left didn't go far.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/284Rfz5]
Stalactites hang from the culverts crown and always manage to direct a drop of water directly onto the camera.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aKiuSo]
The straight section as seen previously brings out well the orange/reds of the brick crown and the distinct red sandstones that the area is well known for.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aKipcA]
Another right hand bend brings us to the steep incline. The final left hand bend which leads up to the infall can be seen in the distance.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29JgJTu]
A view looking up towards the infall.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NG4Aod]
The infall and heavy duty debris collector. The ladders and wooden walkway are in serious disrepair.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29rjESF]
Another view of the steep incline but looking towards the outfall.
Looking from the first bend out towards the outfall.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/284Qjdj]
A final view from the outfall.
Thanks.[/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url]
There is very little history to be found on this culvert, however, It runs through a large earth embankment that carries the East Coast Main Line and would have been built around 1846 when this section of line from Edinburgh to Berwick Upon Tweed opened. At the time it was part of the North British Railway Company.
I've paraphrased much of the following information from my first report two years ago.
The outfall is an impressive structure with large wing walls, headwall and apron, all composed of sandstone. The culvert itself is 10ft diameter (approx) and is composed of vertical sandstone masonry side walls and red brick arch. Concrete has been laid down giving a bowl shaped profile which appears to have been done at a much later date. A great deal of this has now eroded into deep pits and gullies which makes traversing this culvert a little tricky. The flow was greatly reduced compared to 2016 so the use of the cable affixed to the sidewall wasn't necessary this time.
As you'll see in the photos, the culvert heads straight and takes a right hand bend after 40 metres. This is followed by a left hand bend at around 48 metres. A straight section continues before heading right again and up a much steeper incline before heading left and straight up to the infall. Last time I didn't photograph the infall but I had to on this occasion. A heavy duty fence constructed of old rail which I presume is to hold back debris is angled in such a way that we climbed the barely attached ladders instead. Judging by the markers in the culvert, it comes to around 160+ metres.
The outfall is choked by vegetation.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/M4J8E4]
A view just within the outfall.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NG5nLY]
Looking towards the first right turn in the culvert.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NG5mqw]
The turn to the right is followed almost immediately by a left hand turn. A small opening on the left didn't go far.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/284Rfz5]
Stalactites hang from the culverts crown and always manage to direct a drop of water directly onto the camera.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aKiuSo]
The straight section as seen previously brings out well the orange/reds of the brick crown and the distinct red sandstones that the area is well known for.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aKipcA]
Another right hand bend brings us to the steep incline. The final left hand bend which leads up to the infall can be seen in the distance.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29JgJTu]
A view looking up towards the infall.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NG4Aod]
The infall and heavy duty debris collector. The ladders and wooden walkway are in serious disrepair.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29rjESF]
Another view of the steep incline but looking towards the outfall.
Looking from the first bend out towards the outfall.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/284Qjdj]
A final view from the outfall.
Thanks.[/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url]
