The Nepean River railway bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge that carries the Main Southern railway line across Menangle Road and the Nepean River located at the outer south-western Sydney settlement of Menangle in the Wollondilly Shire local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Whitton as the Engineer-in-Chief, of the New South Wales Government Railways and NSW Department of Public Works. The railway bridge was built in 1863 by Messers Peto, Brassey and Betts. It is also known as Menangle rail bridge over Nepean River and Menangle Railway Bridge. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[1]
Nepean River railway bridge | |
|---|---|
 Southbound view in June 2010 | |
| Coordinates | 34°07′05″S 150°44′37″E / 34.118033°S 150.743615°E |
| Carries | Main Southern railway line |
| Crosses |
|
| Locale | Menangle, Southern Highlands, New South Wales, Australia |
| Official name | Menangle rail bridge over Nepean River |
| Other name(s) | Menangle Railway Bridge |
| Owner | Transport Asset Holding Entity |
| Maintained by | Australian Rail Track Corporation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Girder bridge |
| Material | Wrought iron |
| Pier construction | |
| Total length | 145.2 metres (476 ft) |
| Width | 7.8 metres (26 ft) |
| Longest span | 24.2 metres (79 ft) |
| No. of spans | 3 |
| Rail characteristics | |
| No. of tracks | Two |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| History | |
| Designer | Sir John Fowler for John Whitton |
| Contracted lead designer | NSW Government Railways |
| Engineering design by | NSW Department of Public Works |
| Constructed by | Mssrs. Peto, Brassey and Betts |
| Fabrication by | Canada Works, Birkenhead, England |
| Construction start | 1862 |
| Construction end | June 1863 |
| Opened | 1 July 1863 |
| Official name | Menangle rail bridge over Nepean River |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Criteria | a., c., d., e., f., g. |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 1047 |
| Type | Railway Bridge/Viaduct |
| Category | Transport – Rail |
| Builders | Mssrs. Peto, Brassey and Betts |
| Location | |
 | |
History
editThe Menangle Bridge is the first large iron railway bridge erected in New South Wales, whereas the first large railway bridge, an eight-span stone arch viaduct, was opened at Lewisham in 1855.[1] The bridge opened in 1863. It was the first large iron railway bridge on the New South Wales Government Railways network. The bridge was manufactured in England by The Canada Works in Birkenhead. The bridge opened on 1 July 1863 with the line from Campbelltown station to Picton station. In 1907, the bridge was strengthened with intermediate piers and extra girders added.[1][2]
When John Whitton planned the railway extension from Campbelltown to Picton, he was under pressure from the Government to keep costs low by using as much local material as possible. A metal girder design had been proposed by contractors Peto, Brassey and Betts but Whitton substituted a timber bridge made from ironbark and other strong hardwoods, a relatively short 151 metres (495 ft), low level crossing.[1]
However the flood of 1860, some 18.3 metres (60 ft) above the proposed rail level, caused him to design a high level, large span bridge to maximise the waterway, flanked by long timber approach viaducts, a total of 582 metres (1,909 ft). It was a massive structure for its time, comprising 4,518 cubic metres (5,909 cu yd) of masonry, 833 cubic metres (1,089 cu yd) of brickwork and 849 tonnes; 836 long tons (936 short tons) tons of wrought iron for a total cost of A£94,562.[1]
The iron superstructure was manufactured in England at the Canada Works, Birkenhead (opposite Liverpool) and shipped out in December 1861. One ship arrived in Sydney in April 1862 but the other was wrecked at the entrance to the Mersey River. However, the replacement ironwork was delivered to Sydney in December 1862.[1]
Construction of the locally quarried sandstone abutments and piers[3] were completed in October 1862 and the iron bridge was assembled ready for service by June 1863. Load testing, by three locomotives in full steam, followed and the line to Picton was opened on 1 July 1863.[1]
The use of a continuous superstructure was technically significant because the analysis of such structures was a relatively new, sophisticated procedure. Also, it showed that Whitton and Fowler (London) appreciated the structural benefits that a continuous girder over three spans offered compared to three simply-supported spans.[1]
The sister bridge to the Menangle Bridge was the Victoria Bridge over the Nepean River at Penrith. Their sizes and design were such that they were featured in an international text book Modern Examples of Road and Railway Bridges by William H. Maw and James Dredge, London, 1872.[1]
Description
editSince 1907, when intermediate piers were built in the middle of the three original 49.4-metre (162 ft) spans, the bridge has had six 24.2-metre (79 ft) spans. Between the original stone abutments, these additional brick piers alternate with the original stone piers.[1]
The superstructure consists of two massive, wrought iron, cellular (box) girders, continuous from abutment to abutment, with no breaks at the piers. The 3.8-metre (12 ft)-deep girders are at 7.8-metre (26 ft) centres, which allows for a double track between them, supported on a series of closely spaced cross girders.[1]
On the outer surfaces of the girders there are pairs of curved angle irons suggesting the inclusion of an arch, but they are purely decorative. There is no arch action, the superstructure is a girder.[1]
At the Sydney end, the ornamental top of one of the piers was demolished by a derailment in 1976. The iron bridge itself received only superficial damage in the accident but the stonework was not replaced, leaving the cellular cross section of the girder exposed.[1]
Condition
editAs at 26 April 2006, the physical condition was good.[1] Apart from the insertion of the intermediate piers in 1907, the 1863 bridge retains most of its original fabric.[1]
Modifications and dates
