Railways and Tramways of Australia

Out with the old, in with the new

 

The second railway bridge across the Hawkesbury River was opened on 1 July 1946.

 

Two railway bridges have crossed the Hawkesbury River. The original bridge was opened in 1889. Following the discovery of structural problems, it was replaced by the current bridge.

 

The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 highlighted the need for a new bridge. Construction work continued throughout the war. By the middle of 1946 the new bridge had been completed. Testing occurred on 24 June.

 

The new bridge was built around 60 metres upstream from the old bridge. It was designed and fabricated by the Department of Railways, New South Wales. There are eight spans of different lengths, enabling the piers to be located in favourable positions. The total length of the bridge is 2764 feet (842 metres), making it shorter than the old bridge.

 

C32 Class locomotives 3374 and 3395 hauled the official train from Sydney to Hornsby on opening day, with 3374 continuing to Hawkesbury River. It crossed the old bridge slowly, becoming the last train across.

 

Work was undertaken immediately to change the track connections from the old bridge to the new bridge. 3374 cut off the northern end of the official train and 3810 was coupled to the southern end. Flags and the New South Wales coat of arms were attached. The train proceeded across the new bridge and stopped at the southern end, where a ceremony was held. Premier William McKell cut a ribbon, and two bronze plaques were unveiled. The official train returned to Sydney following refreshments.

 

The spans of the old bridge were subsequently dismantled, although the piers are still in place.

 

The new Hawkesbury River bridge remains a vital structure on the busy Sydney–Newcastle railway line.

 

Bibliography

‘First spans over the Hawkesbury’, Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, no. 145, December 1949, p. 71.

B Phippen, Between a rock and a hard place: building the Hawkesbury River bridge, exhibition programme, Train Works, 2012.

B Phippen, The Hawkesbury River Railway Bridges, Australian Railway Historical Society, Sydney, 2000.

I Wallace, ‘Hawkesbury River to Woy Woy’, In Byways of steam 10, Eveleigh Press, Sydney, 1995, pp 6–44.