Emu Plains Underbridge, Heritage railway bridge in Penrith, Australia
Emu Plains Underbridge is a railway bridge spanning the Nepean River near Penrith with five steel spans and a central Pratt Truss design. The structure continues to carry the Main Western railway line across the river today.
Built in 1907, the bridge replaced an earlier wrought iron structure from 1867 and was designed by James Fraser. Fraser later became Chief Railway Commissioner and shaped Australian railway development for decades.
The bridge shows how Australian engineering shifted from British to American construction methods in the early 1900s, visible in its steel design. Visitors can still see this transition reflected in the structure's details today.
The bridge sits about a kilometer west of Penrith railway station and remains an important part of the rail network. The best views are from nearby public areas, as direct access to the bridge itself is restricted.
This is the oldest working truss railway bridge in the greater Sydney area and has kept its original steel framework since it was built. R. Tulloch & Co. manufactured the steel structure, which has served without major rebuilding for more than a century.
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