Angellala Rail Bridge

The Angellala Rail Bridge, situated about 65km east of Charleville, is the sixth longest railway bridge in Queensland. The bridge approaches on either side are the longest in Queensland. The design met the challenges for a bridge traversing a shallow valley of a wide flood-plain. The riveted steel continuous girder bridge and its approaches can be easily seen from the Warrego Highway which runs parallel to the railway. The bridge was designed by Henry Charles Stanley, chief Engineer of Railways in 1885. The bridge was part of the extension of the Western Line from Roma to Charleville, constructed between 1880 and 1888. The line was later extended south to Cunnamulla in 1898 and west to Quilpie in 1917. The bridge was strengthened in 1946 when larger C17 steam locomotive engines were introduced. The bridge spans were halved with intermediate columns. The entire line was upgraded in 1994, including additional steel pillars to the bridge to accommodate 90 ton diesel-electric trains. Charleville is now the terminus of the twice weekly Westlander passenger rail service to and from Brisbane.