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Friday 8 Jun 2018

Montrose viaduct refurbishment uncovers war time damage

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail engineers working on the refurbishment of South Esk viaduct in Montrose have uncovered shrapnel marks and bullet holes on the structure consistent with a bombing and a strafing attack by the Luftwaffe during World War 2.

As part of the £4.2m refurbishment of the grade B listed structure which stands on the River Esk at the mouth of the Montrose Basin the metal work has been grit-blasted to remove paint, rust and take the structure back to the original metal work.

The 16 span, 440 metre long viaduct was then surveyed to identify areas of metal in need of repair and it was during this survey that the bomb and bullet damage was revealed on span 3 of the bridge. Some of the holes had previously been patched over, while others of less of a concern will be addressed as part of the project.

Montrose was bombed 15 times during World War 2; with South Esk viaduct itself attacked on several occasions. It is thought the damage is most likely to have occurred during a bombing raid on the bridge in August 1941whcih saw a freight train attacked and several wagons damaged and derailed when a bomb exploded below the girders. The raid also resulted in the deaths of three women and a child on Rossie Island at the south end of the structure.

Then, like now, South Esk viaduct is part of the northern section of the East Coast Mainline and an important route for the movement of goods and people north and south. In 1941, it would have been an important route for moving goods, munitions and personnel to and from nearby airfields and further afield as part of the wider war effort.

Following the attack in August 1941, the bridge was repaired and services resumed in just 14 days - which demonstrates its strategic significance and explains why it was a target for enemy attacks on the east coast of Scotland in the early years of World War 2.

Matthew Spence, route delivery director for Network Rail said; “We take seriously our responsibility to maintain and preserve these historic structures, not just for the safe and efficient operation of the railway, but also how they look in their setting for those travelling on the railway or visitors to the area enjoying the beautiful views.

”Uncovering the historic damage to South Esk viaduct has offered an unexpected though fascinating glimpse into the harsh reality of life during the war. These structures are solid and built to last and so the power unleashed by the bombs and bullets to mark and pierce the metal in the way that they have must have been ferocious.

“Seeing the bullet holes close up gives those working on the bridge today a reminder of the contribution made by everyone on the railway to the war effort – often in challenging, tragic and dangerous circumstances.

“While the emphasis then was to patch up the damage and get the railway moving again as quickly as possible, we now take it as our duty to pick up the repairs started by those railway engineers in August 1941 and properly complete the job they started.”