Why was it built?

The line had to take

a one hundred and eighty

degree turn to evade

the Duke of Northumberland’s

estate. The price:

a tunnel, and a viaduct

 

crossing the Edlingham Burn.

Blast those shooting parties!

No matter: the navvies

set to work. The curve adds

to its Grade II listed beauty.

It appears much shorter

than from below

 

and closed to passengers

almost a century ago.

A sign says Private:

No Right of Way. I take snaps,

trudge across it anyway,

think of locos passing

over with two coaches

 

or a lengthy goods train,

steam clouds over the burn.

                       Just imagine!