The National Railway Heritage Awards do not solely cover buildings and structures in ongoing railway use but also those that have passed into other uses. One such structure rewarded in the 2014 competition was the Crook O’Lune East Viaduct, located between Wennington and Lancaster on the closed ex-Midland Railway route. Converted to a footpath when closed, the viaduct, one of two spanning the River Lune at this point, had seriously deteriorated by 2012 and a 12-month programme of restoration saw the bridge restored and once again usable for cyclists and walkers. The work was recognised by the 2014 Restoration Award announced on 3 December 2014 at Merchant Taylors’ Hall and, on 24 February 2015, the plaque was officially unveiled on the viaduct by NRHA Chairman John Ellis.
John Ellis, Chairman of the NRHA, with the newly unveiled plaque on the bridge parapet of Crook O’Lune East Viaduct.
The unveiling party on a cold but sunny day at Crook O’Lune Viaduct on Tuesday 24 January. Present, with John Ellis, John Curley, Deborah Trebinski, Andy Savage and Chris Smyth from the NRHA were Steve Browne, Interim Executive Director for the Environment, Mike Cafferty, Operations Director of Casey, the Main Contractor also present, along with Kim Whalley, the Project manager for Lancashire County Council and Nick Osborne, Site Access Manager for Lancashire County Council along with representatives of Srum, Harrisons, Hankinisons and Kirks, the four sub-contractors.