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Murrumbidgee River Rail Bridge (Wagga Wagga)
Encyclopedia
Murrumbidgee River Rail Bridge is located over the Murrumbidgee River
in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
. The bridge was the only 4 span wrought iron lattice truss bridge constructed and is the second oldest bridge out of the twelve related wrought iron lattice truss series bridges in Australia. The bridge was opened on the Main Southern railway line
in 1881, each of the 4 lattice truss spans is 48.5 metres (159 ft) long which joined onto the what was thought to be the longest timber viaduct in Australia which has since been replaced. The bridge is of major importance to the history of bridge engineering in Australia.
The bridge was removed and replaced with a new concrete bridge
during a 4 day shut down from 30 December 2006 to 3 January 2007. The wrought iron lattice railway bridge was cut away using Oxy cutters
. One cut section of the bridge was given to Tumbarail located at Ladysmith
.
Murrumbidgee River
The Murrumbidgee River is a major river in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory . A major tributary of the Murray River, the Murrumbidgee flows in a west-northwesterly direction from the foot of Peppercorn Hill in the Fiery Range of the Snowy Mountains,...
in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Wagga Wagga is a city in New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, and with an urban population of 46,735 people, Wagga Wagga is the state's largest inland city, as well as an important agricultural, military, and transport hub of Australia...
. The bridge was the only 4 span wrought iron lattice truss bridge constructed and is the second oldest bridge out of the twelve related wrought iron lattice truss series bridges in Australia. The bridge was opened on the Main Southern railway line
Main Southern railway line, New South Wales
The Main Southern Railway is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Southern Highlands, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes and the Riverina regions.- Description of route :...
in 1881, each of the 4 lattice truss spans is 48.5 metres (159 ft) long which joined onto the what was thought to be the longest timber viaduct in Australia which has since been replaced. The bridge is of major importance to the history of bridge engineering in Australia.
The bridge was removed and replaced with a new concrete bridge
Concrete bridge
Concrete bridges only started to appear widely in the early 20th century. Early examples include:- Finland :* Ylivieska .* The second oldest concrete bridge in Finland, built 1912 and named humorously as Savisilta is located in Ylivieska...
during a 4 day shut down from 30 December 2006 to 3 January 2007. The wrought iron lattice railway bridge was cut away using Oxy cutters
Oxy-fuel welding and cutting
Oxy-fuel welding and oxy-fuel cutting are processes that use fuel gases and oxygen to weld and cut metals, respectively. French engineers Edmond Fouché and Charles Picard became the first to develop oxygen-acetylene welding in 1903...
. One cut section of the bridge was given to Tumbarail located at Ladysmith
Ladysmith, New South Wales
Ladysmith is a village approximately 19 km east of Wagga Wagga in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Ladysmith had a population of 205 people....
.