Menangle Viaduct: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
The historic Menangle Railway Bridge carries the [[Great Southern Railway of New South Wales|Main Southern railway]] line across Menangle Road and the Nepean River between the stations of Menangle Park and Menagle stations. | The historic Menangle Railway Bridge carries the [[Great Southern Railway of New South Wales|Main Southern railway]] line across Menangle Road and the Nepean River between the stations of Menangle Park and Menagle stations in New South Wales. | ||
Designed by [[John Fowler]]. It was the first large iron railway bridge on the New South Wales Government Railways network, and survives as the oldest metal railway bridge in NSW. The ironwork was fabricated in England by the [[Canada Works]] in Birkenhead and despatched to Australia in two ships in December 1861. Unfortunately, one of the ships was wrecked. Replacement girders arrived in NSW in late 1862. There were three pairs of Fairbairn-type box girders, each of 49.4m (162 ft) span, joined to give a continuous beam 148.2m (486 ft)long.<ref>'Spanning Two Centuries - Historic Bridges of Australia' by Colin O'Connor, University of Queensland Press, 1985</ref> | Designed by [[John Fowler]]. It was the first large iron railway bridge on the New South Wales Government Railways network, and survives as the oldest metal railway bridge in NSW. The ironwork was fabricated in England by the [[Canada Works]] in Birkenhead and despatched to Australia in two ships in December 1861. Unfortunately, one of the ships, carrying the girders for the first and third spans, was wrecked shortly after leaving the Mersey. Replacement girders arrived in NSW in late 1862. There were three pairs of Fairbairn-type box girders, each of 49.4m (162 ft) span, joined to give a continuous beam 148.2m (486 ft)long.<ref>'Spanning Two Centuries - Historic Bridges of Australia' by Colin O'Connor, University of Queensland Press, 1985</ref> <ref>[https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Special:MemberUsers?file=images/1/1c/Er18620829.pdf] 'The Engineer', 29 Aug 1862, p.122</ref> | ||
The bridge opened on 1 July 1863 with the line from Campbelltown to Picton. In 1907, the bridge was strengthened with intermediate piers at mid span, to accommodate increased axle loads. | The bridge opened on 1 July 1863 with the line from Campbelltown to Picton. In 1907, the bridge was strengthened with intermediate piers at mid span, to accommodate increased axle loads. | ||
Revision as of 19:02, 12 February 2018
The historic Menangle Railway Bridge carries the Main Southern railway line across Menangle Road and the Nepean River between the stations of Menangle Park and Menagle stations in New South Wales.
Designed by John Fowler. It was the first large iron railway bridge on the New South Wales Government Railways network, and survives as the oldest metal railway bridge in NSW. The ironwork was fabricated in England by the Canada Works in Birkenhead and despatched to Australia in two ships in December 1861. Unfortunately, one of the ships, carrying the girders for the first and third spans, was wrecked shortly after leaving the Mersey. Replacement girders arrived in NSW in late 1862. There were three pairs of Fairbairn-type box girders, each of 49.4m (162 ft) span, joined to give a continuous beam 148.2m (486 ft)long.[1] [2]
The bridge opened on 1 July 1863 with the line from Campbelltown to Picton. In 1907, the bridge was strengthened with intermediate piers at mid span, to accommodate increased axle loads.