Macleay River railway bridge, Kempsey

Last updated

Macleay River Railway Bridge
1041 - Kempsey rail bridge over Macleay River - SHR Plan No 2889 (5012062b100).jpg
Heritage boundaries
Coordinates 31°05′12″S152°49′53″E / 31.0867°S 152.8314°E / -31.0867; 152.8314
Carries North Coast railway line
Crosses Macleay River
Locale Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia
BeginsKempsey
Ends South Kempsey
Owner Transport Asset Holding Entity
Maintained by Australian Rail Track Corporation
Characteristics
Design Truss bridge
MaterialSteel
Pier constructionSteel & concrete
No. of spans3
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks 1
History
Fabrication by Walsh Island Dockyard & Engineering Works
Opened3 December 1917
Official nameKempsey rail bridge over Macleay River
TypeState heritage (built)
Designated2 April 1999
Reference no.1041
TypeRailway Bridge/Viaduct
CategoryTransport – Rail
Location
Macleay River railway bridge, Kempsey

The Macleay River Railway Bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge that carries the North Coast railway line across the Macleay River from Kempsey to South Kempsey in New South Wales, Australia.

Contents

History

Southbound XPT crossing the Macleay River Railway Bridge with Mount Banda Banda to the upper right Macleay River Railway Bridge Kempsey NSW.jpg
Southbound XPT crossing the Macleay River Railway Bridge with Mount Banda Banda to the upper right

The Macleay River Railway Bridge opened on 3 December 1917 with the extension of the North Coast railway line from Wauchope to Kempsey. The steelwork was made at the Walsh Island Dockyard & Engineering Works, Newcastle and transported to Kempsey by sea. [1]

The bridge was damaged in floods in 1949 and 1950. It was repaired with the timber trestles replaced by 1880s vintage wrought iron Warren trusses formerly used on the Main Western railway line between Parramatta and Penrith. [2] It was proposed to replace the entire bridge, but this proposal had been abandoned by 1953. [3] [4]

In 1966 the bridge spans were raised by one metre (three feet) due to the 1950s floods, with new pre-cast concrete approaches constructed.. [5]

Description

The bridge is a steel Pratt truss bridge with consisting of three 61-metre (200 ft) steel spans and two 20-metre (66 ft) plate girder spans. It was built with steel approaches, with the pre-cast concrete approaches added later when the bridge was raised. [5] [6]

When opened in 1917, the crossing of the river was achieved by three 61-metre (200 ft) steel truss spans, approached by timber trestles. After two floods in 1949 and in 1950, the steel trusses were raised approximately one metre (three feet) and the approaches replaced by pre-stressed concrete spans. It was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macleay River</span> River in New South Wales, Australia

The Macleay River is a river that spans the Northern Tablelands and Mid North Coast districts of New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kempsey, New South Wales</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Kempsey is a town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia and is the council seat for Kempsey Shire. It is located roughly 16.5 kilometres inland from the coast of the Pacific Ocean, on the Macleay Valley Way near where the Pacific Highway and the North Coast railway line cross the Macleay River. It is roughly 430 kilometres north of Sydney. As of June 2018 Kempsey had a population of 15,309 (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hampden Bridge, Kangaroo Valley</span> Bridge in New South Wales, Australia

Hampden Bridge is a heritage-listed single-span suspension bridge that carries Moss Vale Road (B73) across the Kangaroo River, in Kangaroo Valley, in the City of Shoalhaven local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The bridge was designed by Ernest de Burgh and built by Loveridge and Hudson. The property is owned by Transport for NSW. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 August 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawkesbury River railway bridge</span> Railway bridge in New South Wales, Australia

The Hawkesbury River railway bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge in New South Wales, Australia that carries the Main North railway line across the Hawkesbury River. The bridge crosses between Brooklyn on the northern outskirts of Sydney and Cogra Bay in the Central Coast region. The railway bridge was to be the last link in a railway network that linked the state capitals Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and was a major engineering feat at the time. The original railway bridge was built in 1889 and replaced by the current bridge in 1946. The 1946 bridge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murrumbidgee River railway bridge, Wagga Wagga</span> Bridge in New South Wales, Australia

The Murrumbidgee River railway bridge is a former railway bridge that carried the Main Southern railway line across the Murrumbidgee River in Wagga Wagga, Australia. The original bridge, erected in 1881, was replaced in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Bridge (Penrith)</span> Bridge in New South Wales, Australia

The Victoria Bridge (Penrith), also known as the Victoria Bridge over the Nepean River, is a heritage-listed former railway bridge and now wrought iron box plate girder road bridge across the Nepean River on the Great Western Highway in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith in the City of Penrith local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The bridge was designed by John Whitton, the Engineer–in–Chief of New South Wales Government Railways, and built from 1862 to 1867 by William Piper, Peto Brassey and Betts (superstructure), William Watkins (piers). It is also known as Victoria Bridge, The Nepean Bridge and RTA Bridge No. 333. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 27 May 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harwood Bridge</span> Mostly disused roadbridge in New South Wales, Auatralia

