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Thursday 26 Jul 2007

VIADUCT WALK AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS

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2,000 people walked across the famous Ribblehead Viaduct on Sunday (22 July), each having paid £15 for the privilege. The unique event was organised by the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line in cooperation with Network Rail. The S&C is undergoing a major five-year upgrade of track and signalling which necessitates planned closures of the line as the works proceed. Sunday was the final day of a two week blockade so the opportunity for the walk was seized. The walk was an unqualified success, generating immense goodwill and enjoyment for everybody taking part - including a small army of volunteers. Ribblehead Viaduct had been the subject of controversy when, 26 years ago, the S&C was threatened with closure. It was said that the viaduct was beyond economic repair. Happily, the viaduct was in nowhere near as bad a state as had been feared, the viaduct was repaired, the line reprieved and has since flourished beyond anybody's wildest dreams. Among the organisers of the walk was viaduct resident engineer Tony Freschini whose team was responsible for assessing and then repairing the viaduct all those years ago. Tony was presented with a section of S&C railway line mounted on a block of hardwood made from an S&C way beam. Radio personality, local resident and President of the Ramblers Association Mike Harding cut the ribbon to open the event. ITV weather man Jon Mitchell gave a weather forecast. During the opening ceremony the 200 people who died during the viaduct's construction were remembered, as was the heroic fight to save the line. A surprise highlight of the day took place at noon in the middle of the viaduct when walker Bill Pizer from Bromsgrove got down on bended knee and proposed to his girlfriend Fiona Caterson. Chairman of the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line Mark Rand said "The S&C has undergone a dramatic change of fortunes since its reprieve from what seemed like almost certain closure. It is now busier than ever. Everybody has a soft spot for the line and for the Ribblehead Viaduct especially. The opportunity for the walk was too good to miss. We are absolutely delighted with how the day turned out."