On the 29th and 30th of June the East Anglian Railway Museum will be holding a special weekend celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Chappel Viaduct which was completed in 1849.

The viaduct was built by the Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury and Halstead Railway under the direction of railway engineer, Peter Bruff. Bruff was also instrumental in the development of both Clacton on Sea and Walton on the Naze as resorts.

The first train ran across the viaduct on Monday 2nd July. On entering the branch line the engine’s chimney became entangled with the triumphal arch that had been erected, causing the arch to fall onto the engine, which continued to Sudbury adorned with foliage and woodwork. Hopefully no such mishaps will befall their celebration weekend.

As part of the viaduct commemoration, a new exhibition by renowned Chappel-based artist Władysław Mirecki will be staged at the museum Goods Shed from 15th June and 18th August.

On display will be Mirecki’s 64 watercolours of the viaduct’s arches. He has painted each of the 32 arches from both east and west perspective, and, seen together in one place, the paintings are breathtaking. It is fortunate that the museum has a space adequate for the exhibiting of the complete set.

The exhibition will be open to the public from 15th June to the 18th August, open on Wednesdays and weekends from 10.00 - 17.00.

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