I'm not sure where this cross stitch of Dent Head viaduct, stitched by Christine Pitchfork, was going to be used but it is included in the book with the pieces from the Environment panel. At least the real thing is in use as part of the Settle to Carlisle Railway.
After writing about the Gascoigne canal not coming to fruition I was sent a quote about another failed attempt at linking towns in Yorkshire with various forms of transport.
"A quarter of a mile above the Wharfe road bridge in Tadcaster, an imposing viaduct of eleven arches spans the River Wharfe.
This was built as part of a projected direct Leeds to York railway promoted by the industrialist George Hudson through the York & North Midland Railway. The construction of the line was authorised in 1846. It was to run from Copmanthorpe to Cross Gates, joining the Church Fenton to Harrogate railway line between Tadcaster and Stutton.
The collapse of railway investment in 1849 lead to the line being abandoned after the viaduct had been constructed. The need for the line evaporated with the opening of the Micklethorpe to Church Fenton line in 1869.
Extract from Tadcaster historical information dated 1890 - "About a quarter-of-a-mile above the road bridge is a handsome viaduct of eleven arches spanning the Wharfe. This was erected whilst George Hudson was the ruling spirit in the railway world, but with the collapse of the "Railway King" the line, which was intended to connect Tadcaster with York, was abandoned. The viaduct was subsequently purchased by the North-Eastern Railway Co."
Between 1883 and 1959 the viaduct carried a siding that serviced a mill on the East side of the River Wharfe. The last time the viaduct was used to fetch and carry goods was in 1955. The structure is now a Grade II Listed Building owned by Tadcaster Town Council for the use and pleasure of the local people."
Quite an expensive mistake.
There's a whole host of disused viaducts, tunnels etc on the Forgotten Relics of an Enterprising Age website.
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