Inkerman Bridge Explained

Inkerman Bridge
Carries:North Coast railway line
Crosses:Burdekin River
Locale:McDesme (north), Home Hill (south), Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates:-19.6396°N 147.3952°W
Length:830yd
Number Spans:129[1]
Cost:£18,000
Begin:1912[2]
Complete:1913
Open:8 September 1913
Followed:Burdekin Bridge

The Inkerman Bridge was a railway bridge over the Burdekin River between McDesme and Home Hill, both in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia. It was in operation between 1913 and 1957 after which it was replaced by the Burdekin Bridge (also known as the Silver Link).[3] [4]

History

The Inkerman Bridge was built as part of the North Coast railway line along the Queensland coast that ultimately linked Brisbane to Cairns by rail. Construction commenced in 1912 and the bridge officially opened on Monday 8 September 1913.The bridge was low-lying and the Burdekin River frequently flooded. As a result, the bridge was frequently closed due to water over the bridge or because the bridge was damaged by floods leading to months of closure while it was repaired.[5] [6] [7] [8]

On 8 March 1945 a goods train was swept off the bridge in a sudden surge of flood water. Two people drowned, while four others survived by freeing the cattle on board and then "rode" down the river holding onto the steers until they were rescued downstream at various locations as far as Rita Island. The bridge went at least 11feet under water in that flood. The disaster renewed demands that a higher-level bridge be built.[9] [10]

In 1947 a project commenced to build a high-level road-and-rail bridge to replace the Inkerman Bridge, but owing to the sandy soil without any rock to provide foundations for a higher bridge, it took ten years to design and construct the Burdekin Bridge which opened on 27 March 1957.[11]

Remnants

Some remnants of the old bridge are still visible 100m (300feet) downstream (east) of the Burdekin Bridge.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: The Linking Up of the Lines . . 10 . 583 . Queensland, Australia . 9 August 1913 . 2 . National Library of Australia . 13 January 2021 . 13 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210113210301/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/192504755 . live .
  2. News: The North Coast Railway . . XLVI . 7114 . Queensland, Australia . 21 August 1913 . 1 . National Library of Australia . 13 January 2021 . 13 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210113210303/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/189712824 . live .
  3. Web site: Burdekin Bridge. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113210304/https://www.burdekin.qld.gov.au/burdekin-bridge/burdekin-bridge-1. 2021-01-13. 2021-01-13. Burdekin Shire Council. en.
  4. News: 10 September 1913. North Coast Railway Line. XXX. 6. Townsville Daily Bulletin. 9623. Queensland, Australia. 14 January 2021. National Library of Australia. 13 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113205736/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/60378442. live.
  5. News: 4 March 1922. Flood Reports. 2. The Northern Miner. Queensland, Australia. 14 January 2021. National Library of Australia. 13 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113210304/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/80515659. live.
  6. News: 18 January 1951. Flood Damage to Inkerman Bridge. LXXI. 1. Townsville Daily Bulletin. Queensland, Australia. 14 January 2021. National Library of Australia. 13 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113210306/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63177535. live.
  7. Web site: Chronological History of Flooding 1857-2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150530161334/http://hardenup.org/media/347511/queensland_flood_history.pdf. 30 May 2015. 14 January 2021. Harden Up.
  8. News: 8 March 1945. Flood Traps Train, Five Passengers Saved By Clinging to Bullocks. 1 (Second Edition). The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 14 January 2021. National Library of Australia.
  9. News: 8 March 1945. Two Missing When Flood Engulfs Train at Burdekin. 1. The Evening Advocate. Queensland, Australia. 14 January 2021. National Library of Australia. 13 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113232641/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/214183860. live.
  10. News: 8 March 1945. Brake Damaged By Debris?. 5. The Evening Advocate. Queensland, Australia. 14 January 2021. National Library of Australia. 13 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113232638/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/214183888. live.
  11. News: 19 April 1957. New Queensland Bridge. 4. Western Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 14 January 2021. National Library of Australia. 13 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113205717/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/104017503. live.

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