Murray River railway bridge, Albury–Wodonga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Murray River railway bridge, Albury-Wodonga |
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Location of Murray River railway bridge, on the border between New South Wales and Victoria, at Albury-Wodonga
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| Coordinates | 36°06′00″S 146°54′34″E / 36.0999°S 146.9094°E |
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| Crosses | Murray River |
| Locale | Albury, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Owner | Transport Asset Holding Entity |
| Maintained by | Australian Rail Track Corporation |
| History | |
| Designer | Sir John Fowler for John Whitton |
| Constructed by | J. S. Bennett |
| Fabrication by | Westwood, Baillie, England |
| Construction begin | 1883 |
| Construction end | 1884 |
| Construction cost | A£32,519.19.0 |
| Official name: Albury rail bridge over Murray River; Albury Lattice Railway Bridge; Murray River Underbridge | |
| Type: | State heritage (built) |
| Designated: | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference #: | 1020 |
| Type: | Railway Bridge/ Viaduct |
| Category: | Transport - Rail |
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The Murray River railway bridge is a special old railway bridge that crosses the Murray River. It connects Albury in New South Wales and Wodonga in Victoria. This bridge is part of the Main Southern line and the North East railway line.
The bridge was designed by John Whitton and built between 1883 and 1884. A company called J. S. Bennett constructed it, and the iron parts came from Westwood, Baillie in England. It's also known by other names like the Albury Lattice Railway Bridge. Today, the bridge is owned by the Transport Asset Holding Entity and looked after by the Australian Rail Track Corporation. It's about 648 kilometers from Sydney's main train station.
Building the Bridge
Railway Expansion in New South Wales
Between 1873 and 1893, New South Wales had a huge building boom. They built many new roads and railway lines. Even though times were good, engineers like John Whitton, who was in charge of railways, tried to save money. They used local materials whenever they could. This meant a lot of strong timber was used for bridges.
Why Metal Bridges Were Needed
For very long bridges over big rivers, timber wasn't strong enough. So, engineers decided to use metal for these larger bridges. The metal parts often came all the way from England. John Whitton chose a special design called "wrought iron lattice truss bridges." These bridges had a criss-cross pattern, like a lattice.
Famous Lattice Bridges
Twelve of these lattice bridges were built for railways in New South Wales during the late 1800s. Many of them are still standing today! The Murray River bridge at Albury, built in 1884, is one of them. Other famous railway lattice bridges include:
- The Macquarie River bridge at Bathurst (1876)
- The Peel River bridge at Tamworth (1882)
- The Murrumbidgee River bridge at Narrandera (1885)
- The Lachlan River bridge at Cowra (1887)
How the Albury Bridge Was Built
The Albury Murray River Bridge has two large sections, each about 48.5 meters long. These sections are made of strong wrought iron in a lattice pattern. The bridge stands on cast iron piers (supports). The heavy iron parts, including the cylinders and the main structure, were shipped from England in 1883.
The bridge was designed by Sir John Fowler, 1st Baronet, who also helped design the famous Firth of Forth Bridge in Scotland. The Albury bridge was tested on September 24, 1884, and opened for trains on October 18, 1884. It's still in use today!
Cost of Construction
Building the bridge cost about £32,519 in Australian pounds back then. This included the cost of the iron parts, shipping them, putting the supports in place, and building the main structure.
Changes Over Time
The Albury Bridge hasn't changed much since it was built. One big change happened in 1962. A new track was added to link Albury to Melbourne with a "standard gauge" railway line. This made it easier for trains to travel between New South Wales and Victoria.
Some other old lattice railway bridges have been changed. For example, two bridges near Sydney are now used for walking and cycling instead of trains.
Bridge Features
Design and Structure
The Albury Murray River Bridge is a double-track bridge, meaning it can carry two railway lines. It has three main sections, or "spans," made of wrought iron lattice. The lattice pattern helps make the bridge very strong. The main supports, called piers, are made of cast iron cylinders.
This bridge is special because it's the only double-track lattice bridge still used by trains. It was also the first two-track lattice bridge built in New South Wales.
Unique Characteristics
The Albury bridge is one of twelve similar lattice bridges built between 1871 and 1887. Most of these bridges are still around. The Albury bridge was the second of a newer group of these bridges, which had some design improvements.
From 1884 until 2011, the bridge had two different track sizes: one for New South Wales' "standard gauge" trains and one for Victoria's "broad gauge" trains. This was because the two states used different track widths. In 2011, the Victorian broad gauge track was changed to standard gauge, so now both tracks are the same width.
The Albury bridge was also the first of these lattice bridges to have two spans. The older ones had one, three, or four spans. Today, the bridge carries two standard gauge railway tracks. A walkway for people has also been added on one side.
Current Condition
The railway line across the bridge is still in use. In 2008, it was reported to be in good condition. The Albury bridge is still very much like it was when it was first built, apart from some small repairs and strengthening work. One of the tracks is currently closed, so the line is being used as a single track.
Why This Bridge Is Important
A Piece of History
The wrought iron lattice Albury Murray River bridge is a very important old structure. It's connected to John Whitton, who is sometimes called the "father" of the New South Wales railways. It's also linked to the Albury Railway Precinct, which is a significant railway site.
This bridge is a great example of a wrought iron lattice bridge. This design was used a lot when railways were first being built in New South Wales in the late 1800s. It's important for its history and its beautiful design, and it's a well-known landmark on the border between New South Wales and Victoria.
Unique and Lasting
It's one of only two double-track bridges of this design, and the other one is no longer used for trains. This means the Albury bridge is special because it's still carrying trains on two tracks. It's also the seventh oldest lattice bridge in the New South Wales railway system.
Heritage Listing Reasons
The Albury rail bridge over the Murray River was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, for several reasons:
- Showing History: It shows how railways were built in New South Wales between 1871 and 1887. Many of these bridges are still used today.
- Important People: It's linked to John Whitton, the "father" of the NSW Railways.
- Great Design: The wrought iron lattice railway bridge at Albury is a very impressive structure.
- Community Connection: These bridges helped connect communities by allowing railways to reach new areas, bringing social and business benefits.
- Learning Opportunity: The bridge is a strong and well-built example of bridge technology from the late 1800s. It shows how cost-effective and durable this type of construction was.
- Good Example: The Albury Murray River wrought iron lattice bridge is an excellent example of many similar bridges built by the NSW railways in the late 1800s, most of which are still standing.
