Harlin Rail Bridge: Difference between revisions
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== History == |
== History == |
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The Harlin Rail Bridge, which crossed Ivory Creek (previously Maronghi Creek) at Harlin was located 61 miles 20 chains (98.340 km) from [[Wulkuraka railway station]]. It |
The Harlin Rail Bridge, which crossed Ivory Creek (previously Maronghi Creek) at Harlin was located 61 miles 20 chains (98.340 km) from [[Wulkuraka railway station]]. It was a half-through [[Pratt truss]] (or [[pony truss]]) bridge built between 1909 and 1910 and was the last surviving concrete and steel railway bridge on the [[Brisbane Valley railway line]]. This bridge type differed subtly from the more widely used through Pratt truss bridge in that its girders were not high enough to allow cross bracing at the top between the trusses on each side of the bridge. Half-through Pratt truss bridges were designed to carry a lesser load than through Pratt truss bridges.<ref name=qhr/> |
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The Harlin Rail Bridge was built by the Resident Engineer Hugh Fraser using day labour from a team of 250 men stationed at Harlin. The practice of using day labour instead of contractors began in 1901 and continued for the next quarter of a century. In 1909 there were temporary timber girders for the approach spans as the Engineer waited for supplies from Walkers. By 20 January 1910 Walkers' supply of material for the bridges over Maronghi and Emu Creeks was 13½ weeks overdue. As an alternative, two 60 foot open girder spans intended for Neerkol Creek Bridge were diverted to Maronghi Creek Bridge. In May 1910 a construction train crossed this bridge for the first time on its way to [[Harlin railway station]]. The extension to Blackbutt was completed during 1911.<ref name=qhr/> |
The Harlin Rail Bridge was built by the Resident Engineer Hugh Fraser using day labour from a team of 250 men stationed at Harlin. The practice of using day labour instead of contractors began in 1901 and continued for the next quarter of a century. In 1909 there were temporary timber girders for the approach spans as the Engineer waited for supplies from Walkers. By 20 January 1910 Walkers' supply of material for the bridges over Maronghi and Emu Creeks was 13½ weeks overdue. As an alternative, two 60 foot open girder spans intended for Neerkol Creek Bridge were diverted to Maronghi Creek Bridge. In May 1910 a construction train crossed this bridge for the first time on its way to [[Harlin railway station]]. The extension to Blackbutt was completed during 1911.<ref name=qhr/> |
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Revision as of 09:46, 13 June 2017
| Harlin Rail Bridge | |
|---|---|
 Harlin Rail Bridge, 2011 | |
| Location | over Ivory (formerly Maronghi) Creek, Harlin, Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 26°58′30″S 152°21′51″E / 26.975°S 152.3641°E |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architect | Queensland Railways |
| Official name | Harlin Rail Bridge |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 27 November 2008 |
| Reference no. | 602636 |
| Significant period | 1910- |
| Significant components | bridge/viaduct - railway |
| Builders | Queensland Railways |
  Location of Harlin Rail Bridge in Queensland  Harlin Rail Bridge (Australia) | |
The Harlin Rail Bridge was a heritage-listed railway bridge over Ivory (formerly Maronghi) Creek, Harlin, Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Queensland Railways and built in 1910 by Queensland Railways. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 November 2008.[1]. It was largely destroyed by the 2013 floods; only the piers remain.
