The Timber Truss Railway Bridges of New South Wales

Here Phippen looks in detail at the 54 NSW Railway bridges which were more than just basic girders. These were remarkable examples of railway engineering, both in design and construction, and were essential elements in the railways opening up New South Wales. Thus, it would appeal to anyone with an interest in railways, engineering heritage, structures and timber engineering.

More than two thousand timber underbridges were built on the New South Wales Railways, but only fifty-four might have been more sophisticated than basic girders. Laminated arches and trusses were used to span longer openings between 1858 and 1917. This book follows the development of the several designs – from laminated arch to indeterminate European truss and then to determinate Howe truss. Detailed plans are provided for nearly all bridges and photographs have been located for most. This is a complementary volume to Don Fraser’s Bridges Down Under as it looks in detail at one small subset of New South Wales railway bridges. The bridges might have been few in number, but they were the most spectacular.

The book is 192 pages, A4 landscape format with soft cover and is lavishly illustrated with photographs and plans. The Timber Truss Railway Bridges of New South Wales is written, designed and published by Bill Phippen. Guidance and support were provided by Michael Clarke and Amie Nicholas, fellow members with Bill Phippen of Engineering Heritage Sydney, in Engineers Australia.