Bridge over Tanjil River - Moe to Walhalla Narrow Gauge Railway.

The bridge over the Tanjil River was only about 1.2 kilometres north of the La Trobe River Bridge. The track was carried between the two bridges on a slightly raised causeway, crossing the Tanjil River on a wooden bridge, then across the river flats on the northern side for approximately 150 Metres. At the end of the bridge section, the line entered into a deep cutting before emerging onto the more or less flat section on the other side of the hill. Near the peak of the hill, the original Moe to Walhalla Road crossed the track by a wooden road over rail bridge. The bridge section consisted of 29 openings of 20 feet, plus one steel span of 40 feet.

There is not a lot to be seen these days, although I was prompted to visit the site by Darren Hodges providing a photo taken in the early 1990s. In this photo, the bridge is almost gone completely, the cutting having been largely filled in, as you can see to the left. However the bridge railing is still visible along with the posts. The nearest post is a datum post, and is still there today, see next:

Photo by Darren Hodges

This photo was taken today, and I framed as near as possible to the original. Note the Datum post still in place. Now there are only two posts left in the ground, but the rails have been removed for safe-keeping and are stored on the road to the right side. I am told the rails will be placed back in position in the future.

But a lot more has changed, most notably the house in the background has been replaced by a newer dwelling. Interestingly, it is still in the hands of the same family, the grandson of the previous house owner is now living in the new house with his family. They were very kind in allowing me access to their land to photograph the bridge remains. The land around the cutting has been tidied up and even more of the cutting filled in. In fact, you really cannot see any trace of the old cutting anywhere.

The roadbed in both photos is the original Moe - Walhalla Road, now diverted to the right side of the old road and at a lower level.

A closer view of the datum post, clearly showing its age. Note the slots where the bridge rails were fitted.

A view looking down the line of the missing cutting.

View from what would have been the northern end of the bridge across the river flats. The inclined posts of the fence going towards the river are in fact the western side piers of the bridge, now utilised as a fence.

Down at river flat level, the bridge piers heading south towards the Tanjil River.

At the river itself, a view across at the bridge abutment on the southern side.

From the southern side of the Tanjil River, looking back towards the house. Just visible in the river is the concrete footing of one of the bridge piers, then the line of piers in the distance.

Here is another of Darren Hodge's photos from the 1990 period, taken in the same direction as the above photo. However the original farmhouse is there, more of the piles are evident and you can just see a little more of the filled in cutting.

Photo by Darren Hodges

The aforementioned pier footing in the river.

Looking south along the causeway towards the La Trobe River bridge. The objects in the foreground have nothing to do with the bridge. The family who own this land are/were associated with the nearby Moe Abattoirs and bought the ROW some years ago and have used it to store excess equipment from the meatworks. There is still a lot of this machinery stored further down the causeway.

The following group of photos come from the book by Stephen Watson, "Walhalla Railway Bridges". They show the Tanjil River bridge as it was when the line was running.

Taken from North West corner showing a Moe bound train about to cross the Tanjil River

Looking South from the Farmhouse area towards the river.

Taken on Western side showing train heading towards Moe, the Na locomotive is over the steel span.

A train also heading towards Moe, in much the same position as the previous photo, except it is taken on the East side of the bridge, looking West.

Looking towards Moe, taken from the North East corner.

The Road bridge over the line, just North of the farmhouse. Looking towards Moe (yet again).

Jeparit - Yanac Branch - Bridge over Wimmera River at Jeparit.

The bridge is still in existence over the Wimmera River, although the aerial view appears to show it without decking. It is to the west of the township of Jeparit, crossing the Wimmera River a short distance before the river empties into Lake Hindmarsh. I have this bridge marked for a visit to photograph it, having missed out on the opportunity when shooting the bridge at Quantong. 

However I have some photos from Allan Renshaw showing an ARHS special pulled by J 508 crossing the bridge in September 1966.

Photo by Allan Renshaw. From the collection of Darren Hodges

Photo by Allan Renshaw. From the collection of Darren Hodges

Photo by Allan Renshaw. From the collection of Darren Hodges

Bridge over Howard's Creek - Navarre Line

This bridge on the Navarre line that branched off the Ararat to Avoca line between Dunneworthy and Eversley. The line's ROW is now the Tulkara Railway Road, and the bridge has been replaced with a concrete culvert bridge. 

These two photos were taken in December of 1962.

Photo by Des Jowett

Photo by Des Jowett 

Bridge over creek on the Wensleydale Line.

This bridge crosses a depression, hardly fair to call it a creek. The bridge is sans deck and these days there is no trace of it. It is on the Wensleydale line that left the Warrnambool Port Fairy line after Moriac and ambled down to near Wensleydale. The line was closed in 1948, this photo was taken on January 31, 1955, only 7 years after closure.

Photo by Des Jowett

Bridge over Jubilee Lake, Daylesford - North Creswick to Daylesford Line.

This bridge was unusual in that it had two decks, the upper deck for the train and the lower deck carrying pedestrians across Jubilee Lake in Daylesford. The North Creswick to Daylesford line was closed in July 1953. The following photos were taken in October 1955, not much more than two years after the closure of the line.

This bridge, albeit without its rail deck, is still in existence today, as the lower pedestrian bridge is still in use. 

Photo by Des Jowett

Looking across the deck back towards Daylesford. 

Photo by Des Jowett

Bridge over Latrobe River and Flats - Moe to Walhalla Narrow Gauge Railway.

No longer in existence and no trace can be found of this bridge. The path along which the long bridge crossed the river flats of the Latrobe River has been redeveloped as a sewage treatment plant, with the eastern boundary of one of the ponds closely aligned to the path of the bridge. The bridge consisted of 75 openings of 15 feet each, totalling approximately 1,125 feet.