History
The Harlin Rail Bridge, which crossed Ivory Creek (previously Maronghi Creek) at Harlin was located 61 miles 20 chains (98.340 km) from Wulkuraka railway station. It was a half-through Pratt truss (or pony truss) bridge built between 1909 and 1910 and was the last surviving concrete and steel railway bridge on the Brisbane Valley railway line. This bridge type differed subtly from the more widely used through Pratt truss bridge in that its girders were not high enough to allow cross bracing at the top between the trusses on each side of the bridge. Half-through Pratt truss bridges were designed to carry a lesser load than through Pratt truss bridges.[1]
The Harlin Rail Bridge was built by the Resident Engineer Hugh Fraser using day labour from a team of 250 men stationed at Harlin. The practice of using day labour instead of contractors began in 1901 and continued for the next quarter of a century. In 1909 there were temporary timber girders for the approach spans as the Engineer waited for supplies from Walkers. By 20 January 1910 Walkers' supply of material for the bridges over Maronghi and Emu Creeks was 13½ weeks overdue. As an alternative, two 60 foot open girder spans intended for Neerkol Creek Bridge were diverted to Maronghi Creek Bridge. In May 1910 a construction train crossed this bridge for the first time on its way to Harlin railway station. The extension to Blackbutt was completed during 1911.[1]
In 1955 the concrete and steel bridge over Emu Creek, which was built at the same time as Harlin Rail Bridge, was washed away by flood waters and was later rebuilt in timber. After this flood, pier number 6 of the Harlin Rail Bridge was filled in with concrete for additional support. In 1961 piers 3, 4 and 5 were strengthened.[1]
Description
The Harlin Rail Bridge is a high-level steel and concrete bridge over Maronghi Creek, located 61 miles 20 chains (98.34 kilometres) from Wulkuraka on the former Brisbane Valley Branch Rail Line. Its total length is 275 feet (83.6 metres) and its maximum span is 60 feet (18.3 metres). The bridge has two steel 8 panel half-through Pratt trusses and is supported by two concrete abutments and six concrete piers. It has a long, earth embankment approach from the north (approximately 75 metres) and a shorter approach from the south (approximately 10 metres).[1]
The bridge comprised (south-north): 2 x 3 x 31 foot (9.4 metre) rolled steel joists, concrete abutment, common concrete piers; 2 x 60 foot (18.3 metre) 8 panel through Pratt trusses, common concrete piers; 3 x 3 x 31 foot (9.4 metre) rolled steel joists, common concrete piers, concrete abutment.[1]
Heritage listing
(This is now out of date as the bridge has been destroyed.)
Harlin Rail Bridge was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 November 2008 having satisfied the following criteria.[1]
The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.
The Harlin Rail Bridge, opened in 1910, is important surviving evidence of the Brisbane Valley Branch Rail Line. Establishment of Queensland's branch rail network, which began in the 1880s, was vital for the development of the colony through opening land for closer settlement and freighting produce and resources to Queensland's major towns and ports.[1]
The Brisbane Valley Rail Line, when commenced in 1882, was the second of Queensland's branch lines. Over the ensuing 30 years it was extended several times to facilitate the transportation of timber, livestock and agricultural produce and was intended to become an alternative, shorter route from the South Burnett to Brisbane.[1]
In contrast to other branch lines, revenue from the Brisbane Valley Branch Line was greater than its expenses for the majority of the period from 1902 until the outbreak of World War II when reporting by the Commissioner of Railways on the profitability of individual lines ceased.[1]
The Harlin Rail Bridge is one of only two surviving major rail bridges of the Brisbane Valley Branch Line, the other being the Lockyer Creek Railway Bridge at Clarendon.[1]
The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland's cultural heritage.
The Harlin Rail Bridge is a form of railway bridge that has always been uncommon and remains so. It is one of approximately seven half-through Pratt truss bridges that were built by the Queensland Department of Railways and Public Works during the first two decades of the twentieth century. The structure is intact and retains a high level of integrity. Other bridges of this type known to have been constructed include the Comet River bridge, Comet (superstructure replaced 2005); Reid River bridge, Reid River (demolished); Reids Creek bridge, Gayndah (extant); Barmundu bridge, Barmundu (modified); and Yabba Creek bridge, Imbil (intact).[1]
The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places.
The Harlin Rail Bridge is a good example of a half-through Pratt truss railway bridge designed by the Department of Railways and Public Works while William Pagan was Chief Engineer. This bridge type differed subtly from the through Pratt truss in that its girders are not high enough to allow cross bracing at the top of the truss, which is a feature of through Pratt truss bridges.[1]
The bridge s highly intact and provides physical evidence of early twentieth century railway bridge design and construction in Queensland. The Harlin Rail Bridge illustrates the evolution in the principal characteristics of steel railway bridges around the turn of the century, especially the change to the through and half-through Pratt trusses from 1908, which increased the structural strength of rail bridges.[1]
References
Attribution
This Wikipedia article was originally based on "The Queensland heritage register" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 7 July 2014, archived on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the "Queensland heritage register boundaries" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 5 September 2014, archived on 15 October 2014).
External links
