Undiscovered Scotland

 

Just occasionally, a book comes along that you just know is going to remain the definitive authority on its subject for the foreseeable future. "A Thing So Delicate: The Hidden Voices of Scotland's Mass Concrete Viaducts" by Moira McPartlin & Colin Baird is one of those books. That's great, you might say, but mass concrete viaducts? Hang on! Before the non-anorak owning readers of this review pass on by, just hear me out while I tell you what a superb book this is: for anyone with any interest in Scotland's landscape and history as well as those keen on learning more about its present and past transport infrastructure.

Yes, the book is about mass concrete viaducts, which doesn't sound instantly enthralling. But for the doubters, it's worth pointing out that the best known of these is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, and few would deny that's a thing of true beauty that marvellously complements its magnificent setting. Indeed, the title of the book comes from a journalist's description of the Glenfinnan Viaduct: "A thing so delicate that the fairies might have built it." The book itself is a triumph. The depth of research that's gone into it is obvious. And the results of that research are beautifully presented, with geographical and historical exposition mingling with poetry, short stories and more: all very nicely illustrated with excellent photographs, maps and other material. This is a book that is without doubt greater than the sum of its parts.

The viaducts covered in the book are tackled one railway line at a time, and include active, partly active and long-defunct lines. The West Highland Railway Mallaig Extension is of course still active, while the Callander & Oban Railway continues to run (though not in that name) from Crianlarich to Oban. On the other hand, the Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Comrie Railway last saw a train in 1951. Also included are the Killin Branch of the Callander & Oban Railway; the Paisley & Barrhead District Railway; and the Lanarkshire & Ayrshire Railway.

You get a good sense of the book from the author's description of it in her introduction: "A Thing So Delicate is a celebration of concrete arched viaducts – not just any old concrete but mass concrete, produced without reinforcement with only three constituent parts (aggregate, cement and water) and maintained in equilibrium by the form of the arch, transforming brittle materials into a structure of strength, utility and beauty. It becomes a thing so delicate. This mix of constituent parts is reflected in the book’s constituent parts (history, memoir, poems, short stories, travel writing and photographs); a creative combination of the components that we have mixed to make this book distinctive and unique."