The Chetwynd Viaduct in all its glory
Surveying the scene which lay before them quickly brought to light two types of terrain : a high grassy wetland and a steep vertical climb. No time was lost as the Team climbed over a gate and down past a gabion ( rocks enclosed by a square wire basket ) near the Glasheen River before gingerly making their way across the scrubland.
Gabion near the Glasheen River
Keeping the Glasheen River to their right ( which serves as Chetwynds and indeed Toghers natural left hand boundary ) the Team proceeded onwards through densely packed vegetation before happening upon a streamlet almost hidden from view which bisected the tract of land before emptying into the main body of water which itself flowed just left of the middle parapet of the imposing Viaduct. It is important to note that the river like so many others in the Togher region has been altered many times over the Centuries and indeed even to date is having its banks shored up with rock at this very venue.
Glasheen River flowing near the middle parapet
Braving nettles and thorns , the Team psyched themselves up for the onerous vertical climb to come. The area is extremely overgrown and wooded and many wild bushes and clumps of ferns were used as leverage. However , as they elevated themselves slowly but surely , a rope tied off to a tree further up , presented itself. Making full use of this gift from the Gods , the team gratefully pulled themselves ever higher up the track. What greeted them next was surreal to say the least. About halfway up , a makeshift swing was discovered which was soon being tested out by Eamonn Pearse!
Passing under the overhanging steel structure
The steel arch looming through the overgrowth
on the upward journey
Eamonn decides to test drive a log swing
After a brief rest , the journey was resumed with the easternmost parapet soon coming into view. This appeared to rest on a bedrock of natural sandstone. The last hurdle made itself known in the form of an almost vertical peak which was navigated by clinging onto weeds and tree trunks. However , finally the Team were able to walk along a less graduated surface and turned up and onto the parapet itself.
At the face of the easternmost parapet 70 feet up
The view almost at the top of a long climb
What greeted them was beyond words as the full scale of the Viaduct was unleashed and the sheer height became apparent. Passing under an iron overhang , they made their way onto the edge of the steel arched frame of this magnificent structure. Fierce crosswinds and intermittent bouts of vertigo served to hamper the operation but fears were temporarily dismissed to capture some images and uncover some relics from the past. Despite having its original sleepers , trackbed and side shutterings dismantled decades previously , there was still evidence of the once presence of the horseless carriages as they made their way across the gulf of the valley in the form of coke which would have been deposited accidentally as the iron horse trundled its way across the void. These were found embedded in the topsoil , still perfectly preserved. A sobering look back towards Togher showed the absence of the original embankment which would have elevated the former trackbed over the undulating countryside in order to mate with the Viaduct.
Almost there :
an emotional and rewarding experience
The Chetwynd Viaduct looking from Togher
View of the Glasheen River and Viaduct Bar carpark
Teetering on the parapet of the Chetwynd Viaduct
Coke embedded in the topsoil just before the iron
archway almost 100 feet above ground level
The view from the top looking back towards Togher
After capturing a token video of the event , the Team gladly made their
descent back down , much more quickly than they had initially ascended.
The trek to ground level proved as hazardous as the exhaustive march up
to the top , but soon they found themselves on terra firma once more.
The streamlet which they had quickly run across at the beginning of the
venture was now leaped in one bound. A final climb back over the gate
and the adventure drew to a close. One last look back at the towering
monolith which Togher boasts as one if its iconic landmarks and the Team
departed with a promise to return soon with a much larger expedition.
The vertical descent back down begins
Side view of the arch on the downward trek
A final look back at Toghers finest achievement
The famous swing in the sky - almost 60 feet high
Down to earth with more than a bang
All in all , this test Fieldwork Trip undertaken by the Togher Historical Association proved to be a rich and rewarding experience. Health and Safety concerns while raised should not deter any future trips by qualified personnel. However , the Blog officially declares that anybody unfit or underage should not attempt this trek and accepts no liability for the actions of others.
Video of the Chetwynd Viaduct field Trip by the Togher Historical Association
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