Murrumbidgee River railway bridge, Wagga Wagga

Bridge in New South Wales, Australia

Murrumbidgee River railway bridge, Wagga Wagga

Original bridge in May 2006

Coordinates| 35°06′57″S 147°22′58″E﻿ / ﻿35.115703°S 147.382822°E﻿ / -35.115703; 147.382822
Carries| Main Southern railway line
Crosses| Murrumbidgee River
Locale| Wagga Wagga, Riverina, New South Wales, Australia
Owner| Transport Asset Holding Entity
Characteristics
Design| Lattice truss
Total length| 3,078 metres (10,100 ft)
Longest span| 4 x 46 metres (150 ft)
Rail characteristics
Track gauge| 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
History
Constructed by| Messrs. R. & A. Amos
Fabrication by| P. & W. McClellan & Co, Scotland
Construction start| 1871
Construction end| December 1880
Opened| 16 January 1881
Closed| 30 December 2006
Location

The Murrumbidgee River railway bridge is a former railway bridge that carried the Main Southern railway line across the Murrumbidgee River in Wagga Wagga, Australia. The original bridge, erected in 1881, was replaced in 2006.

## Original bridge

[edit]

The original four span wrought iron lattice truss bridge opened on 16 January 1881. It was the second oldest bridge out of the twelve related wrought iron lattice truss series bridges built in Australia. Each of the four lattice truss spans were 46 metres (150 ft) long which joined onto what was thought to be the longest timber viaduct in Australia.[1][2][3][4] The bridge was considered as of major importance to the history of bridge engineering in Australia.[2][5][6]

The spans were manufactured by P. & W. McClellan & Co., Glasgow weighing a combined 790 tonnes (870 short tons). The northern approach was originally built with 215 timber trestles.[7] These were replaced with steel trestles over a four-year period from 1897. The trestles were strengthened in 1994 as part of the One Nation project.[8] By 2000 a 20 km/h (12 mph) speed restriction over the bridge had been imposed.[9]

## Replacement bridge

[edit]

The bridge was removed and replaced with a new concrete bridge during a four-day shut down from 30 December 2006.[10] The wrought iron lattice railway bridge was cut away using oxy cutters. One cut section of the bridge was donated to railway preservation group Tumbarail at Ladysmith.[11] The rest of the bridge was taken to Port Kembla for disposal.[8] The new bridge allowed an 80 km/h (50 mph) speed limit to be introduced.[12]

## Engineering heritage award

[edit]

The bridge received a Historic Engineering Marker from Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.[13]

## See also

[edit]

* Transport portal
* Engineering portal
* Railways portal
* New South Wales portal

* List of railway bridges in New South Wales

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The reconstruction of the Wagga viaduct". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin (591). Australian Railway Historical Society: 3–15. January 1987.
2. ^ a b "Murrumbidgee River Rail Bridge, Wagga Wagga, NSW (Place ID 15910)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
3. ^ Iron Lattice Girder Railway Bridges National Trust of Australia
4. ^ Railway Lattice Bridge and Viaducts Institution of Engineers
5. ^ "Iron Lattice Girder Railway Bridges" (PDF). Endangered Places. National Trust of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2006. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
6. ^ "Wagga Wagga" (PDF). Railway Lattice Bridge and Viaducts. Institution of Engineers. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2006. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
7. ^ "Railway Communication". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. LXIV, no. 1939\. New South Wales, Australia. 4 September 1897. p. 497 - via National Library of Australia.
8. ^ a b "Wagga Wagga Bridge" Railway Digest March 2007 pages 23-25
9. ^ "Here & There". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin (778). Australian Railway Historical Society: 18. August 2002.
10. ^ ARTC New Wagga Rail Bridge Opens for Business Australian Rail Track Corporation 2 January 2007
11. ^ New $16m bridge for Wagga The Daily Advertiser 30 December 2006
12. ^ "Intelligence" Railway Gazette International March 2007 page 130
13. ^ "Wagga Wagga Railway Lattice Bridge and Viaducts, Murrumbidgee River, 1880-". Engineers Australia. Retrieved 8 May 2020.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Murrumbidgee River Railway Bridge (1881) at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Railway bridges in Australia

