Bredbo River railway bridge

Bredbo River railway bridge
Bredbo River railway bridge
	Bredbo River bridge
Coordinates	35°58′29″S149°09′45″E / 35.9748°S 149.1626°E Coordinates: 35°58′29″S149°09′45″E / 35.9748°S 149.1626°E
Carries	Bombala railway line
Crosses	Bredbo River
Locale	Bredbo, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia
Owner	RailCorp
Characteristics
Design	Queen post deck truss viaduct
Material	Ironbark
Total length	130 metres (420 ft)
Longest span	13 metres (42 ft)
No. of spans	10
Piers in water	9
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks	1
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
History
Designer	John Whitton; Engineer-in-Chief for Railways
Fabrication by	Bryce Henry
Construction start	1881
Construction end	1889
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Bredbo Rail Bridge Group; Bredbo River Railway Viaduct
Type	State heritage (complex / group)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	01029
Type	Railway Bridge / Viaduct
Category	Transport - Rail
Builders	Main Contractor for the Queanbeyan to Cooma railway
Location

Last updated September 10, 2022

The Bredbo River railway bridge is a heritage-listed former railway bridge carrying the Bombala railway line over the Bredbo River at Bredbo in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Whitton in his capacity as Engineer-in-Chief for Railways and built from 1881 to 1889. It is also known as the Bredbo Rail Bridge and the Bredbo River Railway Viaduct. The property is owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.^[2] On 1 December 2020, changes were made to exemptions relating to the bridge's heritage status.^[3]

History

The railway was extended from Queanbeyan to Cooma in 1887-89. At that time, the Engineer-in-Chief for Railways, John Whitton, was under government pressure to reduce construction costs. One common method was to build timber bridges, mostly ballast top timber beam bridges. However, for two major waterways, Ingalara Creek (Michelago Rail Bridge over Ingalara Creek and the Bredbo River, he chose to use Queen post deck trusses, a type of timber truss viaduct that he had already used on the Main North line between Glen Innes and Wallangarra. Nearer to Cooma, at Chakola, he chose a different type of timber viaduct to cross Umaralla Creek. Several of Whitton's other Queen post deck truss bridges - the Breardy River, Severn River and Bluff River viaducts and the Tenterfield Creek bridge - are also listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register.^[2]

Description

The Bredbo Rail Bridge is a ten-span timber truss viaduct. Each span is 12 metres (40 ft), centre to centre, of timber trestles.^[2]

The Queen deck truss design was copied from one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Cornish timber bridges, the St Germans viaduct, which was built about 30 years earlier.^[2]

The condition of the bridge was reported as fair as at 4 April 2006 due to lack of maintenance since rail services were suspended.^[2]

All these viaducts retain their original fabric.^[2]

Heritage listing

The timber Queen post truss viaduct was an economic bridge for the Queanbeyan to Cooma Railway at a time when the boom years of the 1880s were ending and funding for railway construction was decreasing. The Bredbo viaduct is accessible from the Monaro Highway and is an impressive timber structure. The Cooma Railway made a significant contribution to the development of the Monaro Region from the time of its construction 1887-89, and all the timber viaducts were important items of the railway's infrastructure. The timber Queen post deck viaduct was a significant structure in place of the expensive iron lattice bridges preferred by John Whitton. The Bredbo viaduct was technically sound and durable, having been built from renowned ironbark hardwood. The two deck Queen post truss timber viaducts on the Cooma Line, together with four on the Main North Line, are a unique class of railway bridge.^[2]

Bredbo Rail Bridge was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.^[2]

The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.

The timber Queen post truss viaduct was an economic bridge for the Queanbeyan to Cooma Railway at a time when the boom years of the 1880s were ending and funding for railway construction was decreasing.^[2]

The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

The viaduct is accessible from the Monaro Highway and is an impressive timber structure.^[2]

The place has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

The Cooma Railway made a significant contribution to the development of the Monaro Region from the time of its construction 1887-89, and the three timber viaducts were important items of the railway's infrastructure.^[2]

The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

The timber Queen post deck viaduct was a significant structure in place of the expensive iron lattice bridges preferred by John Whitton. The Bredbo viaduct were technically sound and durable, having been built from renowned ironbark hardwood.^[2]

The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

These two timber viaducts on the Cooma Line, together with four on the Main North Line, are a unique class of railway bridge.^[2]

Related Research Articles

Michelago is a village in the Monaro region of New South Wales, Australia. The village is in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council local government area, 54 kilometres (34 mi) south of Canberra on the Monaro Highway. It was founded in the 1820s, on the main route from Sydney to the Snowy Mountains. At the 2016 census, Michelago had a population of 562.

