A TRAIN station platform has been transformed into a representation of a famous Essex landmark.
Chelmsford station has put up paintings of the Chappel Viaduct, in Colne Valley, to attract tourists.
Built in the late 1800s by Peter Bruff to span the River Colne, The Chappel Viaduct is an iconic part of the area’s history.
The 320m long bridge is considered one of the largest brick-built structures in Great Britain.
Artist Wladyslaw Mirecki, painted watercolours of all 32 arches of the Viaduct’s eastern façade between 2019 and 2021.
Mr Mirecki is a local self-taught artist and co-proprietor of Chappel Galleries, who has painted all his life.
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The Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership has worked with him to bring prints of the paintings to Chelmsford rail station’s platform where they have been placed along the railings to show the entire Viaduct.
This was done in the hope that the display will encourage people to explore the area by train.
Rail Engagement Officer for the Essex & South Suffolk CRP Jayne Sumner said: “Travelling on the Gainsborough Line to Chappel & Wakes Colne is really worth doing.
Not only to see the Chappel Galleries, the Viaduct and the East Anglian Railway Museum, but also the beautiful countryside around the line and the lovely market town of Sudbury, birthplace of the 18th century artist Thomas Gainsborough.”
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