Noojee Line Bridge - Number 2

Noojee Line Bridge Number. This bridge has been well documented, as it was a departure from normal VR design, in having 3 tower piers in the centre, supporting the 4 steel spans, Each tower was a free-standing structure made up of 12 piles at the base. This bridge was the longest of the Noojee group, but at 87 feet, not quite as tall as Bridge Number 4, which shared the same type of  construction. Extensively burnt out by bushfires and other allegedly malicious deeds, there is little left of this bridge. I hope to walk into this bridge in the not too distant future and photograph the remains.

It appears construction has only just begun when this photo was taken, probably 1916-1917. Only four trestles have been erected at the Down end.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

By now considerable progress has been made, a good part of the Up end has now been erected, and it looks like the first of the tower piers has been started at the Up end.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

Now a little further on, the tower piers are well under way and the deck appears to be in place at the Up end.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

A view from higher up the hill showing the recently completed bridge.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

From below track level, showing the completed bridge.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

View from the Up end looking towards Noojee.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

A VR V Class locomotive on an Up train.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

A W Class locomotive on a ballast train, not long after completion of the bridge.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

Goods train, circa 1934, heading Down towards Noojee.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

An Up goods headed up by a K Class. The train mostly consists of milled timber.

Photo by Wal Larsen. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

Close up view of the tower piers, likely taken during construction as temporary stays are still in place.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

View from the top of the hill behind Bridge 2, towards the end of its life. The encroaching trees and scrub in the valley are a portent of vegetation to come. The site is now completely overgrown.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

Back on December 19, 1962, Michael Brudar and I hiked into this bridge, and four others, to obtain photos of the remains. The remains of the burnt remains can clearly be seen, however the area is now completely overgrown with vegetation.

Photo by Michael Brudar