Fremantle Railway Bridge facts for kids
The Fremantle Railway Bridge is a special bridge in Western Australia. It carries the Fremantle railway line across the beautiful Swan River. This bridge connects the towns of Fremantle and North Fremantle. People sometimes call it the North Fremantle Bridge.
Did you know there have actually been two railway bridges in this spot? The one you see today is the second one.
Contents
The First Bridge: A Tricky Start
The very first railway bridge wasn't perfect. It was built a long time ago.
One problem was its design. It wasn't as strong as it needed to be. Another issue was where it was built. It made it hard for big ships to move around in the Fremantle Harbour.
Because of these problems, a new bridge was planned in the 1950s. This new bridge would be built a bit further up the river. It would also be closer to the Fremantle Traffic Bridge.
Flood Damage in 1926
The first Fremantle Railway Bridge faced a big challenge in 1926. Huge floods hit the area. The powerful floodwaters damaged the bridge badly.
But the railway workers were quick! They repaired the bridge soon after the floods. It was important to get the trains running again.
The Current Bridge: Built to Last
The bridge we see today is much stronger and safer. It was built to handle modern trains and river traffic.
Ship Collisions in the 2000s
Even strong bridges can have accidents. In the 2000s, the current Fremantle Railway Bridge was hit by ships a few times. One of these accidents happened during a big storm.
Luckily, the bridge could be repaired each time. To stop this from happening again, special barriers were put in place. These barriers help protect the bridge from ships.
