Old Como railway bridge, Heritage railway bridge in Como, Australia
The Old Como railway bridge spans the Georges River with a steel lattice structure reinforced by wrought iron components from the Pennsylvania region. Measuring 291 meters long, it was originally built for trains but now provides a pedestrian and bicycle crossing while also supporting water pipelines from Woronora Dam.
The bridge opened on Christmas Day 1885 as part of the Illawarra railway line extension between Hurstville and Sutherland under Chief Engineer John Whitton's design. Its construction marked an important step in expanding rail connections across the Sydney region's river valleys.
The bridge links Como and Oatley as a shared passage, and locals walk or cycle across it regularly to connect their neighborhoods. It carries meaning as a symbol of how transport infrastructure can transform a landscape and bring communities together.
The bridge welcomes pedestrians and cyclists across its walkway, making it an accessible crossing between the two communities. The passage is well-maintained and straightforward to navigate, though visitors should be mindful of its historical structure and any ongoing maintenance work.
The bridge was engineered with a gauntlet track system that allowed trains to travel in both directions on a single rail line without needing switching points. This clever design solution was developed to handle the specific demands of the railway in this location.
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