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Home / 2017 / Bolton area closed lines - February 2017 / Burnden and Darcy Lever Viaducts 11

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Part two of today's look at closed railways around Bolton. 11/02/2017.
The Liverpool and Bury Railway opened in 1848, and ran from Liverpool Exchange to Bury (Knowsley Street) via Kirkby, Wigan Wallgate, Westhoughton and Bolton Trinity Street. This is all open for traffic today except for the short section into Liverpool Exchange and the section from Bolton to Bury which closed in 1970. There are two significant viaducts close to Bolton, which I visited this afternoon.
Burnden Viaduct crosses the valley of the River Croal, now also crossing the A666 St Peters Way.
Darcy Lever Viaduct is somewhat longer, crossing the valley of the River Tonge.
Both are of the same lattice design and are easily accessible. They have been fitted with wire mesh sides and roof to prevent vandalism, which spoils the views somewhat - but at least they haven't been knocked down!