Solway Junction Railway: The ill-fated Scotland to England rail route

[Adlington]

The railway opened 150 years ago. BBC describes its history:

Staring out across the Solway Firth it is easy to see how the temptation arose.

Instead of taking a detour via Carlisle, why not cut the corner and make a more direct link between the iron ore mines of Cumberland and the furnaces of Lanarkshire?

That was the idea behind the Solway Junction Railway which opened 150 years ago on 13 September 1869. The only obstacle - the stretch of water between Scotland and England - would be overcome by a viaduct about 2,000 yards (1.8km) long.

Apart from carrying an occasional train with iron ore, the viaduct provided thirsty Scots with a nice shortcut to English pubs open on Sundays.