Don't you find centuries old architecture fascinating? I mean just how did they build structures a couple of hundred years ago that not only look amazing but still are standing strong without the technology that we have today?
Come back in a hundred years and what will be left of the things that get put up now?
Today then we visit a beautiful old structure just down my street in Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy is a town located in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, about 11+1⁄2 miles north of Edinburgh and 27+1⁄2 miles south-southwest of Dundee.
Kirkcaldy's rail history began in 1847 with the opening of its first railway station as part of the Edinburgh and Northern Railway.
But let's get back to 2025
Some of you might recognise this as murder hill 👀 yes looking at you @asiaymalay and our local football club's ground Raith Rovers is visible.
You can see the football club on the map from Hive's very own worldmappin, but we are walking down the hill.
This is what you see!
We are at the top of Mill Street and if we zoom up, isn't it great the tech we have at our finger tips.
Look how tall the arches are.
The other thing you will notice is that the viaduct is in a gully.
There we see one of the stands of the football stadium, it is actually the stand where the home fans sit.
The houses you see are most definitely not from 1847 and I very much doubt if they will be in existence in 2087!
TRAIN ...
While we are in zoom mode, let's take a look on the right side of the viaduct.
Do you see it? It looks like the viaduct disappears into trees!
What is a Viaduct?
As per the Cambridge Dictionary .. a Viaduct is ...
a long bridge-like structure, typically a series of arches, carrying a road or railway across a valley or other low ground.
Awesome Arches!
Remember I said it was in a gully.
These photos were all taken at 11am on a beautiful January day.
Yes, there is frost on the ground!
That is the closest to snow as we get and you can see the yellow grit bin which contains salt to combat the ice.
The Tiel burn
Trains can't swim, well not yet and certainly not in 1847 when this was viaduct was built.
There was no way around the Tiel burn. Burn being the Scottish word for a stream.
Look at the stonework, I love how they made arches.
So this magnificent structure had to be built to carry the trains and passengers not to mention goods over the wee bit of water!
The wee Bridge and the giant Viaduct
I have had no reason to walk down Mill St and never knew there was a wee bridge across the Tiel burn here and one day I shall walk over it and see where I go!
Do you see something in the water that was not there in 1847?
Shopping carts the scourge of the countryside
The Tiel burn does go past an old mill on it's journey to the beach.
Where it discharges into the sea.
Another train from the other direction
Something else not from 1847!
Do you see it?
A fluffing plastic bag.
You do get a great view of the wee bridge and viaduct.
With the blue sky it makes for some great shots.
Especially an arched viaduct...
... when I try to take panoramic shots!
Almost a fish eye type pic to leave you with!
Invertiel Viaduct - The details
Did you guess how many arches there are, or how long it is?
The Invertiel Viaduct is a Category B listed structure, and is recognized for its architectural and historical significance. It is constructed of sandstone and features eight arches, including one "blind" arch that was filled in during construction. The viaduct is approximately 429 feet long and 80 feet high, making it a prominent landmark in our local area.
Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoyed seeing the Invertiel Viaduct in Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
All images and ramblings are from me, the mad Scotsman TengoLoTodo unless otherwise stated. Note images are all snapped by me with my Google Pixel 9 XL Pro smartphone on 30th January 2025 and some were used in canva to make the lead image.
@tengolotodo February 10th 2025