Historic Rail Bridge
Historic timber truss Rail Bridge near Hokitika, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand. Additional Bridge Photos and a Bridge Blog at www.Bridgepix.com.
The Mahinapua Creek Rail Bridge is located about half between Takutai and Mananui on the closed Ross Branch, about 5 km south of Hokitika, the present terminus of the line. The railway from Greymouth to Hokitika was opened in December 1983, and following the completion of the lengthy road-rail bridge across the Hokitika River, the Hokitika to Ruatapu section which included this bridge opened in November 1906. The final 11.5 km to Ross was eventually completed in April 1909. Passenger services on the Ross Branch ceased in October 1972. The Hokitika - Ross section of the branch closed November 1980, the remainder becoming the Hokitika Branch, which remains in use today. All that is left of the Ross Branch today are this bridge and the much larger similar structure across the Totara River at the former terminus. The Mahinapua Creek Rail Bridge is now preserved by the Department of Conservation and is an excellent remaining example of the old timber truss type of bridges which once were endemic up and down the country.
Historic Rail Bridge
Historic timber truss Rail Bridge near Hokitika, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand. Additional Bridge Photos and a Bridge Blog at www.Bridgepix.com.
The Mahinapua Creek Rail Bridge is located about half between Takutai and Mananui on the closed Ross Branch, about 5 km south of Hokitika, the present terminus of the line. The railway from Greymouth to Hokitika was opened in December 1983, and following the completion of the lengthy road-rail bridge across the Hokitika River, the Hokitika to Ruatapu section which included this bridge opened in November 1906. The final 11.5 km to Ross was eventually completed in April 1909. Passenger services on the Ross Branch ceased in October 1972. The Hokitika - Ross section of the branch closed November 1980, the remainder becoming the Hokitika Branch, which remains in use today. All that is left of the Ross Branch today are this bridge and the much larger similar structure across the Totara River at the former terminus. The Mahinapua Creek Rail Bridge is now preserved by the Department of Conservation and is an excellent remaining example of the old timber truss type of bridges which once were endemic up and down the country.