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I Found Jamaica's Hidden Lost Viaduct

One Love Jamaica

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#JamaicaHistory #JamaicaRailway #ClarendonJamaica
Searching for Jamaica's Lost Railway Viaduct at Crooked River, Clarendon | Jamaica Train History

Join me on a journey deep into upper Clarendon to Crooked River — a key point on Jamaica's historic May Pen to Frankfield railway line. In this episode of One Love Jamaica, we trace the remains of the old railway route that carried passengers and citrus exports through the hills of Clarendon in the early 20th century, and explore what a viaduct actually is, how it worked, and why Jamaica's railway engineers relied on this kind of structure to cross the island's steep river valleys.

Crooked River had its own railway station, with a stretch of track that crossed the Crooked River itself twice in quick succession nearby. Built to serve the booming citrus industry of Chapelton and Frankfield, this branch line was part of a much larger story: Jamaica's railway system, one of the earliest in the Western Hemisphere, which once connected rural communities across the island before falling into decline in the late 20th century.

In this video, we cover:
✅ What a viaduct is and how it functions on a railway line
✅ The history of the May Pen to Frankfield railway branch
✅ Crooked River's role on the line
✅ The remnants that can still be found in Clarendon today
✅ The bigger story of Jamaica's railway system — from expansion to decline

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20 Comments

@vivahenry4547 2 months ago (edited)

Wow, I grew up in Crooked River in the 1960's near the viaduct. As children we were in awe of it. It was an interesting structure. We would make bets with each other to see who would walk the farthest on it. There was a river below where we would go fishing.
We visited Janaica in the late 1970's and went to the viaduct. Its sad to see how the viaduct had deteriorated.
This brought back so many memories. Thank you so much for this vlog.

@Elaine-n9c 2 months ago

You are a wonderful historian. This all needs to be documented & supplement JA education programme

@Integrityiskey1066 2 months ago (edited)

Hello Mr OLJa... sometimes life dictates how our time are spent 🤔 . I started watching this before but only now just getting back to start all over again. (A place name.pumpkin....
seriously? )
I think the funniest place names are found in Jamaica ☺️...

Great discovery Mr OLJ. There are an abundance of historical ruins on the island, it is sad to see the majority are decaying in dense bushes...lost to the current generation and possibly the ones to come.

It makes me sad too, to see so many waterways in Jamaica yet people on the island battle water shortages, year after year. It makes absolutely no sense.

Bermuda has no natural fresh water, no rivers or lakes, yet Bermuda has no problem with water supply....Does that make sense?

Come on Jamaica...We can do better with preserving our history and, better utilising the abundance of water flowing from stones, all over the island.

Thank you Mr OLJ, for this beautiful and historical find. Thank you, UK.

@marciakeen 2 months ago

Greetings from 🇨🇦
This video made me so happy. Truly inspiring.
I would love to experience visiting areas like this, in Jamaica.
Thanks for showcasing the unseen history of Jamaica 🇯🇲
Blessings

@godfreyosbourne3963 2 months ago

Greatness out there 💯 my family my respect honestly 💯 🙏 dat is it 💯 👌 💪

@addibeatzz1284 2 months ago

Beautiful country we have❤

@albertharedman4874 1 month ago

PEOPLE LIVE AND DIE BUT NEVER SEE THESE PLACES, SO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US THESE PLACES

@annt8894 4 weeks ago

I love how you love history! God bless you for finding your purpose. What you’re doing is invaluable to your viewers!

@michaelmcdonald2663 2 months ago

Thanks OLJAF for another very interesting discovery. Seem you might need to add another element to your name "OneLoveJamaica Family the Walking Historian". I hope you are building an archive of all these historic places and one day it can be a valuable museum collection where visitors can then tour and get that feeling of being next to nature while on the tour. You may never know. Our people must also learn to value and appreciate our own history and give credit to the great minds of old whose efforts went into buildings these things alongside with what nature has blessed us with. Often times we visit other countries and pay to see theirs which have been curated over centuries. What we have is no less. Money must not be the driving factor to preserve but to educate future generations. Congratulations again the marvellous job you are doing

@kariymchristopher6986 2 months ago

So sad that they took the metals from them it would have been so good if they were still in place.

@claudettealexander5204 2 months ago

You found it?
Good because I heard about it frond a child.
Thanks for your effort and information

@lescameron4086 1 month ago

❤That viaduct was utilised for the film “Dark of the Sun(The Mercenaries).those footings are called pilons and that multi story building @ the beginning of your video is the old crooked River Post Office.

@hughbarned7660 2 months ago

It is lovely to hear the high pitch sound of the Jamaican Cicadas in the background

@OmarScott-x4g 2 months ago

Good good work family

@mercedesplummer758 2 months ago

I really appreciate 🙏 ... I look forward to your videos

@DaveMcPherson-sj4ht 1 month ago

Thanks for the educational lesson on fort clarence,had noooo idea about it being a fort. The scenery in st mary was beautiful and educational and the clarendon and sugar industry lesson.ill look forward to learning more ,keep up the good work.

@SuperDDD 2 months ago

Great work documenting our history Sir! Piers and Abutments are often used in these civil structures

@SandorM 2 months ago

Back in the late 1980s when I was at Clarendon College I had classmates who were from some of these communities so I am familiar with the names. Its good to see and hear so much more about them. I had no idea that trains were ever in those inner parts of the island. I do know the Rio Minho originates somewhere in upper Clarendon. Very informative video, keep up the good work rediscovering and sharing your Jamaican journey.

@delroylynch1971 2 months ago

Oh how happy I am happy to see this video my childhood was spent in crooked river

@kennypryce4617 2 months ago

This is so awesome. Please start writing your book. This could be an excellent history book. Start outlining the book and you have the pictures to include.

Also the govt can make these as heritage sites with plaques at the site with a brief information of the site. It can be hiking roots not only for tourism but part of our curricula . Excellent job. Also your video illustration helps a lot.

Please get started on that book!