Talk:Wharncliffe Viaduct

Ideas for development
Suppose we should mention that it is a protected 'bat cave'. I don't know, but it might be the biggest in Middlesex or London or south England for all I know. As it is one of Brunel's would there be a copy of the engineering drawing available for uploading? They would be well out of copyright by now. It was originally built single track, then widened later. It is named after the MP who pushed the GWR bill through Parliament ; who was I think: James Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, 1st Baron Wharncliffe but there were so many of them, this fact will have to be checked against Hansard to see if I have the right Right Honourable.

Is it not also a grade II structure? There is a category for this. If I get the time I hunt around for something to add.--Aspro 19:06, 18 June 2007 (UTC)


 * I was going to start by pinching the copy from the link I found. (Rewritten, of course!) If you've got a ref for the bat colony bit, that would be marvellous. There are probably refs out there about the disquiet when it was proposed to put the overhead lines over it, not sure they'll be easily found though. Working out which Wharncliffe it was is fairly essential, at some stage! There is a listed buildings cat. Feel free to add whatever details you can source reliably, and I'm sure I can catch up with details like that! We could do with a geo coord too, plus a mention of which county/borough it is in.


 * And a picture or two!


 * EdJogg 21:19, 18 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Hay guys, just haven't the time at the moment ( there is a firkin of ale doing its Alice in Wonderland impression of 'Drink Me, Drink Me...') but have had time to googled this...
 * Photo: this appears to be on a CC licence, is it the one we can use?
 * http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/205167
 * If so we must say thanks to him...
 * Yes - ideally need to copy it to Wikimedia Commons [EJ]
 * He has included geo cord as well!!!('' OSGB36: TQ 150 804 External link [100m precision] WGS84: 51:30.6501N 0:20.6544W
 * Photographer Location OSGB36: TQ 150 801External link View Direction North-northwest (about 337 degrees'')
 * Very helpful of him! Saves us a lot of work!! [EJ]
 * Hay, did you know that Burnel named it after a local Pub... No kidding look:
 * http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/205167
 * That's the same photo, are you sure the firkin hasn't taken effect? I read somewhere that Wharncliffe was the chairman/director of the GWR at the time -- I suspect the pub was named after the viaduct!! [EJ]
 * The Local Council site has ref to the bat caves:
 * http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/leisure/parks_and_open_spaces/find_a_park_or_open_space/hanwell.html
 * I also found some (18) pictures on flickr, one of which included a sign put up by Ealing Council which is just about readable. Some of the pictures are too restricted for WP, unfortunately. [EJ]
 * Also:
 * http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/wildbritain/nature_near_you/venue.shtml?vid=47021&rid=45,46,47,48,44
 * (so that's why Burt_Ward was hanging around there)" Holy leaves on the line Batman: they are the wrong ones!!!")
 * http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/Con_Bull_index_final.pdf
 * (Couldn't access.) [EJ]
 * says:
 * Hanwell (Gtr London), viaduct, part of proposed World Heritage Site 38:10
 * And it was not built by Brunel after all, but by Messrs Grissel and Peto and a load of Irish brickies:
 * http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:TFWlQFfA088J:www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2674AF30-0E3D-4012-9EDF-2E4A1C6E078D/0/WorldHeritageSites1999.pdf+The+Grade+I+listed+Wharncliffe+viaduct&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=21&gl=uk
 * “''Built in brick
 * World Heritage Convention The Great Western Railway: Paddington - Bristol | 59
 * Page 60
 * by Messrs Grissel and Peto in a vaguely
 * Egyptian style, the viaduct is 900 feet long
 * with eight arches of 70ft span and carries the
 * amorial bearings of Lord Wharncliffe in the
 * centre of the southern elevation. The Viaduct
 * was originally 30ft between parapets but was
 * widened in the late 19th century in like style.''"
 * And is grade I listed not II!
 * --Aspro 23:41, 18 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Brilliant research, thank you, hope you enjoyed your ale afterwards...you certainly deserved it :o)
 * See inline comments marked [EJ] above.
 * Bat caves in a listed, active viaduct, that was also considered for World Heritage status? That has got to be a contender for a main page DYK! But we've got to act fast, article must be a minimum size (1500 words?) and DYK fact posted within 72hours of article creation...
 * ...I'll get onto it this lunchtime!
 * BTW I never suggested that Brunel actually built it, any more than he built the rest of the railway himself, but he certainly designed it. How has it taken so long for this article to appear???
 * EdJogg 08:59, 19 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Err.. Yes it could have been the beer; should have been this one: http://www.the-viaduct.com/index.asp?page=Gallery
 * Anyway, have just upload a couple of images and placed in article. Other comments of yours noted too.--Aspro 12:37, 19 June 2007 (UTC)


 * That's more like it -- scope for pictures of the pub/sign too? Just in the process of a first update (so please don't edit further for the moment!) EdJogg 12:48, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

Lord Wharncliffe
There must be some telepathy going on -- I found the same site just about the moment you submitted the update!

There ought to be more documentation somewhere to say why it was named thus, like who decided it, whether it was in response to a favourable passage through Parliament, or money, or...?