New South Wales
former|

* Albury–Wodonga
* Bargo
* Belmore
* Beverly Hills
* Bowenfels
* Burwood
* Canterbury
* Como
* Cougal Spiral
* Cowra
* Dubbo
* Dunmore
* Emu Plains
* Glebe and Wentworth Park
* Goulburn
* Grafton
* Gundagai
* Hawkesbury River
* John Whitton
* Kempsey
* Lismore
* Lithgow Coal Stage Signal Box
* Lithgow Underbridge
* Lewisham
* Marrangaroo
* Menangle
* Moss Vale
* Narrandera
* Orange
* Penrith
* Picton
* Queanbeyan
* Redfern
* Rydal
* Sandgate Flyover
* Springwood
* Stanwell Park
* Strathfield
* Sydney Harbour
* Tahmoor
* Tamworth
* Taree
* Tocumwal
* Wagga Wagga
* Wallerawang
* Wambool
* Woolbrook

* Bathurst
* Bredbo
* Colinton
* Como
* Dundee
* Emu Plains
* Gulgong
* Knapsack Viaduct
* Lithgow Zig Zag
* Manilla
* Old Como
* Railway Square
* Sunnyside
* Ultimo
* Yarraford
* Yass

Northern Territory|

* Elizabeth River

Queensland|

* Albert
* Alexandra
* Angellala
* Bremer River
* Burdekin
* Burdekin River
* Deep Creek
* Dickabram
* Etheridge
* Harlin
* Humphery
* Ideraway Creek
* Imbil
* Indooroopilly
* Lockyer
* Maroochy River
* Merivale
* Murphys Creek
* Quart Pot Creek
* Sadliers Crossing
* Saltwater Creek
* Splitters Creek
* Steep Rocky Creek
* Swansons
* Woolooga

South Australia
former|

* Goodwood Overpass
* Mary MacKillop

* Algebuckina

Tasmania|

* Bridgewater
* Longford

Victoria
former|

* Albion Viaduct
* Cowies Creek (No. 1)
* Cremorne
* Hawthorn
* Heyington
* Malmsbury Viaduct
* Melton Viaduct
* Saltwater River
* Taradale Viaduct
* Tocumwal

* Fairfield
* Sandridge

Western Australia
former|

* Fremantle
* Goongoongup
* Mount Henry
* Narrows

* Bunbury

* v
* t
* e

Riverina - New South Wales

Cities|

* Albury
* Griffith
* Wagga Wagga

Local government areas|

* Albury
* Balranald
* Berrigan
* Carrathool
* Coolamon
* Edward River
* Federation
* Griffith
* Greater Hume
* Cootamundra–Gundagai
* Hay
* Jerilderie
* Junee
* Leeton
* Lockhart
* Murray River
* Murrumbidgee
* Narrandera
* Snowy Valleys
* Temora
* Wagga Wagga

