Abandoned Bridges and Viaducts
Zig Zag Railway, Lithgow, NSW
The Lithgow Zig Zag is one of the major engineering achievements of the railway era, its construction opened up the western area of New South Wales beyond the Blue Mountains for development with access by rail. It was the major achievement of NSW Railways Chief Engineer John Whitton. At the time of its construction, it was the greatest civil engineering work in Australia and was considered worldwide as an engineering marvel.
Bowenfels Viaduct (1870), NSW
The picturesque Bowenfels rail viaducts are a series of heritage-listed railway viaducts and railway bridges over Farmers Creek on the Main Western line in Bowenfels, City of Lithgow, New South Wales. It was designed in two stages - by John Whitton as the Engineer-in-Chief for Railways, in 1870; and by engineering staff of New South Wales Government Railways in 1921. The 1870 viaduct was built for the original single track Great Western Railway over Farmers Creek west of Bowenfels Railway Station. When built it was the eighth longest stone bridge completed in Australia
Wagga Wagga Railway Bridge, Wagga Wagga, NSW
The Murrumbidgee River railway bridge is a former railway bridge that carried the Main Southern railway line across the Murrumbidgee River in Wagga Wagga, NSW. The original bridge, erected in 1881, was replaced in 2006. The original four span wrought iron lattice truss bridge opened on 16 January 1881. It was the second oldest bridge out of the twelve related wrought iron lattice truss series bridges built in Australia. Each of the four lattice truss spans were 46 metres long which joined onto what was thought to be the longest timber viaduct in Australia. The bridge was considered as of major importance to the history of bridge engineering in Australia. Wagga Wagga Railway Station is located on the Sydney to Melbourne railway line.
Victoria Bridge, Penrith, NSW
Together with its sister bridge at Menangle, the Victoria Bridge is one of the oldest and finest built-for-railway bridges in NSW. Spanning the Hawkesbury River near Penrith, it was built between 1862 and 1865. The bridge features three spans made of wrought-iron of a cellular construction, each 57m in length and resting on two intermediate piers. The bridge was destroyed by floods in 1857. Reconstructed, it was again destroyed in 1860. Restoration of the road bridge was deferred because plans were almost completed for the extension of the railway across the river and over the mountains and it was considered that part of the railway bridge could then be used by road vehicles.
Gundagai Railway Bridge, Gundagai, NSW
The Murrumbidgee River railway bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge across the Murrumbidgee River located on the Tumut railway line at Gundagai. It was built in 1903. Also known as the Gundagai Rail Bridge over Murrumbidgee River and the Murrumbidgee River Railway Bridge, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Narrandera Railway Bridge, Narrandera, NSW
Murrumbidgee River railway bridge is a disused eritage-listed bridge on the Tocumwal railway line crossing from Narrandera to Gillenbah. 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 (now defunct) Register of the National Estate on 15 May 1990.
Noojee Trestle Bridge, Vic
Nestled on the banks of the Latrobe River in Victoria's Gippsland region is the small viggage of Noojee. A short trail through tall forests leads to the impressive restored trestle bridge. The terrain offers a gentle climb from Noojee and is well shaded and protected from wind. The trail is on the same former railway line as the Rokeby to Crossover Rail Trail, a branch line from Warragul.
Kilcunda Trestle Bridge, Vic
The disused Wonthaggi railway line was developed as a branch off the main South Gippsland line in Victoria, branching off at Nyora in 1910. It's main purpose was to serve the coal mining areas around Wonthaggi. The line actually extended a short distance beyond Wonthaggi to the mining area. The line included a number of bridges, the most spectacular of which was at Kilcunda. The trestle bridge, built in 1910 over the beach on the down side of the former station, is used as part of the rail trail.
Moorabool Viaduct, Vic
he Moorabool Viaduct, 12km north-west of Geelong and about 1.5km west of the Geelong-Ballan Road, is the most important engineering feature of the Geelong to Ballarat Railway. The bluestone and iron viaduct was the largest in Australia until the construction of the Hawkesbury River Bridge in 1889, and remains in railway service today. The bridge takes the railway over the Moorabool River, that runs past several small towns and areas such as Meredith, Anakie, and Staughton Vale (north-west of Geelong). The river joins with the Barwon River at Fyansford.
Koetong Trestle Bridges, Vic
The village Koetong is home to the spectacular Edgars Road Trestle Bridge and the 77 metre long Boggy Creek Trestle Bridge. The historic wooden Boggy Creek Trestle Bridge is four kilometres from Koetong and was built in 1915 for use by the railway. Today, the Boggy Creek Trestle Bridge has been faithfully restored and boasts a picnic table here and a short scenic walk. Spanning the deep gully carved by Boggy Creek, the bridge remains intact. The structural engineering is readily observed. Be mindful however, the bridge is not safe to walk on.
