John Whitton Bridge
John Whitton Bridge | |
|---|---|
 John Whitton Bridge, looking south in September 2007 | |
| Coordinates | 33°49′S 151°05′E / 33.82°S 151.09°E |
| Carries | Main Northern railway line |
| Crosses | Parramatta River |
| Locale | Meadowbank, New South Wales, Australia |
| Begins | Meadowbank (north) |
| Ends | Rhodes (south) |
| Named for | John Whitton |
| Owner | Transport Asset Holding Entity |
| Maintained by | Transport for NSW |
| Followed by | Meadowbank Bridge (former rail bridge) |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Box girder |
| Material | Steel |
| Pier construction | Concrete |
| No. of spans | 5 |
| Piers in water | 4 |
| Rail characteristics | |
| No. of tracks | 4 |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| History | |
| Construction start | 1952 |
| Construction end | 1980 |
| Opened | May 1980 |
| Replaces | Meadowbank Bridge (former rail bridge) |
| Location | |
 | |
The John Whitton Bridge is a railway bridge that carries the Main Northern railway line across the Parramatta River, located between the Sydney suburbs of Rhodes and Meadowbank.
First bridge[edit]
The original double track Meadowbank Bridge opened on 17 September 1886 as part of the construction of the Main Northern railway line. It was a lattice truss bridge designed by John Whitton, the Chief Engineer of the New South Wales Government Railways.[1] In 2000, the original bridge was refurbished and reopened for bike and pedestrian use.[2]
Second bridge[edit]
As part of plans to quadruple the Main North line, construction commenced on a new bridge to the west of the existing structure. The concrete piers were completed in 1952, before the project was cancelled. Work resumed in the 1970s, with a two-track box girder bridge opening in May 1980. The piers were extended to allow for a further two tracks to be built in the future.[1] The new bridge was named after John Whitton.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Meadowbank (Parramatta River) Underbridge". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment & Heritage.
- ^ "Walkway Plan for Meadowbank Bridge". Railway Digest: 9. March 1997.
External links[edit]
Media related to John Whitton Bridge at Wikimedia Commons- Flickr gallery
