Macquarie River railway bridge, Dubbo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Macquarie River Railway Bridge, Dubbo |
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| Coordinates | 32°14′38″S 148°35′59″E / 32.2439°S 148.5997°E |
| Carries | Main Western railway line |
| Crosses | Macquarie River |
| Locale | Dubbo, Dubbo Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Official name | Dubbo rail bridge over Macquarie River |
| Other name(s) | Dubbo Lattice Railway Bridge |
| Owner | RailCorp |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Lattice bridge |
| Material | Wrought iron |
| Pier construction | Cast iron cylinders |
| Longest span | 48 metres (159 ft) |
| Number of spans | 3 |
| History | |
| Architect | John Whitton; Engineer-in-Chief for Railways |
| Designer | Sir John Fowler |
| Constructed by | Benjamin Barnes |
| Fabrication by | Ironwork by Cochrane & Co., Middlesborough, England |
| Construction end | 1884 |
| Type: | State heritage (built) |
| Designated: | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference #: | 1032 |
| Type: | Railway Bridge/ Viaduct |
| Category: | Transport - Rail |
The Dubbo Rail Bridge over Macquarie River is a very old and important railway bridge. It is located west of the Dubbo town center in New South Wales, Australia. This bridge carries the Main Western railway line across the Macquarie River.
It was designed by John Whitton, who was the main engineer for the New South Wales Government Railways. The bridge was built in 1884 by Benjamin Barnes. Its iron parts were made by Cochrane & Co in England. This bridge is also known as the Dubbo Lattice Railway Bridge. It is owned by RailCorp, a government group in New South Wales. The bridge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999. It is about 463 kilometers (288 miles) from Sydney Central Station.
Contents
Why Was This Bridge Built?
Between 1873 and 1893, New South Wales had a huge building program. They built many new roads and railway lines. This was a busy time, but it ended with a big economic problem.
Even with lots of money being spent, engineers like John Whitton had to save money. They tried to use as much local wood as possible for bridges. But for very wide rivers, wood bridges were not strong enough. These big bridges had to be made of metal. Metal parts had to come from England, which was very expensive.
Both main engineers were from Britain. They chose a popular design called the wrought iron lattice truss bridge. These bridges were strong and reliable. Twelve of these were built for railways and 24 for roads. These metal bridges are very important from that time. Most of them are still standing and being used today.
Other Lattice Railway Bridges
The Dubbo Rail Bridge is one of several similar bridges built during that time. Here are some other railway lattice bridges that are still around:
- 1876 – Bathurst Rail Bridge over Macquarie River (still standing but not used)
- 1881 – Macquarie River at Wellington
- 1882 – Peel River railway bridge at Tamworth
- 1882 – Macdonald River railway bridge at Woolbrook
- 1884 – Rail Bridge over Murray River, Albury-Wodonga
- 1885 – Murrumbidgee River railway bridge at Narrandera
- 1887 – Lachlan River railway bridge at Cowra
Some lattice railway bridges were changed for other uses. For example, two bridges (1885 Georges River at Como and 1886 Parramatta River at Meadowbank) are now used by people walking or cycling. Other bridges were replaced. The 1871 bridge over the Hunter River at Aberdeen was replaced. The 1881 bridge at Wagga Wagga was taken down in 2004.
What Does the Bridge Look Like?
The Dubbo Rail Bridge has three main sections, called spans. Each span is about 48.5 meters (159 feet) long. The bridge uses a special criss-cross pattern called a lattice design. It is made of strong wrought iron.
The bridge stands on tall supports called piers. These piers are made of cast iron cylinders. The bridge carries a single railway track. The main parts of the bridge are continuous over its three spans. They are connected above the track by arched, criss-cross braces.
The bridge also has long sections leading up to it. These sections include many smaller spans. Some are metal girders, and many are timber girders. These timber sections are also important examples of how bridges were built back then.
The bridge was tested on April 23, 1884, and started being used in May 1884.
How Strong is It?
The Dubbo bridge was a big achievement when it was built in 1884. Its 48.5-meter (159-foot) spans were very long for a bridge of its type and age. It is part of a group of twelve similar bridges. Eleven of these bridges are still standing today.
The bridge was designed by Sir John Fowler. He also helped design the famous Forth Bridge in Scotland.
Bridge Condition
As of 2006, the bridge was in good physical condition.
Why is it a Heritage Site?
The Dubbo Rail Bridge is very important to the history of New South Wales. It is one of John Whitton's single-track lattice bridges. These bridges were typical of how things were built back then.
This bridge is part of the most important group of old bridges in New South Wales. They helped New South Wales grow by allowing railways to reach new areas. Each bridge is an impressive sight. The wrought iron lattice bridge design was considered one of the best for large bridges at the time.
The Dubbo Rail Bridge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999 because it met several important rules:
Showing History
Twelve wrought iron lattice railway bridges were built in New South Wales between 1871 and 1887. This was a busy time for building railways. The Dubbo bridge is one of these important historical structures.
Showing Great Design
All nine of the iron lattice railway bridges that remain are impressive to look at. They show great skill in design and building.
Connecting with the Community
Each iron lattice railway bridge crossed a major river. This helped the railway lines reach new districts. This helped these areas grow socially and for business.
Learning from the Past
The iron lattice bridge was a very strong and smart design for its time. Its strength and long life show that it was a very good and cost-effective way to build bridges.
Being a Great Example
Together, the iron lattice railway bridges are a great example of a very important type of bridge structure.
