- Albert Bridge, Brisbane
Infobox Bridge
bridge_name=Albert
official_name=Albert Bridge
locale=Brisbane ,Australia
carries=Railway
crosses=Brisbane River
open=1895
below=
design=Truss bridge
mainspan=
length=
width=The Albert Bridge is arailway bridge is of steel truss design, and is the tenth crossing of theBrisbane River ,Queensland ,Australia . The Albert Bridge links Indooroopilly and Chelmer stations, and has two long spans with one central pier.History
The first bridge on the site was built in 1876 and enabled the Ipswich to Grandchester railway to reach Brisbane itself. [cite web
url=http://www.corporate.qr.com.au/history/building_bush/building_bush.asp
title=QR Corporate - QR History - Building to the bush
publisher=QR Limited
accessdate=2008-08-16] In the early days of settlement, the Brisbane River at Indooroopilly provided an obstacle to the construction of a railway between Brisbane and the mining centre of Ipswich. At this time, a river boat service linked the two centres. The Ipswich railway line did not open until 1876, following the completion of the original Albert Bridge.The first bridge was destroyed in the 1893 flood, with the present bridge built in 1895. [cite book |title=The Brisbane River: A pictorial history |last=Longhurst |first=Robert |coauthors=William Douglas |publisher=W.D. Incorporated Pty Ltd |location=Brisbane |isbn=0646344722 |pages=31] It was designed by Henry Charles Stanley, Queensland's Chief Engineer of Railways from 1892 to 1901. He sought to avoid the obstruction to flood waters posed by multiple piers, which had been the downfall of the first bridge. The bridge was opened to traffic in August 1895 and remains one of Australia's largest truss bridges.cite web
url=http://enc.slq.qld.gov.au/logicrouter/servlet/LogicRouter?PAGE=object&OUTPUTXSL=object_enc36ui.xslt&pm_RC=PICTQLD&pm_OI=13022&api_1=GET_OBJECT_XML&num_result=0
title=Indooroopilly Toll Bridge and the Albert Bridge, Brisbane, ca. 1937
publisher=State Library of Queensland
accessdate=2008-09-10] Both bridges were named in honour of the Prince of Wales, Prince Albert.When opened the bridge also catered for pedestrian traffic, [cite web
url=http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/heritage/index.cgi?place=600232&back=1
title=Queensland Heritage Register: Albert Bridge
publisher=www.epa.qld.gov.au
accessdate=2008-09-10] until the construction of the nearby Walter Taylor Bridge in 1937. A second unnamed railway bridge is located between the Albert Bridge and the Walter Taylor Bridge. This second crossing was constructed in 1957 as part of the quadruplication of the Ipswich railway line.ee also
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Bridges of Brisbane References
External links
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