Degilbo-Mundubbera Railway Bridges, 1905-1914 THEINSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA FOUNDED 1919 The bridges on the Degilbo to Mundubbera line were the result of new design ideas and construction Nearly 1000 feet (294 metres) long and with methods. The variation in type and the proximity to each other on the same railway line are unique. 58 spans, this was the second longest timber In addition to steel and concrete bridges, there were also many traditional timber trestle bridges. trestle rail bridge in Queensland. It had The significance continues today as a tangible reminder of the engineering techniques and significant bracing to help it withstand floods but it was extensively achievements of the railway engineers of the early 20th century. damaged in 2013. 1 12 Monto Degilbo 15 September 1928 Bundaberg Mulgildie 20 June 1927 G & K Rees, 201 John Mellor 043, 2004 Deep Creek The Upside Down Bridge Gooroolba Area of map Ceratodus rail 26 April 1924 T Underslung pin-jointed steel fish-belly truss Biggenden spanning 45 metres supporting longitudinal Degilbo 1April 1893 Maryborough State Heritage bridge Boomerang steel beams with timber trestle approaches. 1 November 1913 Wetheron 21 December 1905 Mundubbera Mungar Mungar Junction 60 kms Brooweena Junction Total length 69 metres. Timber trestle bridge 3 February 1914 Gayndah 29 July 1889 16 December 1907 ransport and Main Roads 851 T Burnett River Rail 05 0510 Degilbo to Mundubbera, 1905-1914 kms Rivetted plate girder central span flanked Lattice truss main span and rolled steel joist 11 kms by rolled steel joist spans on concrete piers side spans on concrete piers with timber Wetheron Wetheron Creek A Railway to the West with timber trestle approaches. trestle approaches. Total length 76 metres. Total length 70 metres. The railway from Mungar Junction on the Ideraway Burnett Philpott Outlier River Maryborough line to Degilbo was built Creek Newton Creek Creek between 1889 and 1893. Economic Mundubbera 1 Reids 10 conditions then stopped further work. 2 Humphery Creek 9 API-73 The Degilbo to Gayndah section was built 3 between 1905 and 1907 and the line to 8 Mundubbera between 1911 and 1914. 5 6 7 1 Construction took place in an era when 4 John Oxley Library rail was the dominant form of land transport Burnett River , 2002 for meat, dairy and agricultural products. Gayndah ees 378, 201 The first bridge to be built was this elegant Now replaced by road transport, the railway John Mellor unreinforced concrete structure with a main G & K R closed in 2004. Most of the section west of span of 24 metres supporting four spandrel Gayndah has been removed. arches and two side arches. It was built in nine months and opened in December 1905. Total length 33.5 metres. William Pagan Chief Engineer 1 1 1 Queensland Railways 201 B R Emmerton (1902 - 1911) , 2002 Two rivetted plate girder central spans on The variety of designs he concrete piers with timber trestle used for these bridges Brian McGRath, Brian McGrath, 201 John Mellor approaches. Total length 66.5 metres. G & K Rees 397, 201 show many innovations Rivetted lattice truss main span with rolled Rivetted lattice truss main span on concrete Humphery No 2 (48 metres long) and Steep Humphery No 1 (68 metres long) has two including the use of parts Scan for more information from previously-constructed about this project steel joist spans either side on concrete piers with timber trestle approaches. Rocky Creek (58 metres long) are both early rivetted lattice truss spans and rolled steel Engineering Heritage Marker placed on 17 October 2016 piers and timber trestle approaches. Total length 55 metres. examples of reinforced concrete in Australia. joist side spans on concrete piers. Reids bridges which resulted in better or less costly Engineers Australia Queensland Division North Burnett Regional Council Total length 86 metres. Each span is “discontinuous” (separate from Creek (106 metres long) had four rivetted structures. Queensland Rail Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads its neighbours). Steep Rocky Creek has side steel Pratt Truss spans. Badly damaged spans of rolled steel joists. in 2013, only the concrete piers remain. John Oxley Library 22723 www.engineersaustralia.org.au/engineering-heritage-australia.