Darcy Lever Viaduct Over The River Tonge

The Darcy Lever Viaduct over the River Tonge is a railway viaduct built in 1848 for the Manchester and Leeds Railway, with spans added in 1881-1882 for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, and a deck replacement in around 1958 for British Railways. The structure is made of wrought iron and coursed squared rock-faced limestone. It features eight spans supported by tall stone piers that rise over the valley of the River Tonge. The spans consist of deep wrought iron girders, including four double Warren girders beneath the tracks and lighter lattice face girders, which may date back to 1848. The railway line was opened by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway in 1848 after taking over the Manchester and Leeds Railway, which had previously absorbed the Liverpool and Bury Railway that initiated the construction of the line between Bolton and Bury. The decking was replaced with pre-cast concrete in 1958. The line ceased passenger services in 1951 and was completely closed in 1970.