Cooks Pond Viaduct is the most impressive, but least known, of the girder viaducts on the Oxted line, photographed on 14th September 2009. photograph by Gregory Beecroft

Oxted Viaduct has been repainted in an attractive green and cream colour scheme, photographed on 30th January 2010. photograph by Gregory Beecroft

The other major viaduct on the line, at Woldingham, was built over 15 years before the others. A railway between Croydon and Groombridge was promoted by the Surrey & Sussex Railway, work starting in 1865. The money ran out in 1869 and the project was abandoned, though by that time Woldingham Viaduct was complete. It was not until 1884 that the viaduct came into use, as part of the direct line to East Grinstead.

Woldingham viaduct, photographed on 30th January 2010. photograph by Gregory Beecroft

The arch rings are six bricks thick, but are unusual in that pairs of rings are laid with stretchers and pairs of headers alternately. photograph by Gregory Beecroft

The arch at the London end of the viaduct has been strengthened with five additional rings of bricks, but these do not extend the full width of the viaduct and are set back from the face on both sides. photograph by Gregory Beecroft