Penkridge Viaduct

Penkridge Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Coast Main Line where it crosses the River Penk and Levedale Road near the town of Penkridge, Staffordshire, England. It is a Grade II listed building.cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=271707|title=Images of England: Railway Viaduct |accessdate=2007-11-25 |publisher=English Heritage ]

It was built in 1837 on the Grand Junction Railway. The engineer was Joseph Locke and the contractor was Thomas Brassey. It was Brassey's first successful bid for a contract and the cost of the viaduct was £6,000. [cite book | last =Walker | first =Charles | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Thomas Brassey, Railway Builder | publisher =Frederick Muller | year =1969 | location =London | pages =17–18 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn =0584103050 ] The viaduct consists of seven arches built in red brick and engineering brick with ashlar quoins and dressings.

The first train, on a trial run, crossed the viaduct on 1 June 1837. The official opening was on 4 July, when the viaduct was crossed by engine No. 8 "Wild Fire" pulling eight first class carriages. [cite web |url=http://www.penkridge.org.uk/brassey.htm |title=Thomas Brassey - the great Railway Builder of the 19th Century |accessdate=2007-11-25 |publisher=penkridge.org.uk ]

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