18/02/2025
Two Mile Creek Railway Bridge at Walgett, NSW
When the last section of the Narrabri to Walgett railway branch line opened in November 1908, the final piece of engineering infrastructure completed was the timber bridge over Two Mile Creek, a couple of miles north of the town of Walgett.
Built by the Public Works Department, the bridge was designed by engineer Henry Dean using the Howe Through Truss style of bridge construction.
Howe trusses were invented and patented by American William Howe in 1840. They consist of timber chords intersecting diagonal braces and vertical end posts. The critical innovation in the Howe Truss was the use of wrought iron verticals with threaded ends instead of timber. The bridge has three 18.6m timber truss spans and a further thirty 7.3m timber girder spans. The piers are of timber, the inner two piers being sheeted with horizontal timber planks.
Like much of New South Wales’ country railway networks, regular passenger services to Walgett ceased in the 1970s, although occasional rail motors travelled the line to Walgett, the last being in 1983. The line received flood damage in November 1987, between Walgett Railway Station and the bridge, and was never repaired.
Located near the bridge, on the eastern side of the creek is the Walgett Wheat Terminal, which is the largest grain storage facility in the Southern Hemisphere. Freight trains continue to use this facility, bringing grain to the coast for domestic and export use.
The Two Mile Creek Railway Bridge is one of only three remaining Howe Through Truss rail bridges, the others being at Canowindra and Menah.