Description

A drawing showing a conjectural view of the Laigh Milton Viaduct (Milton Bridge) in 1816, looking south. Drawn up by Graham Douglas to Professor Roland Paxton’s specification and used in Professor Paxton’s paper Conservation of Laigh Milton Viaduct, Ayrshire. (Proc. Instn Civ.Engrs, Civ. Engng, 1998, 126, May, 73-85). See here.

The Laigh Milton Viaduct on the Kilmarnock & Troon Railway, believed to be the world’s oldest viaduct on a public railway, was the work of leading civil engineer William Jessop. The double-track, horse-operated railway was opened in 1812, mainly for the export of coal, although it soon carried passengers. In 1816 it was the first railway in Scotland to operate with a Stephenson steam locomotive; nine years before the Stockton & Darlington.

Professor Roland Paxton wrote a paper for the Journal Historical Studies in Civil Engineering of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers. To read the paper click here.

For a general description and images of early cast iron plate railways see https://tringlocalhistory.org.uk/Railway/c03_track.htm.

For a film of the restoration works click here.

For an article on the history of the Kilmarnock & Troon Railway written by John Yellowlees in the Scotsman newspaper (dated 25 August 2022) click here.