The Harwood Bridge is a two-lane steel truss bridge which carried the Pacific Highway over the Clarence River in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia from 1966 until 2019, when it was replaced by a four-lane 1.5-kilometre-long (4,921 ft) concrete bridge, located 20 metres (66 ft) to its east. The Harwood Bridge has been retained to provide access to Harwood Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taemas Bridge</span> Bridge in New South Wales, Australia

The Taemas Bridge is a two-lane road bridge that carries the Wee Jasper Road across the Murrumbidgee River, at the settlement of Taemas, near Wee Jasper in the Yass Valley Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The bridge crosses on the river just before it enters Lake Burrinjuck, which has been created by the Burrinjuck Dam. The bridge is a key part of the road between Yass and Wee Jasper, and from there, to Tumut. The bridge is located approximately 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Yass and 22 kilometres (14 mi) from Wee Jasper. The property is owned by Transport for NSW. Under the Heritage Act, 1977 (NSW) s 170, the bridge was added to the New South Wales State agency heritage register on 18 August 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethanga Bridge</span> Bridge in New South Wales, Australia

The Bethanga Bridge is a steel truss road bridge that carries the Riverina Highway across Lake Hume, an artificial lake on the Murray River in Australia. The dual heritage-listed bridge crosses the border between the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria, linking the Victorian towns of Bellbridge and Bethanga with the regional New South Wales city of Albury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadliers Crossing Railway Bridge</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Sadliers Crossing Railway Bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge at over Bremer River between Tallon Street, Sadliers Crossing and Dixon Street, Wulkuraka, Queensland, Australia on the Main Line (this section is now the Ipswich and Rosewood railway line. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 13 November 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burdekin River Rail Bridge</span> Bridge in Queensland, Australia

Burdekin River Rail Bridge is a heritage-listed former railway bridge on the Great Northern railway over the Burdekin River at Dotswood, Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Henry Charles Stanley and built from c. 1896 to 1899 by Swanson Brothers. It is also known as Macrossan Bridge. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morpeth Bridge</span> Bridge in New South Wales, Australia

Morpeth Bridge is a heritage-listed road bridge over the Hunter River at Morpeth, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Percy Allan and built from 1896 to 1898 by Samuel McGill. It is also known as Morpeth Bridge over the Hunter River. The property is owned by Transport for NSW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macquarie River railway bridge, Dubbo</span> Bridge in New South Wales, Australia

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 Transport Asset Holding Entity, 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 Gee Gee Bridge was a heritage-listed road bridge that carried Noorong Road across the Wakool River, connecting Cunninyeuk with Wetuppa in New South Wales, Australia. The bridge was designed by Harvey Dare and opened in 1929. Owned by the Murray River Council it was replaced by a concrete structure in May 2020 and demolished.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tooleybuc Bridge</span> Bridge crossing Murray River in Victoria, Australia

The Tooleybuc Bridge is a dual heritage-listed road bridge that carries Tooleybuc Road across the Murray River, located in Tooleybuc, New South Wales, Australia. It was built in 1925. The bridge is owned by the Transport for NSW, and is also called the Tooleybuc Bridge over Murray River. The bridge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 20 June 2000 and the Victorian Heritage Register on 10 July 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murrumbidgee River railway bridge, Gundagai</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manning River railway bridge, Taree</span> Bridge in New South Wales, Australia

The Manning River railway bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge that carries the North Coast Line across the Manning River located at Mount George, near Taree in the Mid-Coast Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The bridge is also known as the Mount George Rail Bridge over Manning River. The property is owned by Transport Asset Holding Entity, 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 Manilla railway underbridges are two heritage-listed railway bridges located on the Tamworth-Barraba railway line in the town of Manilla in the Tamworth Regional Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The underbridges are owned by Transport Asset Holding Entity, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. The two sites were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paterson River bridge, Hinton</span> Bridge in New South Wales, Australia

The Hinton Bridge over Paterson River is a heritage-listed road bridge that carrier the Hinton-Morpeth Road across the Paterson River at Hinton, New South Wales, Australia. The bridge was designed by Ernest de Burgh and built in 1901. The bridge is owned by Transport for NSW. The bridge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 20 June 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emu Plains Underbridge</span> Bridge in New South Wales, Australia

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 Transport Asset Holding Entity, 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. "North Coast Railway". The Wingham Chronicle & Manning River Observer . Kempsey. 15 June 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  2. Repairing Kempsey Railway Bridge EHA Magazine September 2021 pages 23-28
  3. "New Rail Bridge For Kempsey". Morning Bulletin . Rockhampton. 19 July 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  4. "No New Kempsey Bridge". Macleay Argus . Mavcleay. 6 February 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 "Kempsey rail bridge over Macleay River". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01041. Retrieved 2 June 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
  6. "NSW Bridges". Daily Examiner . Grafton. 19 July 1932. p. 21. Retrieved 19 July 2018.

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