Murray River road and railway bridge, Tocumwal

The Murray River road and railway bridge is a heritage-listed railway and former road bridge that carries the Tocumwal railway line across the Murray River at Tocumwal in the Berrigan Shire local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as the Tocumwal Road and Rail Bridge over Murray River. The property is owned by RailCorp. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[1]

Murray River road and railway bridge, Tocumwal
The Tocumwal Bridge, viewed from Tocumwal, New South Wales
Coordinates35°48′48″S 145°33′24″E
Carries
CrossesMurray River
LocaleTocumwal, Berrigan Shire, New South Wales, Australia
BeginsTocumwal, New South Wales
Endsnorth of Boomagong, Victoria
Other name(s)Tocumwal road and rail bridge over Murray River
OwnerRailCorp
Preceded byEdward Hillson Bridge, Tocumwal
(Goulburn Valley Highway )
Followed byBarmah Bridge, Barmah
Characteristics
DesignTruss lift span
MaterialCast iron
No. of spans3
Piers in water2
Rail characteristics
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
History
Constructed byNSW Public Works Department
Opened1895
InauguratedEaster 1895 by J. H. Young, NSW Secretary for Public Works and Sir Maurice O'Rorke
Official nameTocumwal road and rail bridge over Murray River
TypeState heritage (built)
Designated2 April 1999
Reference no.1061
TypeRailway Bridge / Viaduct
CategoryTransport - Rail
BuildersNSW Public Works Department
Location

History

The Truss lift span bridge over the Murray River opened in 1895, and was constructed by the NSW Public Works Department. It has three spans, the centre span having an opening lift-span for navigation. Initially provided for road traffic only, it was strengthened for rail traffic in 1908, and was used for both road and rail traffic until November 1987. The Edward Hillson Bridge opened on 9 November 1987,[2] located a short distance upstream, the concrete road bridge carries the Goulburn Valley Highway across the Murray, with the old bridge used for rail traffic only since 1987.[3][4]

When opened, monthly lifting of the centre span was carried out for testing purposes. When the bridge was made a rail and road bridge, the span was always kept down unless enquired by river traffic. By 1930, river traffic declined, and so by 1944, the monthly lifting was altered to yearly. In 1951, it was proposed to keep the span closed, the last lift for river traffic being in 1933, and no maintenance lifting having been carried out for a decade. In September 1977, both state governments agreed to keep it fixed, and removed requirement for being able to lift it. Easter 1995 celebrations including operation of the lift span.[3]

Heritage listing

The river bridge was a combined road and rail structure. It is of very high significance because of its technological value and its importance in the history of transport in the State and inter-state rivalries.[1]

Tocumwal road and rail bridge over the Murray River was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.[1]

The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

This item is assessed as historically rare. This item is assessed as archaeologically rare. This item is assessed as socially rare.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Tocumwal road and rail bridge over Murray River". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01061. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  2. "History of Tocumwal, New South Wales on the Murray River". Discover Murray River. 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  3. Whitehead, Bob (2008). Tocumwal Railway Centenary.
  4. "Tocumwal Bridge over Murray River". NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. Retrieved 4 January 2009.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on Tocumwal road and rail bridge over Murray River, entry number 01061 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.

Media related to Tocumwal Rail Bridge at Wikimedia Commons

Next crossing upstream Murray River Next crossing downstream
Edward Hillson Bridge Murray River road and railway bridge, Tocumwal Barmah Bridge
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