Bredbo River railway bridge, Bredbo

Last updated

Bredbo River railway bridge
Bredbo River bridge.jpg
Bredbo River bridge
Coordinates 35°58′29″S149°09′45″E / 35.9748°S 149.1626°E / -35.9748; 149.1626 Coordinates: 35°58′29″S149°09′45″E / 35.9748°S 149.1626°E / -35.9748; 149.1626
Carries Bombala railway line
Crosses Bredbo River
Locale Bredbo, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia
Owner RailCorp
Characteristics
DesignQueen post deck truss viaduct
Material Ironbark
Total length130 metres (420 ft)
Longest span13 metres (42 ft)
No. of spans10
Piers in water9
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 byBryce Henry [1]
Construction start1881
Construction end1889
Official nameBredbo Rail Bridge Group; Bredbo River Railway Viaduct
TypeState heritage (complex / group)
Designated2 April 1999
Reference no.01029
TypeRailway Bridge / Viaduct
CategoryTransport - Rail
BuildersMain Contractor for the Queanbeyan to Cooma railway
Location
Bredbo River railway bridge, Bredbo

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]

Contents

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]

See also

Related Research Articles

Michelago Town in New South Wales, Australia

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 Town in New South Wales, Australia

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.

Queanbeyan railway station

Queanbeyan railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located on the Bombala line in New South Wales, Australia. It serves the town of Queanbeyan.

Bombala railway line

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, New South Wales Town in New South Wales, Australia

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.

Snowy Monaro Regional Council Local government area in New South Wales, Australia

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, New South Wales Town in New South Wales, Australia

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.

Macdonald River railway bridge, Woolbrook Heritage listed railway bridge in New South Wales

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.

Macquarie River railway bridge, Dubbo

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.

Ingalara Creek railway bridge, Colinton

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.

Cooma railway station

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.

Lachlan River railway bridge, Cowra

The Lachlan River railway bridge is a heritage-listed former railway bridge which carried the Blayney–Demondrille railway line over the Lachlan River at Cowra, Cowra Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Whitton in his capacity as Engineer-in-Chief for Railways. The bridge was built from 1886 to 1887 by contractors Fishburn & Co. It is also known as the Cowra Rail Bridge over Lachlan River and the Cowra Lattice Railway Bridge. 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.

Tenterfield Creek railway bridge, Sunnyside

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.

Murrumbidgee River railway bridge, Gundagai Railway bridge in Australia

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.

Queanbeyan railway bridges over Queanbeyan and Molonglo Rivers

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.

Yarraford Rail Bridge over Beardy Waters

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.

Severn River railway bridge, Dundee

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.

Long Cove Creek railway viaducts, Lewisham

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.

Emu Plains Underbridge

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

  1. ↑ "Government Gazette Tenders and Contracts". New South Wales Government Gazette (187). New South Wales, Australia. 30 March 1886. p. 2140 – via National Library of Australia.
  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 and 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.

Bibliography

Attribution

CC-BY-icon-80x15.png 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.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Bredbo River railway bridge, Bredbo at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.