editThe principal modification has been the building of the intermediate piers in 1907 which, by halving the original spans, greatly increased the load capacity of the bridge, allowing it to still be in service, carrying modern, heavy, fast rail traffic.[1] The original iron bridge was approached by timber viaducts, which were replaced by steel girders in 1923.[1]
In 1993, consulting engineers, Dames & Moore of North Sydney, recommended a number of actions for a general refurbishment of the main bridge, including some minor repairs, cleaning up, painting and maintenance of the bearings, but no major changes.[1]
In March 2003, the bridge was closed for one month while repairs were carried out.[4][5] When it reopened it had a 20 kilometres per hour (12 mph) speed limit, later increased to 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph). It was announced in April 2003, the bridge would be replaced but that has not yet been done.[2][6]
In October 2005, the speed limit was increased to 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph).[2] In 2013, it was increased to the maximum line speed.[7]
Heritage listing
editAs at 16 April 2003, the Menangle Railway Bridge, constructed in 1863 over the Nepean River, is one of the most historic bridges in Australia because:[1]
- (a) it was the first large iron bridge in New South Wales and the largest bridge until the 1889 Hawkesbury River railway bridge;
- (b) it has a dominant appearance in a rural landscape;
- (c) it shares in the enormous benefits, social and commercial, that the Main South Railway has made to New South Wales in 140 years; and
- (d) it was a technically advanced design for its time and received international recognition in 1872.
The Menangle and Victoria Bridges are the only bridges of their type in New South Wales. They are excellent examples of heavy duty, wrought iron girder bridges continuous over three spans. Apart from the inclusion of the intermediate piers in 1907, the 1863 Menangle Bridge Retains most of its original fabric.[1]
The Menangle rail bridge constructed in 1863 is the oldest surviving bridge on the State rail system and is of highest significance in the development of railway technology in the State. It is an excellent example of early bridge construction. The bridge is one of two identical bridges constructed for the NSW Railways, the other being over the Nepean River at Penrith. The Penrith Bridge was opened in 1867 but has been used for road traffic since 1907. The Menangle rail bridge is typical of British bridge engineering of the 1860s, the iron spans having been fully imported. Additional supporting piers were later erected under the spans so that heavier engines could be used on the main south line. The bridge is of national, if not international, significance as there are few such bridges still in use in the United Kingdom.[1]
Menangle Railway Bridge was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.[1]
The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.
The 1863 Menangle Railway Bridge over the Nepean River is one of the most historic bridges in Australia. It was the first large iron bridge in New South Wales and the largest bridge until the 1889 Hawkesbury River Bridge.[1]
The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.
The bridge has a dominant appearance in a rural landscape, partly obscured by excessive growth of adjacent trees.[1]
The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.
The Main South Railway has been an enormous benefit to the social and commercial development of the southern quarter of New South Wales for 140 years, and this bridge, part of the original railway construction, has shared in the significance of that contribution.[1]
The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.
The 3-span continuous girder design was, for the 1860s, a technically sophisticated design that was noted in an international 1872 text book. The cellular construction, whereby the top and bottom parts of the girders are made in the form of two boxes or cells, was a recent development for resisting lateral buckling arising from the famous experiments by Fairfairn and Hodgkinson for the 1849 Britannia Bridge in Wales.[1]
The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.
The Menangle and Victoria Bridges are the only bridges of their type in New South Wales.[1]
The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales.
The Menangle and Victoria Bridges are excellent examples of heavy duty, wrought iron girder bridges continuous over three spans.[1]
Engineering heritage award
editThe bridge received an Engineering Heritage Marker from Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.[8]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "Menangle rail bridge over Nepean River". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01047. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence.
- ^ a b c Investigation Report for Uplifting Speed Limit across Bridge URS Corporation 9 September 2005
- ^ Allen, Andrew (14 August 2013). "Menangle Railway Bridge Turns 150". The History Buff. Campbelltown City Library. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ "Rail bridge closed for safety tests". ABC News. Australia. 28 March 2003.
- ^ "Repairs put rail services back on track". ABC News. Australia. 25 April 2003.
- ^ "Menangle bridge to be rebuilt in NSW rail overhaul". ABC News. Australia. 30 April 2003.
- ^ "Menangle Bridge" (PDF). ARRB Group. October 2014.
- ^ "Menangle Railway Bridge". Engineers Australia. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
Attribution
edit
This Wikipedia article contains material from Menangle rail bridge over Nepean River, entry number 01047 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.
External links
edit
- Maxwell, Ken; Engineering Heritage Committee, Engineers Australia, Sydney Division (February 2013). "Heritage Award Nomination for the Menangle Railway Bridge, Menangle, New South Wales as an Engineering Heritage National Landmark" (PDF). Engineering Heritage National Landmark. Engineers Australia.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Correspondent (10 March 1863). "THE RAILWAY BRIDGE AND WORKS AT MENANGLE". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 5 – via Trove, National Library of Australia.
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