Algebuckina Bridge

{{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}

{{Infobox bridge

| bridge_name = Algebuckina Bridge

| image = Algebuckina Bridge.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = The bridge in 2009

| carries = Railway (disused)

| crosses = Neales River

| locale = Allandale Station, South Australia

| owner =

| maint =

| id =

| website =

| architect =

| designer =

| engineering =

| design =

| material = Wrought iron

| length = {{convert|1927|ft|m|order=flip}}

| width =

| height =

| mainspan =

| spans = 19

| pierswater =

| load =

| clearance =

| below =

| life =

| builder =

| fabricator =

| begin =

| complete =

| cost = £AU 60,000

| open = {{Start date|1892|01|08|df=y}}

| inaugurated =

| toll =

| traffic =

| preceded =

| followed =

| heritage = {{Plainlist|

• Register of the National Estate
• South Australian Heritage Register

}}

| closed = 1981

| replaces = Surface level crossing

| map_cue =

| map_image =

| map_alt =

| map_text =

| map_width =

| coordinates = {{Coord|-27.8993|135.8075|region:AU_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

}}

File:Old Algebuckina Ghan Bridge.jpg

The Algebuckina Bridge is a Victorian era railway bridge in the Australian state of South Australia located about {{convert|55|km}} south-east of the town of Oodnadatta in the locality of Allandale Station on the route of the now-closed Central Australia Railway.{{cite web|title= Search results for 'Allandale Station, LOCB' with the following datasets selected – 'Suburbs and Localities', 'SA Heritage Places' and 'SA Heritage Places Indicative Footprints' |url=http://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/?map=hybrid&x=135.8093&y=-27.90099&z=15&uids=19,95,102&pinx=&piny=&pinTitle=&pinText= |website=Location SA Map Viewer |publisher=Government of South Australian Government |accessdate=1 June 2019}} It opened in January 1892.{{Cite episode | title = The Australian Outback | series = Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways | url = http://www.channel5.com/shows/chris-tarrant-extreme-railways/episodes/episode-2-465 | accessdate = 2012-12-13 | station = Channel 5 | date = 2012-12-13 | number = 2 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130404042918/http://www.channel5.com/shows/chris-tarrant-extreme-railways/episodes/episode-2-465 | archive-date = 4 April 2013 | url-status = dead| df = dmy-all }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160728206 |title=Railway Commissioners' Reports. |newspaper=Adelaide Observer |volume=XLIX |issue=2645 |location=South Australia |date=11 June 1892 |accessdate=1 June 2019 |page=32 |via=National Library of Australia}}Infornmation plaque at the bridge, pictured at http://letsgotravelaustralia.com/algebuckina-bridge-2/ It was the longest bridge in South Australia until construction of the Seaford suburban rail line across the Onkaparinga River south of Adelaide in 2014.{{cite web|title=Seaford rail extension bridges|url=http://dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/59459/Seaford_Rail_Extension_Bridges.pdf#Seaford%20Rail%20Extension%20Bridges|publisher=Department of Transport Energy and Infrastructure|accessdate=4 April 2014}}

The {{convert|1927|ft|m}} bridge consists of 19 spans{{cite AHD|5974|Algebuckina Bridge (bridge over the Neales), Marree-Alice Springs Railway, Algebuckina via Oodnadatta, SA, Australia - listing on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate |date=28 September 1982|accessdate=23 May 2019}} of {{convert|100|ft|m}} length and which are of lattice wrought iron construction, sitting on cast iron cylindrical piers. It was strengthened in 1926 to allow it to carry heavier trains.

It was built by a team of around 350 men, working in extreme desert heat. Several graves are nearby, and one of them is for David Saunders, who died in January 1890 from “heart disease accelerated by heat apoplexy.”{{cite web|url=http://www.outbacksecrets.com/algebuckina.html|title=Algebuckina on the Oodnadatta Track|accessdate=1 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830010647/http://www.outbacksecrets.com/algebuckina.html|archive-date=30 August 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

The bridge crosses the floodplain of the Neales River, which is prone to seasonal flooding, and replaced a surface-level railway which was frequently washed away. After a severe flood in 1974, which almost reached the bridge decks, the line was closed in 1981 and a new route built 100 miles further west.

The bridge was listed on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate on 28 September 1982 and listed as a state heritage place on the South Australian Heritage Register on 20 November 1986.{{cite web |title=Algebuckina Bridge |url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=12 |website=SA Heritage Places Database |publisher=Government of South Australia |accessdate=23 May 2019|date=20 November 1986}}