Bredbo is a village on the Monaro plains of New South Wales, Australia. The village is on the Monaro Highway 34 kilometres (21 mi) north of Cooma. The village is in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council and had a population of 352 at the 2016 census.

The Bombala railway line is a branch railway line in the south of New South Wales, Australia. The northern part of it forms part of the main line from Sydney to Canberra, but the southern part is closed. It branches off the Main South line at Joppa Junction, south of Goulburn. The line is used by NSW TrainLink Xplorer services running between Sydney Central and Canberra station.

Sandy Flat is a historic locality on the Northern Tablelands in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. This locality is situated on New England Highway and the former Main North Railway line about 20 kilometres south of Tenterfield. At the 2011 census, Sandy Flat had a population of 209 people.

The Snowy Monaro Regional Council is a local government area located in the Snowy Mountains and Monaro regions of New South Wales, Australia. The council was formed on 12 May 2016 through a merger of the Bombala, Cooma-Monaro and Snowy River shires.

Colinton is a locality in the Snowy Monaro Region, New South Wales, Australia. At the 2016 census, it had a population of 127. There was once a village and railway station of the same name.

The Macdonald River railway bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge that carries the Main Northern line across the Macdonald River located in Woolbrook, in the Walcha Shire, New South Wales, Australia. The railway bridge was designed by John Whitton as the Engineer-in-Chief for the New South Wales Government Railways and built during 1882 by J. S. Bennett, with iron work by J. & C. Brettell, Worcester, England. The railway bridge is also known as the Woolbrook rail bridge over the Macdonald River and the Woolbrook Lattice Railway Bridge. The bridge and adjacent infrastructure is owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. The bridge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 and was added to the Register of the National Estate on 18 April 1989.

The Dubbo rail bridge over Macquarie River - Wambuul is a heritage-listed railway bridge on the Main Western line across the Macquarie River, located west of the Dubbo central business district in New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Whitton as the Engineer-in-Chief for the New South Wales Government Railways. The bridge was built during 1884 by Benjamin Barnes, with ironwork by Cochrane & Co, Middlesborough, England. The railway bridge is also known as the Dubbo Lattice Railway Bridge. The property is owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. The bridge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 and was listed on the Register of the National Estate on 18 April 1989.

The Ingalara Creek railway bridge is a heritage-listed former railway bridge that carried the Bombala railway line across Ingalara Creek at Michelago in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Whitton in his capacity as Engineer-in-Chief for Railways and built in 1889. It is also known as the Michelago Rail Bridge over Ingalara Creek and the Ingalara Creek Railway Viaduct. The property is owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. On 1 December 2020, changes were made to exemptions relating to the bridge's heritage status.

The Cooma railway station is a heritage-listed former railway station on the Bombala railway line at Bradley Street, Cooma, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia. The original design of the station was attributed to John Whitton. The station complex was built from 1889 to 1950. The Cooma Monaro Railway is based at the station and maintains an active presence although services have not operated since 2014. The station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The Tenterfield Creek railway bridge is a heritage-listed former railway bridge that carried the Main North line across the Tenterfield Creek from Sunnyside to Jennings, both in the Tenterfield Shire local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Whitton and Engineer-in-Chief for NSW Government Railways and built in 1888. The bridge is also known as the Sunnyside rail bridge over Tenterfield Creek. The property is owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The Murrumbidgee River railway bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge across the Murrumbidgee River located on the Tumut railway line at Gundagai in the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built in 1903. It is also known as the Gundagai Rail Bridge over Murrumbidgee River and the Murrumbidgee River Railway Bridge. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The Peel River railway bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge that carries the Main North line across the Peel River connecting North Tamworth to Tambinda, both in the Tamworth Regional Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The railway bridge was designed by John Whitton as the Engineer-in-Chief for Railways and built during 1882 by J. S. Bennett, with iron work by J. & C. Brettell, Worcester, England. The bridge is also known as the Tamworth rail bridge over Peel River and the Tamworth Lattice Railway Bridge. The property is owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. The bridge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 and was added to the Register of the National Estate on 18 April 1989.

Murrumbidgee River railway bridge is a heritage-listed disused railway bridge on the Tocumwal railway line crossing from Narrandera to Gillenbah, both in Narrandera Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Whitton in his capacity as Engineer-in-Chief for Railways, and built in 1884-85 by Halliday & Owen with ironwork supplied by English firm Westwood, Baillie. It is also known as Narrandera Lattice Railway Bridge. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 and was added to the Register of the National Estate on 15 May 1990.

