James Street Railway Bridge, Lithgow

This relatively small and un-noticed bridge came into service on the same day as the famous Great Zig Zag a few miles closer to Sydney, opened in 1869. Although the Zig Zag has long since been superseded, the James Street bridge remains in service on what is now the East to West ‘Indian Pacific’ route, and seems likely to continue to do so indefinitely into the future.

Although originally bult to carry only single track it was, within a dozen years of its opening, skillfully widened to carry two tracks, such that only careful inspection reveals the modification.

The bridge was designed by John Whitton, father of the NSW railways and built by Patrick Higgins – the same contractor for the Great Zig Zag.

At first placed to carry the railway over a watercourse, it was later adapted to cross a local road so as to remove an adjacent level-crossing from the main line.

1866 plans of bridge at 82 miles 6 chains. ARHSNSW Collection.

Locomotive 1915 shunting on James Street bridge about 1953. Photographer unknown.

James Street Bridge restored and cleaned. 3 September 2020. Bill Phippen.

Iron bolts through the spandrel walls. 3 September 2020. Bill Phippen.

The bridge has clearly been widened from one track to two, but the joint can only be discerned by reference to the bond of the stone courses. 3 September 2020. Bill Phippen.

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References:
Phippen, Bill, Proposal to Nominate as Item of Engineering Heritage Interest, November 2023.