XPT 2002 & 2014 at Middle River NSW. Mon 20th July 2020

Описание: NSW TrainLinks daily XPT set to Dubbo NSW as WT27 wastes no time in passing through Middle River NSW as the speed board for the XPT is 140KMh through this section, running spot on time. The XPT sets look rather bland after the Country Link logos were removed from the power cars some time back.

Some on the Endeavour sets have seen a refresh into the orange and red colour scheme but not the XPT or Explorer fleet. Middle River has an historic heritage listed single line sandstone bridge built in 1870 by George McGarvie Donald of Lithgow based on a design by John Whitton.

Although the location is identified by the railways as Middle River the bridge in fact crosses the Marrangaroo Creek. Middle River was a busy site with three sidings beyond the viaduct bridge, towards Marrangaroo station, to serve Norton Griffiths with access on the Up Side via a ground frame unlocked by the key on the Electric Train Staff for the section.

Norton Griffith was an infrastructure contractor associated with the duplication of the main western line at the time. In July of 1919 a Crossing Loop to the east of the viaduct was introduced and in August of 1919 a small signal box was added.

The bridge was replaced by a dual line bridge following duplication of the line and opened to traffic on the 20th of December 1921. Note the large brick chimney built on the end of the viaduct circa 1921, it was used for a water pumping station below with water pumped up to Tunnel Hill and gravity fed down to Wallerawang for the use of the general public and steam train provisioning.

Locals say there was also a trout farm under the bridge also some years back.

0948hrs Monday 20th of July 2020