ALBUM - COBDEN BRIDGE - Then and Now.

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DescriptionThe old Cobden Bridge was built in 1885. The new bridge replaced the old in 1975. The old bridge was so narrow that it was always difficult when two cars were passing each other.

If a Wyldes bus was approaching as you drove across, total concentration was needed because a slice of ham was the only thing that would fit between the bus and the passing car. The man who strolled out of the hut at the end of the bridge to stop the traffic when trains went past had the best job in Greymouth.Map^[1]ContributorTony Kokshoorn

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Location (city or town)GreymouthCobden Landmark (Place)COBDEN BRIDGE

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Category Tagthen and now

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Date Created9th February 2023CommentsLorraine O'Donoghue
Yes, I was made to drive across that bridge every day when learning to drive except for the day I went for my license. The Traffic Cop put me through the hoops then casually asked had I driven over the Cobden Bridge and took my word for it much to my relief. He probably had seen me when learning if the truth be known.

Warren Parkin
Yep, I remember I was half way across, greymouth bound and a green mk2 zephyr (I won't name the driver), weaved his way onto the bridge and took the side of my car out, another car picked him up and took him home. The bang was so loud, that the guys doing the causeway for the new bridge came up to help. That's where I met the new motorcycle cop (mark Wilkinson) and we formed a friendship from then on.

Peta Jones
A pathway doesn't look visible, but I know I walked over it at least once around 1962. ?
Heather Newby

Peta Jones its on the outside of the bridge,.

Grant Taylor
This photo shows the road bridge. The header photo shows the rail bridge.

Peta Jones
Heather Newby ah, right....didn't try to join the trains!

Peta Jones
Heather Newby that's it!

Colin Skates
Grant Taylor I don't think you are right the railway bridge had a distinctive curve in it and was up stream of the road bridge so the header photo is the road bridge not the rail bridge as you suggest

Grant Taylor
Colin Skates If you use zoom on the header picture the railway lines are clearly visible. Give it a try.

Colin Skates
Grant Taylor Nah the railway bridge had timber around the piles to stop logs and debris building up and the pile caissons shown here are still in the river
Wayne Leckie
Graham Thompson and the pie cart many a stand up go with Graham and other car drivers lol

Curtis Parker
And it's been through some big floods to I bet

Grant Taylor
The header photo shows the rail bridge, not the the road bridge. There were two separate structures, as there are today.

Graham Schaef
Grant Taylor The header picture is the first bridge. The rail tracks were for trains from the Quarry The super structure of the bridge pictured and a structure built using the existing caisson piles . By memory the timbers rotted before there time on the original bridge.
Reply5h
Dorothy Wills
That is a great picture

Elizabeth Ann Beech
Was always a bit chilly biking over it when the barber was down.

Graham Schaef
This is the 2nd. bridge.
May be an image of bridge, body of water and nature

Alan Beck
"Not Always On Duty".

Sandra Rooney
Foot path on other side. Two small cars could passStephen Lucas
Not to mention the cyclists and the.barber

Alan Beck
Len McGrane, 1962, went across on the outside of the railway bridge.

Sue McCallum
It was a B...... when riding ponies across with a car coming either behind u or infront that's for sure,
Ōtira
Great piece of interesting reading

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