Towns /
Communities|

* Adelong
* Adjungbilly
* Alfredtown
* Alma Park
* Ardlethan
* Ariah Park
* Ballbank
* Balldale
* Balranald
* Barellan
* Barham
* Barnes
* Barooga
* Batlow
* Beckom
* Bectric
* Beelbangera
* Beggan Beggan
* Berrigan
* Bethungra
* Bidgeemia
* Bilbul
* Binya
* Birrego
* Blighty
* Book Book
* Bookham
* Booligal
* Booroorban
* Borambola
* Boree Creek
* Bowna
* Brawlin
* Brocklesby
* Brookdale
* Brungle
* Brushwood
* Bulgandry
* Bullenbung
* Bundure
* Bungowannah
* Bunnaloo
* Buraja
* Burraboi
* Burrandana
* Burrinjuck
* Burrumbuttock
* Caldwell
* Carabost
* Carrathool
* Cavan
* Coleambally
* Collingullie
* Colinroobie
* Combaning
* Conargo
* Condoulpe
* Cookardinia
* Coolac
* Coolamon
* Cootamundra
* Coree
* Coreen
* Corobimilla
* Corowa
* Cowabbie
* Culcairn
* Cunninyeuk
* Currawarna
* Darbalara
* Darlington Point
* Daysdale
* Deniliquin
* Dilpurra
* Dirnaseer
* Downside
* Euberta
* Eurongilly
* Euston
* Ferndale
* Finley
* Frampton
* French Park
* Galore
* Ganmain
* Gidginbung
* Gerogery
* Gobarralong
* Gocup
* Gogeldrie
* Goolgowi
* Goorawin
* Grahamstown
* Greenvale
* Grong Grong
* Gulpa
* Gunbar
* Gundagai
* Hanwood
* Harefield
* Hay
* Henty
* Hillston
* Holbrook
* Hopefield
* Howlong
* Humula
* Illabo
* Illilawa
* Jerilderie
* Jindera
* Jingellic
* Jugiong
* Junee
* Junee Reefs
* Kamarah
* Khancoban
* Koraleigh
* Kyalite
* Kyeamba
* Kywong
* Lacmalac
* Ladysmith
* Langtree
* Lankeys Creek
* Laurel Hill
* Leeton
* Little Billabong
* Lockhart
* Logie Brae
* Lowesdale
* Mairjimmy
* Malebo
* Mangoplah
* Mannus
* Marinna
* Marrar
* Mathoura
* Matong
* Maude
* Mayrung
* Merriwagga
* Merungle Hill
* Methul
* Milbrulong
* Millwood
* Mirrool
* Mitta Mitta
* Moama
* Moira
* Moolpa
* Moombooldool
* Morago
* Morundah
* Morven
* Moulamein
* Mullengandra
* Mulwala
* Mundarlo
* Munderoo
* Murrami
* Muttama
* Nangus
* Narraburra
* Narrandera
* Niemur
* Nyora
* Oaklands
* Oberne
* Old Junee
* One Tree
* Osborne
* Oura
* Ournie
* Oxley
* Penarie
* Perekerten
* Pleasant Hills
* Pretty Pine
* Pulletop
* Rand
* Rankins Springs
* Rannock
* Rennie
* Rosewood
* Ryan
* Sandigo
* Sangar
* Savernake
* Sebastopol
* Speewa
* Springdale
* Stanbridge
* Stockinbingal
* Stony Crossing
* Stony Point
* Tabbita
* Table Top
* Talbingo
* Talmalmo
* Talmo
* Tantonan
* Tarcutta
* Temora
* The Rock
* Tocumwal
* Tooleybuc
* Tooma
* Tootool
* Tullakool
* Tumbarumba
* Tumblong
* Tumut
* Tuppal
* Urana
* Urangeline
* Urangeline East
* Uranquinty
* Waddi
* Wakool
* Walbundrie
* Walla Walla
* Wallendbeen
* Walleroobie
* Wamoon
* Wanganella
* Wantabadgery
* Warburn
* Warragoon
* Wee Jasper
* Welaregang
* Westby
* Whitton
* Widgelli
* Widgiewa
* Willbriggie
* Womboota
* Wondalga
* Woodend
* Woolgarlo
* Woomargama
* Wymah
* Yalgogrin South
* Yallakool
* Yanco
* Yenda
* Yerong Creek
* Yoogali
* Yuluma

National parks|

* Cocoparra
* Lachlan Valley
* Livingstone
* Murray Valley
* Murrumbidgee Valley
* Oolambeyan
* Woomargama
* Yanga

Rivers,
Water and irrigation entities

Other watercourses|

* Darling
* Edward
* Goodradigbee
* Lachlan
* Little Murray
* Murray
* Murrumbidgee
* Niemur
* Paddys
* Rufus
* Tooma
* Tumut
* Wakool
* Yass

* Murray Irrigation Area
* Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
* Murrumbidgee Irrigation
* Riverina Water County Council

* Adelong
* Adjungbilly
* Back
* Barmedman
* Bendy
* Berthong
* Billabong
* Black Joes
* Bland
* Bowning
* Broadway
* Brooks
* Bulls Head
* Bungendore
* Burkes
* Cohen
* Dairy
* Derringullen
* Gum Flat
* Hell Hole
* Little
* Jerra Jerra
* Kindra
* Mannus
* Maragle
* Mirrool
* Mulwala Canal
* Murrumbateman
* Peelwood
* Pugilistic
* Reedy
* Sandy (Mirrool)
* Spring
* Tarcutta
* Taylors
* Tumbarumba
* Yellow Bog

Landmarks|

* Charles Sturt University
* Ettamogah Pub
* Hume Dam
* Hume Power Station
* Hume and Hovell Track
* Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
* Wyangala Dam

Authority control databases: Geographic |

* Structurae

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template