Tenterfield Creek railway bridge, Sunnyside facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tenterfield Creek railway bridge, Sunnyside(former) |
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Sunnyside rail bridge over Tenterfield Creek, 2015
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| Coordinates | 28°59′07″S 151°56′57″E / 28.9853°S 151.9492°E |
| Carries | Main North line |
| Crosses | Tenterfield Creek |
| Locale | Tenterfield, Tenterfield Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Other name(s) | Sunnyside rail bridge over Tenterfield Creek |
| Owner | RailCorp |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Queen post truss |
| Material | Timber |
| Number of spans | 4 |
| History | |
| Engineering design by | John Whitton; Engineer-in-Chief for Railways |
| Construction end | 1888 |
| Closed | c. 2007 |
| Official name: Sunnyside rail bridge over Tenterfield Creek | |
| Type: | State heritage (built) |
| Designated: | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference #: | 1056 |
| Type: | Railway Bridge/ Viaduct |
| Category: | Transport - Rail |
The Tenterfield Creek railway bridge is a special old bridge that used to carry the Main North line. It crosses Tenterfield Creek near Sunnyside and Jennings in New South Wales, Australia. This bridge was designed by John Whitton, a very important railway engineer. It was built in 1888.
This bridge is also known as the Sunnyside rail bridge over Tenterfield Creek. It is owned by RailCorp, a government agency. Because of its history and design, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. The bridge stopped being used around 2007.
Building the Main North Railway Line
Early Railway Expansion
John Whitton was the main engineer for railways from 1856 to 1890. He worked on extending the Main North railway line. This line went from Muswellbrook to Glen Innes between 1870 and 1884. The railway had to go through the high parts of the Great Dividing Range. This meant building on steep hills and sharp curves. It also needed a lot of earthworks and big iron bridges. Building this part of the railway was very expensive.
Saving Money on Bridges
When the railway line was planned to go from Glen Innes to Tenterfield, they needed to find ways to save money. Bridges were one area where they could cut costs. They decided to use timber bridges instead of expensive iron ones. Most of these were simple timber beam bridges. However, three places needed larger bridges: over Beardy Waters, Severn River, and Bluff River.
The Queen Post Truss Design
Whitton was a successful railway engineer from England. He chose a design from a famous engineer named I. K. Brunel. Brunel had built timber bridges called viaducts in Cornwall in the 1850s. Whitton's team used the "St Germans Viaduct" as a model. This design used "Queen post trusses." A truss is a framework, usually of wood or metal, that supports a bridge. The original design used iron rods at the bottom. Whitton's team changed the design so that the trusses were made entirely of timber. These timber viaducts were built between 1884 and 1886.
The Tenterfield Creek Bridge
The last part of the railway line went to Wallangarra in 1888. This section was mostly easier to build because it was on flatter land. But crossing Tenterfield Creek still needed a large bridge. So, another timber Queen post truss viaduct was built there. This was the fourth such bridge between Glen Innes and the Queensland border. Only two other similar timber viaducts were built around this time.
Connecting States
The old Great Northern line was very important. It was the first railway to connect Sydney and Brisbane. In 1887, the Queensland railway line reached Wallangarra. The New South Wales line arrived from Tenterfield in 1888. However, the two railway systems used different track sizes (called "gauges"). This meant that passengers had to get off one train and onto another at Wallangarra's unique railway station.
In 1930, a standard size track was finished all the way to Brisbane. This new line went through Kyogle. After this, the Great Northern Railway started to be used less. The last passenger trains went north to Wallangarra in 1972. Trains stopped going to Tenterfield in 1989. Today, Armidale is the end of the line for passenger services.
Bridge Features
The Tenterfield Creek railway bridge has a single track. It is located about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of Tenterfield. The bridge is a timber truss viaduct with four sections, called "spans." Each span is about 12-metre (40 ft) long. The bridge uses "deck Queen post trusses." This means the railway track sits on top of the truss structure. As mentioned, this design was copied from Brunel's "St Germans viaduct" in Cornwall.
Bridge Condition
As of June 2007, the bridge was in only fair condition. This was because it had not been maintained since trains stopped using the line. In April 2007, reports said the bridge was in a very critical state. It needed urgent repairs, especially for public safety.
Changes Over Time
The railway track between Tamworth and Wallangarra has not changed much from when John Whitton first built it. Most of the original tunnels, bridges, and station buildings are still there. They have not been replaced. However, much of the track has not been used for a long time.
Why This Bridge is Special
Historical Importance
The timber Queen post truss viaduct was a smart and affordable bridge design. It was built for the Glen Innes to Wallangarra Railway. This was at a time in the 1880s when money for railway building was becoming less available. The Main North Railway helped the New England Region grow a lot between 1882 and 1888. These four timber viaducts were a very important part of the railway system.
Design and Construction
The timber Queen post deck viaduct was a significant structure. It was used instead of the more expensive iron bridges that John Whitton usually preferred. These viaducts were well-built and strong. They were made from a very tough wood called ironbark hardwood. They are a unique type of railway bridge.
Heritage Listing Reasons
The Sunnyside rail bridge over Tenterfield Creek was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. It met several important requirements:
- It shows how history unfolded in New South Wales.
* The timber Queen post truss viaduct was an economic bridge. It was built when railway funding was decreasing in the 1880s.
- It is linked to important people or groups in New South Wales history.
* This bridge is important because it shows the early expansion of NSW railways. This happened when John Whitton was the Engineer-in-Chief.
- It shows great design or technical skill.
* Even though some are hard to reach, these timber viaducts are impressive. They look great in their rural settings. The Tenterfield bridge is easy to see from the nearby New England Highway.
- It is important to a community or group for social or cultural reasons.
* The Main North Railway helped the New England Region develop a lot. The four timber viaducts were key parts of this railway.
- It can teach us about the history of New South Wales.
* The timber Queen post deck viaduct was a significant structure. It was a good alternative to the expensive iron bridges. These viaducts were strong and well-built using ironbark hardwood.
- It is a rare or uncommon part of New South Wales history.
* The Sunnyside bridge is one of only four such viaducts. There are also two others on the Bombala railway line. They are a unique type of railway bridge.
