de Burgh Truss Bridges

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The fourth type of timber truss bridges are the de Burgh truss bridges.  This was the first of the composite trusses - those that use a mix of steel and timber for parts of the bridge other than the tension rods. Ernest de Burgh joined the NSW Public Works Department in 1895 and introduced his new truss design in 1899.  It made full use of the advantages of timber and steel in which timber is better suited to compression while steel is better suited to tension.  de Burgh's design is based on the Pratt truss of USA which differs from the Howe based truss designs by having the vertical members in compression and the diagonal members in tension.  The most visible difference is the square appearance without the sloped ends. de Burgh trusses have a steel bottom chord composed of two parallel plates with pins used to join the diagonal steel rods.  While the design was an improvement on the Allan truss, it had its own significant disadvantages.  The pins were difficult to maintain or replace.  The design was in use for only about 5 years before being replaced with the Dare truss.

Statistics
Number built:    20
Number remaining:    6
Number to be preserved:    6

Barham Bridge

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This bridge crosses the Murray River at Barham, which is situated halfway between Echuca and Swan Hill. It is a two span bridge with a central lift span.  Built in 1905, the bridge has been fully rebuilt.  A temporary bailey bridge was constructed alongside this bridge during the rebuild.  This bridge is going to be preserved.

View of the bridge from the upstream north side.

View from downstream north side

View of the deck. This bridge still has the original style deck planking.

View of the entire bridge. The north abutment is being replaced.

Details of the de Burgh truss bottom chord. Steel plates with cross bracing and steel pins where the tension rods join.

View of the south truss.

View of the deck showing the footpath, which does not extend over the lift span.

View of the lift span. It is still operational.

View from the south side with load limit signs.

Beckers Bridge

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Beckers Bridge is a single span truss built in 1902. It is located on Glendenbrook Road over Webbers Creek about 15km east of Singleton.  It has had some work done on it, but is still mostly original. It is located in a peaceful, beautiful valley.

 

View of the bridge from the south side.

View from north end

View from the north side.

Close view of the truss.

Detail of the de Burgh truss. The timber uprights are in compression and the diagonals are in tension, the opposite if the Allan truss.

View from the north side.

Cobram Bridge

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Cobram Bridge was built in 1902 over the Murray River.  It is located at the town of Cobram. It is a two span truss with a lift span. The bridge was duplicated in 2009 and the original bridge retained as a footbridge. The lift span is no longer operational.  Most of the approach spans on the NSW side have been removed and a set of stairs installed at the end of the bridge.

View of the bridge from the south side.

View from south end

The crank wheel for raising the lift span.

View of the lift span.

View underneath the truss span showing the steel cross girders and steel plate bottom chords.

View of the lift span balancing weights.

View looking toward the north.

The new bridge gives good vantage points to photograph the old bridge..

View of the de Burgh truss.

View from the north side from the new bridge.

View of the north end of the bridge with the stairs.

View of both bridges from the south side.

View from the north side.

Detail of the de Burgh truss bottom chord. The steel plates are braced together at each end of the truss span.

Crookwell River Bridge

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This bridge is a single span truss over the Crookwell River built in 1903. It is unique in that it has no approach spans on either side of the bridge.  As of February 2014, it is undergoing replacement.  The old bridge will not be preserved. The bridge is located on Binda Road, about 10km north west of Crookwell.
Update August 2016:  This bridge was demolished in early 2015.

View of the bridge from the north side.

View from the south end.

Closer view from the north side.

Close view from the north end.

Detail of the de Burgh truss. Note how only four of the cross beams have sway bars.

Detail of the riveted steel plates that make up the bottom chord.This view also shows the pin that carries the tension rods.

View of the underside.

Distant view showing the construction of the new bridge.

View of the deck.

Gillies Bridge

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This bridge is located on Wilderness Road, about 10km north of Cessnock. It crosses Black Creek. This is a council owned bridge and is the only de Burgh truss with low profile trusses - they are not even double the height of the railing. This bridge was built in 1904 and is completely original.

View of the bridge from the west side.

View of the deck

View from the east side.

Close view of the truss.

View of the underside.

Detail of the end tension rods.

View of the truss showing the splice plates.

View from the east side.

Holman Bridge

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Holman Bridge is a single span bridge over the Lachlan River and was built in 1904. it is currently undergoing replacement as of February 2014. Due to this, I could not get any good side views. The bridge is located on Nanima Road just north of Gooloongong.
Update August 2016:  This bridge was demolished in June 2016.

View of the bridge from the north side.

View of the deck and trusses.

View of the bridge and construction from the north side.

View from the north end.

Closer view of the bridge. Note the many steel reinforcements made to the approaches.

View from the north side.

Landsdowne Bridge

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Landsdowne Bridge is located on Bungonia Road, Goulburn and was built in 1902. It crosses the Mulwaree River.  This bridge is not going to be preserved. Update February 2021: This bridge was demolished in mid 2018.

View of the bridge from the east side.

View of the deck and trusses from the east end.

View from truss and approaches from the east side.

Close view of the truss.

View of the truss from the west side.

Several supports have been braced.

View from the west side.

View from the east end.

Middle Fallbrook Bridge

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This bridge was built in 1904 over Fall Brook and is a two span truss.  It has concrete pipe piers, a unique feature. This bridge has been fully rebuilt since these photos were taken and is going to be preserved. It is located on Middle Fallbrook Road about 12km north of Singleton.

View of the bridge from the south side.

View from south end

View from the north side.

Close view of the truss from the south side.

View of the south end.

View of the deck and Bailey trusses.

St Albans Bridge

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St Albans Bridge was built in 1903 over the Macdonald River at St Albans. It is unique in that it has the longest trusses of any of the timber truss bridges. It is also unique in that the tension rods are mounted outside the steel plates of the bottom chord.  Also, the timber vertical members are composed of four timber beams, rather than the usual two. This bridge will be preserved and has been upgraded and restored.

View of the bridge from the east side.

View from east end

Detail of the end of the bottom chord showing the triple tension rods with the outside two mounted outside the plates of the bottom chord.

View of the bridge from the east side.

Close view of the truss span.

View of the deck and cross beams from the east side.

Tabulam Bridge

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Tabulam Bridge is a five span truss bridge built in 1903. It is the longest timber truss bridge remaining in NSW.  Only about 6 other bridges were ever built to this length or longer.  It is located on Bruxner Highway at Tabulam, about 50km west of Casino.  This bridge is unfortunately not going to be preserved.  It has been partially upgraded. Update February 2021: Despite widespread calls for preservation, this bridge was demolished in early 2021 after the replacement bridge opened just to the south of the old bridge. A sad loss of such a beautiful, historically significant structure.

View of the bridge from the east side.

View from east end

View from the east side.

View of the bridge from the east side.

View of the deck and trusses.

View from the middle of the bridge.

Detail of the bottom chord and steel cross beams.

View from the west side.

Distant view from the west side.

View from the west side truss.

View of all the trusses from the west side.

Side view of one of the trusses.