EdJogg 15:04, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

Crossrail/Electrification

 * http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmcross/uc837-xlv/uc83702.htm
 * UNCORRECTED TRANSCRIPT OF ORAL EVIDENCE To be published as HC 837-xlvHOUSE OF COMMONSMINUTES OF EVIDENCE taken before the COMMITTEE on the CROSSRAIL BILLDAY FORTY-FIVE, Tuesday 27 June 2006
 * Discussing application of OHLE masts to Maidenhead Bridge
 * Using W.V. (+1 other) as an example of how parties can agree on appropriate solution, namely adding in manner sympathetic to architectural stule

World Heritage Site

 * http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:TFWlQFfA088J:www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2674AF30-0E3D-4012-9EDF-2E4A1C6E078D/0/WorldHeritageSites1999.pdf+The+Grade+I+listed+Wharncliffe+viaduct&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=21&gl=uk
 * Tentative List of UK sites - including GWR details

Bat Caves

 * http://www.flickr.com/photos/that_james/538612033/
 * Sign (slightly vandalised) explaining site in Brent River Park
 * Just readable (but photographer has provided a transcript!)
 * Photo not for commercial use, hence can't use on WP


 * http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=wharncliffe%20viaduct&w=all&m=tags
 * flickr search for 'Wharncliffe Viaduct' photos - found 18
 * all decent ones are restricted use


 * http://www.lbp.org.uk/03action_pdfs/ac13_bats.pdf (EdJogg 13:17, 21 June 2007 (UTC))
 * London Biodiversity Partnership "Species Action Plan: Bats" (pdf file)
 * Indicates that knowledge of which bats, where, and how many, is limited
 * Can use this to qualify th 'lack of knowledge' mentioned in the article

Origin of name 'Hanwell'

 * http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/wildbritain/nature_near_you/venue.shtml?vid=47021&rid=45,46,47,48,44

(All above -- EdJogg 16:00, 19 June 2007 (UTC))

Picture of the pub from Geograph!!

 * http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/205028
 * EdJogg 17:42, 22 June 2007 (UTC)

Images of England

 * http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=201070
 * Accompanying text includes numerous variations in the dimensions previously found. They may be more accurate, but further confirmation would be helpful.
 * Citation entry text:
 * WHARNCLIFFE VIADUCT 1. 5010 Southall/Hanwell Wharncliffe Viaduct TQ 18 SW 1/94 TQ 18 SE 2/94 I 8.11.49 2. 1836-37 by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Contractors Messrs Grissell and Peto. Brown brick viaduct of 8 semi-elliptical arches each of 70 ft span and rising 19 ft. Stone imposts, cornices and copings. The length is 886 ft, height to parapet 81 ft and the original width 30 ft, widened on the north side in 1877. The piers are in the form of pylons, originally 2 to each pier, now 3. The arms of Lord Wharncliffe decorate the centre of the south face. The first railway viaduct to use hollow piers. Original appearance illustrated by Bourne in his 'Great Western Railway'. This was the first major engineering work to be completed on the Great Western Railway.

EdJogg 01:00, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Reliable sources?

 * I too am having no luck at finding reliable sources. Reliable_sources  It really need someone to spend time going through the archives (or even the library) and looking at primary and secondary source material. It is often said that Queen Victoria often had her train stop for a while on top, so she could admire the view but I can't find a half desent reference for that even. Also, there hasn't been another  peep out of Middesexman since he created the article, so I am going to stop and wait for him to add what ever material he's collected for it material. --Aspro 17:07, 20 June 2007 (UTC)


 * The pub history page (already used as a ref!) mentions that about Queen Victoria.
 * Reliable sources for most of the historical facts should be easy to find once someone looks at some 'History of the GWR'-type books. Unfortunately, my personal library contains nothing useful in this respect! Sources for the bats will be much more difficult -- I had thought of ringing up the appropriate people at Ealing council and/or London Bat Group to find out what type of bats we are talking about, although this would probably be counted as OR!


 * As for Middlesexman, I wouldn't worry too much about waiting, if you've got stuff you can add. He only has four edits to his name, and the first two are to this article. As for me, I've nearly exhausted the readilly available (ie online!) information, and I've been spending too much time on this, so I will 'throttle-back' now.
 * EdJogg 18:00, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

DYK Candidate
I have posted a suggestion for the Main Page 'Did You Know?' slot at Template talk:Did you know.

The article appears to meet all the requirements, although I would love to have stronger refs for the bats!

Initial suggestion is:
 * ...that the Brunel-designed Wharncliffe Viaduct of 1836 (pictured), on the GWR main line in London, is home to a protected colony of bats? Created by Middlesexman, expanded 13-fold by EdJogg/Aspro, nom by EdJogg 13:43, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Watch this space!

EdJogg 18:07, 20 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Bingo! (Sorry, there's a first time for everything!) EdJogg 00:38, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

Info Box
Since a viaduct is classed as a 'bridge' I wondered whether you think that this info box is worth using in the article? Template:Infobox_Bridge. To see how it looks in an article look at Tower_Bridge. --Aspro 15:34, 21 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Why not? Seems quite appropriate. Feel free to add it if you like. EdJogg 16:09, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 2 external links on Wharncliffe Viaduct. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20070820151159/http://www.atlantic-cable.com/ to http://www.atlantic-cable.com/
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/leisure/parks_and_open_spaces/find_a_park_or_open_space/hanwell.html

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 14:57, 20 May 2017 (UTC)

Infobox map not working
Does anyone know why the map seems to be not picking up the coordinates correctly? The map is displaying Long = 0 and Lat = 0 which seems to be indicating that somehow the coordinates are not read propertly. I was looking into another very similar example Chiswick Park Footbridge and I cannot understand why Chiswick Park Footbridge works fine but Wharncliffe Viaduct does not. Glad if anyone could shed some light on this! Many thanks --JuanGut (talk) 11:56, 11 October 2019 (UTC)