The old "S" shaped "Howe" wooden trestle Cobden Railway Bridge.1984.

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DescriptionThis photo was taken while crossing the old "S" shaped "Howe" wooden trestle Cobden Railway Bridge over the Grey River at Greymouth in early March 1984. I wouldn't have bothered posting this image but of course it's no longer there apart from one trestle set up on the riverbank so now historic. Because of the curves in the bridge I didn't get the final curve though. Opened in 1898 I always thought this was quite an amazing piece of early engineering and lasted well considering it was curved, built across a challenging river, and carried very heavy coal trains. It lasted till around 2006 when the new bridge opened. Scanned from the original 35mm negative.

Donald Lawson Cochrane
I scanned this from the original 35mm negative. There's no problem if it's used for non-commercial purposes and with an acknowledgment but if it's for a commercial use they need to contact me [em66nz@hotmail.com] with details regarding proposed usage as I am the copyright holder. Kind regards, DonaldDate of Photo1984Map^[1]ContributorDonald Cochrane

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Location (city or town)GreymouthPersonCoibdenLandmark (Place)Cobden Railway BridgeEventThe old "S" shaped "Howe" wooden trestle Cobden Railway Bridge.1984.

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Date Created30th September 2020CommentsNova Hichens
Nice photo.
Bernie Bell
Walked across many times as a kid
Stuart McMillan
Looks a very good bridge
Sam Peters
Alan Sheehan - still remember going over this with you many years ago
Alan Sheehan
Sam Peters yep, that was a while ago alright.
Rob O'Brien
Loôks very well maintain
Marq Sarchett
Rob O'Brien yeah longggggg time ago before we sol railways
Rebekah Fairhurst Geer
Used to walk to the middle, you could see neither end, quite trippy when drunkish...
Miles Anderson
Awesome pic
Yvonne Lawson
Went over that bridge many times. And he road above it.
Dianne Johnson
Remember it well.
Leigh Manson
Was great for jumping off
Marq Sarchett
I fished offthis bridge in the 60s 70s
Mark Thomas
I rode across it on my mountain bike
Mike Roberts
Awesome bridge. Sketched it from the other direction....will see if I have it!
Mike Roberts
Here it is, out of the old sketchbook!

Image may contain: bridge and outdoor, text that says 'SKETCH: BALLPOINT PEN'
John Armstrong
Remember it well from the 50 s
Was the shape a structural thing like a curved dam
What happened to all that beautiful timber
One of the houses here on Waiheke island I was involved in building used the timbers from the Waitangi bridge in the huge barn like main structure as posts rafters and collar ties the result was stunning
The owner ( an office worker ) found a mill to machine it and worked there himself removing all the bolts and plates using old tools of that era
He labelled all items and if the holes showed in the building they were replaced ( this was to save damage to the saw blades
One post in the kitchen has the bridge number plate on it
Gavin Liz Cochrane
Yep walked over many times in the 60’s
Sandra Case
we used to fish of it
Margi Adamson
Fond memories
Ha, ha, how many times did we dare each to walk over this, hoping a train wouldn't come

Brent Tomlinson
Carol Mutch yes you must have done that, you are such a rebel!
Donald Pearson
I remember those days,certainly built to last.
Marlana Quy
such great memory

John Fowler
Was always fun leaning out over the top fixing phone wires but never went for a swim. Wouldn’t be able to do it these days

Denese Joy Keenan
Great memories!Good memories

Greg Hine
Used to love walking across it as a teen

Marie Summers
this is all at the railway yards in town i have some that fell in the river wen the dismantled during 1 whitebait season

Jakh Heremia
this bridge is an engineering marvel - the only curved railbridge in the Southern Hemisphere

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The old "S" shaped "Howe" wooden trestle Cobden Railway Bridge.1984.

Editing is temporarily disabled