Rydal rail underbridges facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rydal rail underbridges |
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Heritage boundaries
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| Coordinates | 33°30′59″S 150°00′25″E / 33.5164°S 150.0069°E |
| Carries | Main Western line |
| Crosses | Solitary Creek |
| Locale | Rydal, City of Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia |
| Other name(s) | Railway Crossings 1 - 6 (Rydal/Sodwalls) |
| Owner | RailCorp |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Underbridges and viaducts |
| Material | Stone and brick |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1872 and 1916 |
| Official name: Rydal rail underbridges | |
| Type: | State heritage (built) |
| Designated: | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference #: | 1053 |
| Type: | Railway Bridge/ Viaduct |
| Category: | Transport - Rail |
The Rydal rail underbridges are a group of old railway bridges. They are found in Rydal, Australia. These bridges carry the Main Western line over Solitary Creek. They are very important to the history of New South Wales. Because of their history, they are listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means they are protected and valued for future generations.
Contents
Why These Bridges Were Built
Around the year 1900, many railway lines in New South Wales were getting very busy. The trains were running almost constantly. This included the main railway lines like the Main West, Main South, and Main North. Even the city railways were crowded with both passenger and freight trains.
Solving the Traffic Problem
To fix this problem, railway engineers came up with a plan. They decided to make some railway sections straighter. This would make the tracks less steep. They also wanted to add a second track in many places. This would allow more trains to run at the same time. This big project started around 1910 and finished mostly by 1922.
Building New Bridges
As part of this project, many new bridges were needed. The main material used for these new bridges was bricks. Steel was expensive back then. It often had to be brought in from Britain. Using bricks helped save money. It also followed a rule to use local materials whenever possible.
A special place called the State Brickworks opened in 1912. This greatly increased the supply of bricks. So, from 1910 to 1922, most railway bridges were built with bricks. Later, more steel became available. Australian companies like BHP could make enough steel. This meant that bricks were no longer the main material for railway bridges.
Changes at Solitary Creek
Work to improve the Main West line started in 1910. This included the section at Solitary Creek. This part of the railway goes from Rydal to Sodwalls. It was completed between 1910 and 1915.
What the Bridges Look Like
The Rydal rail underbridges are a set of six bridges. They are made of stone. Some were built in 1872, and others in 1916. They were designed to carry a single railway track.
Old and New Tracks
The original Main Western Railway reached Sodwalls in 1872. This first route was quite direct from Rydal. But it had some very steep parts. It also crossed Solitary Creek many times.
Around 1906, a new, longer route was built. This new route had gentler slopes. It made it easier for trains to travel. The old route still has several bridges. The longest one is called "No. 6 Viaduct." It has four arches. Today, some of these old bridges are still used by trains. They carry both passenger and freight trains. The bridges are in good condition.
Why These Bridges Are Special
The Rydal rail underbridges were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means they are considered very important. They show a unique part of the history of New South Wales. They are also rare examples of how railways were built in the past.
