Funny how these bridges magically become unsafe innit?

In the 1980s British Rail claimed Ribblehead viaduct was going to fall down within 5 years unless about £5 million was spent on it - and that as a result the Settle and Carlisle line would have to be closed. Then the Minister of Transport told BR they couldn't close the line, BR spent about £250,000 on the viaduct, and surprise! - it's still there.

The Great Central saga is one of missed opportunities in the 1960s though - it's far too late to cry over one bridge now. A perfectly good bridge over the Trent was demolished years ago, the viaducts and tunnels in Nottingham could have been used for a north-south tram route - and there's loads more. There just wasn't the will to retain important structures then, and the old route is in such a state now that it simply can't be used as the basis of a high speed line. Gone Completely, as they say