The Queanbeyan railway bridges over Queanbeyan and Molonglo Rivers are two heritage-listed railway bridges that carry the Bombala railway line in the Queanbeyan-Palerang Region local government area of New South Wales, Australia. Both bridges were built between 1926 and 1927. The westernmost bridge crosses the Queanbeyan River from Queanbeyan to Queanbeyan East at 35.3424°S 149.2317°E, while the easternmost bridge crosses the Molonglo River at Burbong at 35.3371°S 149.3191°E. The two railway bridges are owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. Together, the two bridges were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The Yarraford Rail Bridge is a heritage-listed closed railway bridge that carried the Main Northern line across Beardy Waters, situated 694.371 kilometres (431.462 mi) from Central station, near Glen Innes, in the Glen Innes Severn local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The bridge was designed by John Whitton in his capacity as Engineer-in-Chief for Railways and built in 1886. It is also known as Beardy River Railway Viaduct. The property is owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The Severn River railway bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge that carries the Main Northern line across the Severn River at Dundee, Glen Innes Severn, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Whitton in his capacity as Engineer-in-Chief for Railways and built in 1886. It is also known as Severn River Railway Viaduct. The property is owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The Long Cove Creek railway viaducts are heritage-listed railway viaducts which carry the Main Suburban railway line over Long Cove Creek between the suburbs of Lewisham and Summer Hill in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The viaducts were designed and built by the New South Wales Government Railways. The property is owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The Coxs River railway bridges are two heritage-listed railway bridges that carry the Main Western line over the Coxs River at Wallerawang, City of Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia. The bridges were designed by engineering staff of the New South Wales Government Railways and built in 1870 by day labour. The property is owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Emu Plains Underbridge is a heritage-listed steel truss railway underbridge located off Bruce Neale Dr approximately 1.3 kilometres (0.81 mi) west of the Penrith railway station in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith in the City of Penrith local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by James Fraser, the existing lines branch and the New South Wales Government Railways. It was built in 1907, with fabrication by R. Tulloch & Co.; and erection by day labour. It is also known as Emu Plains Underbridge and Penrith Underbridge. The property is owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 28 June 2013.

References

↑ "Government Gazette Tenders and Contracts". New South Wales Government Gazette . No. 187. New South Wales, Australia. 30 March 1886. p. 2140 – via National Library of Australia.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Bredbo Rail Bridge Group". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Office of Environment & Heritage. H01029. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
↑ "Bredbo Rail Bridge Group | NSW Environment, Energy and Science". www.environment.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

Bibliography

Rail Infrastructure Corporation (2003). Rail Infrastructure Corporation s.170 Register.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on Bredbo Rail Bridge Group , entry number 01029 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence , accessed on 2 June 2018.

External links

Media related to Bredbo River railway bridge, Bredbo at Wikimedia Commons

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[1] "Government Gazette Tenders and Contracts". New South Wales Government Gazette . No. 187. New South Wales, Australia. 30 March 1886. p. 2140 – via National Library of Australia.

[nswshr-1029-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Bredbo Rail Bridge Group". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Office of Environment & Heritage. H01029. Retrieved 2 June 2018.

[3] "Bredbo Rail Bridge Group | NSW Environment, Energy and Science". www.environment.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

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v t e Railway bridges in Australia
New South Wales former	Albury-Wodonga Bargo Belmore Beverley Hills Bowenfels Burwood Canterbury Como Cougal Spiral Cowra Dubbo Dunmore Emu Plains Glebe and Wentworth Park Goulburn Grafton Gundagai Hawkesbury River John Whitton Kempsey Lismore Lithgow Coal Stage Signal Box Lithgow Underbridge Lewisham Marrangaroo Menangle Moss Vale Narrandera Orange Penrith Picton Queanbeyan Redfern Rydal Sandgate Flyover Springwood Stanwell Park Strathfield Sydney Harbour Tahmoor Tamworth Taree Tocumwal Wagga Wagga Wallerawang Wambool Woolbrook Bathurst Bredbo Colinton Como Dundee Emu Plains Gulgong Knapsack Viaduct Lithgow Zig Zag Manilla Old Como Railway Square Sunnyside Ultimo Yarraford Yass
Northern Territory	Elizabeth River
Queensland	Albert Alexandra Angellala Bremer River Burdekin Burdekin River Deep Creek Dickabram Etheridge Harlin Humphery Ideraway Creek Imbil Indooroopilly Lockyer Maroochy River Merivale Murphys Creek Quart Pot Creek Sadliers Crossing Saltwater Creek Splitters Creek Steep Rocky Creek Swansons Woolooga
South Australia former	Goodwood Overpass Mary MacKillop Algebuckina
Tasmania	Bridgewater Longford
Victoria former	Albion Viaduct Cowies Creek (No. 1) Cremorne Hawthorn Malmsbury Viaduct Melton Viaduct Saltwater River Taradale Viaduct Tocumwal Sandridge
Western Australia former	Fremantle Goongoongup Mount Henry Narrows Bunbury