McKanes Bridge, Lithgow - Historic Engineering Marker #62 Hartley, New South Wales, Australia
By
Team MavEtJu on 22-Oct-15. Waypoint GA7685
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | Virtual |
| Container: | Virtual |
| Coordinates: | S33° 32.987' E150° 7.468' (WGS 84) |
| 56H 233014E 6284056N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 722 m |
| Local Government Area: | Lithgow City |
/150.124467,-33.549783,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
McKanes Bridge, Lithgow - Historic Engineering Marker #62
The 1893 McKanes Bridge is an excellent representative example of the 91 McDonald timber truss road bridges built between 1886 —1893 of which only 6 survive.
The design introduced in 1884 by John A McDonald, one of the first bridge design specialists, was a significant technical improvement on the earlier "Old PWD" timber truss bridges, which involved little engineering science in their design.
Compared with those bridges, the McDonald truss road bridges were easier to build and maintain, could carry greater loads and provided some allowance for future increases in chtcic loads.
They played a significant pen in the development of the colonial road network and McKanes Bridge made an important contribution to transport links within the Lithgow region.
The bridge has undergone major rehabilitation which returned it to its original form and function, under a policy by the Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales to conserve the best examples of its extensive population of heritage bridges.
Contents of the plaque:
McKanes Bridge, Lithgow as a representative of McDonald Truss Road Bridges
In 1884 John A. McDonald introduced a new timber truss design. His bridges were a significant technical Improvement on earlier designs being stronger, easier to build and maintain and allowing for a future increase in loads. McDonald Truss bridges were significant In the development of the colonial road network. This 1893 bridge was an important transport link within this region and Is an excellent example of the 91 built. of which only five remained in 2007.
The institution of Engineers, Australia and Roads and Traffic Authority NSW, 2002
When logging this virtual, please add a photo of yourself or your GPSr at the plaque.
For more information, please see the nomination PDF at the Heritage Register at the Engineers Australia website: https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/portal/heritage/mckanes-bridge-coxs-river-lithgow-1893
Logs
Anyway, we managed to pass safely before the steep descent started 
After an interesting tour of the Orient Cave, we headed towards Oberon, stopped by the dam to grab the three trigs there, along with another engineering marker before picking up the local CORS and another trig before setting sail for Lithgow. Stopped by the bridge for this engineering marker as we got closer to the town. TFTC Team MavEtJu 
Thanks for the cache.
Rather than just view the plaque, it is well worth the wander down the easy track to view the 'woodwork' from below ... and also to take in the 'silence' of vehicles that pass above.
RMS may well have done a structural rehabilitation, but if this is an example of the original it is a gem displayed in all its practical glory.
Worth the stop, well worth the wander to view from all angles.
Thank you Team MavEtJu for this off-the-well trod path virtual ... thoroughly enjoyed!!!
TFTC.