The first photo is taken from the western side of the bridge, with the Latrobe River on the left and Moe township to the right.

Photo by Des jowett

Taken at the northern end of the bridge, with the river in the foreground, looking south towards Moe, the northern outskirts barely a mile away.

Photo by Des Jowett

Road bridge over line at Triholm, Koo Wee Rup to Strzelecki Line

This bridge is famous for being in a derelict condition. The bridge carried the Main South Road over the Koo Wee Rup to Strzelecki Line at Triholm. Sadly, Triholm, as a township, has ceased to exist these days, it is now known as Poowong East. Triholm was originally settled in 1877 as a Danish village, as the first photo proclaims.

Someone in the area painted the side of a shed, which stands on the old ROW, roughly in the vicinity of the station, with a mural to remember the train.

Nothing remains of this bridge today, although the point where the line crossed the road is marked by a sign saying this was the alignment of the line.

This first photo of the bridge was taken at Easter 1940, from the western side of the bridge, or up side, looking east.

Photo by Wal Larsen

The second photo was taken in January 1965, by now the bridge is ruined and out of commission. The Main South Road has been shifted to the level on the eastern side of the bridge.

Photo by Des Jowett

The third photo was taken in 1986, the bridge has deteriorated slightly more. You can just see the Main South Road on the bottom right of the shot.

Photo by Darren Hodges

This photo is taken from the same vantage point as Darren's, but recently. The ROW can be seen curving away to the right to the Triholm station site. The earthen embankment on the right is still there, but the one on the left has been nibbled away.

This is the remains of the embankment that carried the Main South Road up to the bridge, the shot is just to the left of the previous shot.

And a view looking in the down direction from the opposite side of the road, the slight ROW embankment is right under the two cattle.

After this point, the line curved around and crossed Waterfall Road by a bridge, ran along the side of a hill, then crossed Waterfall Road again, and also the Lang Lang River at the same time. It then ran into relatively inaccessible country on the final section up to Strezelecki, crossing Waterfall Creek via a very nice wooden bridge.

It is unusual that not one atom of bridge remains today along the entire length of this line, every one has been completely erased from the landscape.

Bridge on Maldon to Laanecoorie Line

This bridge was at local mileage 10 miles 73ch and there was another large bridge at 10m 52ch with seven openings. These bridges never came into use, as the line beyond Shelbourne was not completed and the track was subsequently removed in 1897.

I am endebted to Des Jowett for providing these photos and also the background history.

Photo by Des Jowett

Photo by Des Jowett

This is thought to be the same bridge, taken in 1980 by Allan Renshaw, showing the bridge burnt out.

Photo by Allan Renshaw, from a collection held by Darren Hodges.

These two photos are thought to show the bridge at 10m 52ch. possibly during or shortly after construction.

Darren Hodges Collection

Darren Hodges Collection

Small Bridge on Maldon to Laanecoorie Line

This bridge was 19 chains past the Shelbourne station on the section of line intended to continue to Laanecoorie. 

This line was unusual in that the contractor had to be aware that the line may not be completed to it's authorised length and his contract price would be adjusted accordingly. Work stopped at about 1.5  miles beyond Shelbourne and they made Shelbourne the permanent terminus. Rails were laid to 9m 78ch, just a short distance past this bridge, and dismantled in December 1897. 

I am indebted to Des Jowett for the photos and background history of this line.

Photo by Des Jowett.

Bridge over Bradford Creek - Maldon to Laanecoorie Line

These two shots are provided by Des Jowett, showing the burnt out remains of the bridge over Bradford Creek on the Maldon to Laanecoorie Line.

I am indebted to Des Jowett for the photos and background history of this line.

Photo by Des Jowett

Photo by Des Jowett

Identification of Bridges

I have recently received a huge list of GPS locations from Des Jowett, well known retired Railwayman. Des has spent a lot of time poring over the Google maps to spot the bridges and pin down their location for me. 

This has set a big target for me to go out and photograph the bridges that have been identified, and I am extremely grateful to Des for taking the time to do this work.

Des has also passed on a number of photos from his collection, covering bridges I have visited, and I will be adding them to the original posts.

Well done Des, and Thank You again!

Wimmera River Bridge at Quantong - Horsham to Carpolac Line.

Alongside the Wimmera Highway where it crosses the Wimmera River at Quantong, this bridge is in fairly good condition. It is of approximately 138 Metres in length, all wooden construction over a large and fairly full river.

Robert Redman advises that the nearby bridges over the river flats were dismantled by the Victorian Goldfields Railway, with the blessing of Victrack, in order to provide timbers for the repair of a bridge on their line near Castlemaine.

Yet timbers on the bridge indicate that sections were replaced in 1984, not long before the line closed in late 1986. There was a proposal in the early 80's to relay the line with heavier rail as far as East Natimuk so bigger diesels could haul GJX type hopper wagons to service the large grain facility at East Natimuk, and this could explain the repairs.

An oldie but goodie from Des Jowett, showing J503 on an Up Goroke to Horsham goods on January 6th. 1962. It is shown crossing Natimuk Creek just west of the town of Natimuk.

Photo by Des Jowett

This photo shows D3 641 approaching the Wimmera River bridge on 11-11-1957 with the weekly Balmoral to Horsham goods. It was very rare to get a D3 on this train which normally was a J, K or N.

Photo by Des Jowett

Video Clip

This clip is best viewed in full screen and high definition 1080p.

This time Ian captured a takeoff with the Phantom in slo-mo at 1/10 speed.