Murray River road and railway bridge, Tocumwal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Murray River road and railway bridge, Tocumwal |
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The Tocumwal Bridge, viewed from Tocumwal, New South Wales
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| Coordinates | 35°48′48″S 145°33′24″E / 35.813344°S 145.556610°E |
| Carries |
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| Crosses | Murray River |
| Locale | Tocumwal, Berrigan Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Other name(s) | Tocumwal road and rail bridge over Murray River |
| Owner | RailCorp |
| Preceded by | Edward Hillson Bridge, Tocumwal (Goulburn Valley Highway  ) |
| Followed by | Barmah Bridge, Barmah |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss lift span |
| Material | Cast iron |
| Number of spans | 3 |
| Piers in water | 2 |
| History | |
| Constructed by | NSW Public Works Department |
| Opened | 1895 |
| Inaugurated | Easter 1895 by J. H. Young, NSW Secretary for Public Works and Sir Maurice O'Rorke |
| Official name: Tocumwal road and rail bridge over Murray River | |
| Type: | State heritage (built) |
| Designated: | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference #: | 1061 |
| Type: | Railway Bridge / Viaduct |
| Category: | Transport - Rail |
| Builders: | NSW Public Works Department |
The Tocumwal Bridge is a special bridge that crosses the Murray River at Tocumwal, a town in New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as the Tocumwal Road and Rail Bridge over Murray River. This bridge is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical structure.
The bridge was first built for cars and other vehicles. Later, it was also used for trains. Today, it only carries the Tocumwal railway line. The bridge is owned by RailCorp, a railway company.
Contents
Building the Tocumwal Bridge
The Tocumwal Bridge was opened in 1895. It was built by the NSW Public Works Department. The bridge is a type called a truss bridge with a special lift span.
How the Lift Span Works
A lift span is a part of the bridge that can be lifted up. This allows boats and ships to pass underneath. The Tocumwal Bridge has three main sections, and the middle section is the one that lifts.
Changes Over Time
When the bridge first opened, it was only for road traffic. In 1908, it was made stronger so that trains could use it too. For many years, both cars and trains shared the bridge.
In November 1987, a new road bridge called the Edward Hillson Bridge opened nearby. This new bridge carries the Goulburn Valley Highway across the Murray River. After that, the old Tocumwal Bridge was used only for trains.
The Lifting Span's History
When the bridge was new, the lift span was raised every month for testing. This was to make sure it worked properly. When it became a road and rail bridge, the span was usually kept down. It was only lifted if river boats needed to pass.
Less River Traffic
By 1930, fewer boats were using the river. So, by 1944, the monthly lifting tests changed to once a year. The last time the bridge was lifted for river traffic was in 1933.
In 1951, people suggested keeping the span closed all the time. By 1977, the governments of New South Wales and Victoria agreed to fix the span in place. This meant it would no longer be lifted. However, for celebrations in 1995, the lift span was operated again.
Why the Bridge is Special
The Tocumwal Bridge is very important because it was one of the first bridges used for both road and rail traffic. It shows how transport changed in Australia. It also highlights the competition between the states back then.
The bridge is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it is a valuable part of history. It helps us understand how people built things in the past. It also shows how important bridges were for connecting different parts of the country.