Pyalong Trestle Bridges, Vic
One of the major items of railway infrastructure required to be built for any new railway line are the means of crossing waterways, roads or going through hills, and it was no different for the Bendigo to Kilmore line when it was being built in the 1880s. The Wandong, Heathcote, Sandhurst section of the line required the construction of fifty bridges, not counting road crossings. Such bridges were needed to cross small waterways, as well as larger ones like the Mt Ida Creek, the Campaspe River, Axe Creek, Sweenies Creek and Grassy Flat Creek.
Harlin Railway Bridge, Harlin, Qld
The Harlin Rail Bridge, which crossed Ivory Creek (previously Maronghi Creek) at Harlin was located 61 miles 20 chains (98.6 km) from Wulkuraka railway station. It was a half-through Pratt truss (or pony truss) bridge built between 1909 and 1910 and was the only surviving concrete and steel railway bridge on the Brisbane Valley railway line. This line was developed as a branch line from the main Brisbane-Toowoomba rail line. Severely damaged during flooding in 2013 caused by Cyclone Oswald, the bridge had two steel 8 panel half-through Pratt trusses and was supported by two concrete abutments and six concrete piers.
Algebuckina Bridge, SA
The Algebuckina Bridge over the Neales River is one of the most impressive and well known bridges on the Old Ghan Line. It was opened to traffic in 1892. It consists of 19 spans. At 12 metres above the river and 578 metres in length, it is the longest bridge ever built in South Australia. Small quantities of gold were found here in 1883. More gold was discovered near the same river in 1886.
Stuart Creek Bridge, SA
At 433 metres, Stuart Creek Bridge is the second-longest bridge on the former old Ghan railway line. Built in 1877/1888 it is now on the Australian Heritage Database and the State Heritage Register. Stuart Creek is named after John McDouall Stuart the surveyor and explorer who was the first known European to reach the centre of Australia in 1860. Stuart's greatest achievement was the south to north crossing of the continent and back again in 1861-62. While on his expeditions, he found permanent water near Curdimurka which made future passage through the centre of Australia possible.
Forth Swing Bridge, Leith, Tas
This bridge, alongside Bass Highway at Leith, was built in 1885, making it one of the oldest movable bridges in Australia. It is unusual for a movable bridge to be designed for railway use only. Most other movable bridges were either road bridges or combined road and rail bridges. The bridge carries a single track railway on metal girders with spans 3 x 18.3, 2 x 12.8 (movable) and 3 x 18.3m, totalling 135.4 m. The ballasted deck is supported on deck-type metal plate girders throughout. Spans 2 and 3, and also 5 and 6 are continuous.
Dawes Range Tunnels, Qld
The building of the narrow gauge branch railway line from Byellee to Monto involved the construction of six tunnels, taking the railway under the Dawes Range. Built after World War I, one line still has the railway line through it, and the original ‘hogback’ sleepers in place. The single track tunnels are a feature of the newly created Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail.
Peterson Creek Rail bridge, Yungaburra, Qld
The Peterson Creek Rail bridge is one of three bridges constructed in 1957 -1958 as part of its Tinaroo Falls Dam projec. It is located at Yungaburra on the Atherton Tablelands, North Queensland. The bridges were major steel plate girder ones, with reinforced concrete substructures, and were constructed on the deviation of the railway line to link Kairi and Yungaburra. The bridge is accessible by foot from Pinnacle Pocket road, a walk of 500 mtrs via the old rail cutting. The tracks and sleepers have all been removed, so it is dangerous to attempt to cross it.
Tramway Lift Bridge, Nambour, Qld
The tramway lift bridge at Nambour is a low-level timber bridge that spans the Maroochy River between the former depot near River Store Road on the south bank and Store Road on the north bank. Part of the Moreton Central Sugar Mill Cane Tramway, it runs between the banks of the river within formal abutments, though the bank beneath has been reinforced with stones.
Jane Brook Bridge, John Forrest NP, Mundaring, WA
The original Mahogany Creek line, built in 1884 between Midland to Mundaring, was so steep a deviation had to be built through John Forrest National Park. The deviation included the Swan View Tunnel and three bridges at various points through the park across Jane Brook. The line was closed in 1966 at the time of the standard gauge Avon Valley rail route was opened, and the old Eastern Railway route became superfluous to WAGR needs. The bridge is now on a walking trail that follows the line's path.