Angellala Rail Bridge

General

Classification

State Heritage

Register status

Entered

Date entered

21 October 1992

Type

Transport—rail: Bridge—railway

Theme

5.3 Moving goods, people and information: Using rail

Architect

Stanley, Henry Charles

Construction period

1885–1994, Angellala Rail Bridge (1885c - 1994)

Historical period

1870s–1890s Late 19th century

Location

Address

Roma - Cunamulla Line, Angellala Creek

LGA

Murweh Shire Council

Coordinates

-26.41362317, 146.88630774

Significance

Criterion AThe place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland’s history.

The Angellala Creek Bridge is important in demonstrating the pattern of Queensland's history in particular the development of the railway network in Western Queensland

Criterion BThe place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland’s cultural heritage.

The riveted gusseted half through continuous plate girder spans are the second oldest of their type in Queensland.

Criterion EThe place is important because of its aesthetic significance.

The bridge is close to the Warrego highway and is and important landmark in the area being a feature of the western approach to Angellala.

Criterion GThe place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

The bridge is close to the Warrego highway and is and important landmark in the area being a feature of the western approach to Angellala.

Criterion HThe place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland’s history.

The bridge is important for its association with the life and work of its designer Henry C Stanley, Chief Engineer for Railways.

History

Plans for the crossing of Angellala Creek at 66 kms east of Charleville were prepared in 1885 with the construction of the western extension from Roma to Charleville. Part of the Western Railway Act assented to on 25 September 1875 was repealed by the Railway Reserves Amendment Act of 1879, and the money in the Western Railway Account and all funds from land alienation were paid into Consolidated Revenue of Queensland. Construction west from Roma proceeded through the 1880's and there were approaches to build a land grant railway, into western New South Wales and to Adelaide through the south-west by several syndicates.

However the Queensland government undertook construction further west. The railway opened to East Mitchell in 1883, and after completion of the Maranoa River Bridge on 17 January 1885 into Mitchell itself. Further extensions took place to Dulbydilla on 24 August 1885, Morven on 1 March 1887 and opening through to Charleville on 1 March 1888.

Angellala (441 miles 74 chains - 550 kms west of Roma Street) was named after the nearby creek. It opened as a station from 2 May 1910, and was also worked as a crossing loop. From 1929 until 1932 the station was worked unattended, however a station mistress was appointed from 1932 date until 1971. Angellala was a watering stop for locomotives, with the water tank situated at the Charleville end of the yard, and the hydrant at the Roma end.

The crossing of Angellala Creek posed several design problems for the bridge designers, as it was situated in a shallow valley and extensive flood plain. The bridge across the western crossing features the longest timber trestle approach on a rail bridge in Queensland. Overall length of the structure is 2080 feet (634 metres). The main crossing of the creek features 7x 36 feet (12.1 metres) steel spans. The approach from the west is over 1740 feet (530 metres).

It was designed in 1885 when HC Stanley was Chief Engineer.

Plans were prepared for the strengthening of the bridge for heavier C17 class locomotives in 1946 when the spans were halved by installation of intermediate columns. With upgrading for main line (90 ton) diesel-electric's to be used west of Roma, the main spans were strengthened with additional steel pillars in 1994.

The Angellala bridge is the sixth longest in Queensland, the western approach (530 metres) is the longest approach of any railway bridge in Queensland. The riveted and gusseted half -through continuous plate girder spans are the second oldest of their type in Queensland.

Description

The Angellala Creek Bridge and approaches located at 442 miles 42 chains (549.630 kms) from Roma Street and consists of 3 x 2 x 1 x 20 foot (6.1 metre) timber longitudinal with a common braced timber trestle (pier one) and common concrete piers on piers two and three. 7 x2 x40 foot (12.2 metre) riveted half-through continuous plate girders with steel cross girders and transom tops, steel longitudinals, common concrete pier on pier four, common cast iron cylinders on concrete bases (piers five to ten), strengthened with two steel columns on concrete bases at each mid span (piers 4A to 10A) and a common concrete pier at pier eleven.

87 x 2 x1 x20 foot (6.1 metre) timber longitudinals, common braced timber trestles (piers 12 through to 100) or common concrete piers (piers 23-26, 31-32, 34, 38, 41, 51, 53, 58, 61, 64, 66-68, 71-72, 74, 76-80, 82-83, 85, 96-98). The bridge features a maximum span of 20 feet (6.1 metres) and is aligned on a straight track with the approaches being on a forty-chain curve. The abutments, piers and main spans of the bridge are original, however the approaches to the bridge have been reconstructed, and in 1994 intermediate supports allowing larger diesel-electric locomotives to operate between Roma and Charleville were incorporated into the structure.

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