STR - the river wall at Alston

The formidable wall on the right is supporting the alignment of the South Tynedale Railway [formerly the standard gauge Alston to Haltwhistle branch line] and footpath that now shares the route.
.
The base of the wall has some extensive and heavy stone blockwork in place as flood defences, [aka "rock armour" - note the large metal "staples" securing the blocks]. The main stream here is the River South Tyne, just behind the camera there is a bend in the South Tyne and the confluence with the River Nent. Their combined flow, plus the bend, when in winter spate was a risk to the stability of the railway's supporting wall, and the sheds further to the right but out of view in this image. Note, the large boulder field by the left bank, dropped in the inside of the curve ...