Ribblehead Viaduct, July 2007
Nikon D200, AF NIKKOR 24-85mm f2.8-4 D at 62mm, 1/400s, f10, ISO 400

What was I photographing on this day in previous years?

14 years ago it was a walk across the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle-Carlisle railway line.

Batty Green (with Pen-y-Ghent visible in the distance)
Nikon D200, AF NIKKOR 24-85mm f2.8-4 D at 24mm, 1/640s, f13, ISO 400

The Grade II* listed structure had been closed for a couple of weeks for maintenance and the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line organised a number of walks for the final day of closure.

The walks set off north across the viaduct from Ribblehead Station with the return being via the area known as ‘Batty Green’ where 2,300 men and their families were housed in temporary camps during the viaduct’s construction.

Ribblehead Viaduct, July 2007
Nikon D200, AF NIKKOR 24-85mm f2.8-4 D at 24mm, 1/500s, f11, ISO 400

The viaduct was designed by the Midland Railway’s chief engineer, John Sydney Crossley, and took five years to build, finally opening on 3 August 1875. At 440 yards (400m) long and 35 yards (32m) high, the 24 arch structure is awe inspiring and although no further walks across it are planned I’d definitely recommend taking a trip across it by train!