THE MYSTERY OF THE VIADUCT
The viaduct at Gor was built in 1905/6 as part of the railway line between Baza and Guadix by the Granada Railway Company who bought the concession from the GSSR in 1895 via 'The Spanish Railways Trust and Investment Company' so it is reasonable to assume that the plans for the viaduct were drawn up before the sale by the GSSR's technical staff. It seems that even before the viaduct could be opened for rail traffic, it was noted on 28th November 1905, during construction, a support had dropped 40cm (1ft 4") due to earth movement. It was decided to build another bridge less than a kilometre upstream but this wasn't finished until 1912 so the viaduct was put into use in 1906.
Because it was considered so unsafe, during the time that it was in use over the River Gor, passengers had to alight, walk across the viaduct, then the train would cross the viaduct and then the passengers would have to re-board the train. We will never know what the drivers and firemen thought of this!
After the viaduct was declared unsafe a new route was created which crossed a small iron bridge just 430 metres up-river, the viaduct being left abandoned for ten years until, in 1924 it was sold and transported to the 'línea de tranvías eléctricos de Granada a Dúrcal' which remained in service until 1974.
This begs the question 'Why didn't they build the much cheaper iron bridge in the first place instead of investing so much money in the viaduct?' After all, the iron bridge route would only have added another 950 metres to the length of the line. We will probably never know why that decision was made, but it must have cost The Granada Railway Company dear.
A footnote: Although the viaduct has been attributed to Eiffel, it is more likely that the original was designed by James Livesey in 1890 (before the concession was awarded to the GSSR). This particular project was rejected for the one that was built. Ironically, if 'The Granada Railway Co. Ltd.' had used this design there probably wouldn't have been a problem. Unfortunately, against technical advice regarding the permiability of the ground, 'The Granada' decided for reasons of economy, to use a cantilever system with two supports. The presumed reason for the subsidance is that the eastern support was very close to the irrigation canal 'La acequia de Mujer' and that water was undermining the stone base.