Hi all,
Since the trams were taken from Perth, and the replacement trolleybuses also taken, the bridge has been declared "Heritage".
The PTA are using several of the original rooms under the bridge (on both sides of the lines) as offices for various functions.
When the modifications were being done, care had to be taken NOT to interfere with the brick work pillars (piers) and supports for the steel work of the bridge.
Hence any partitioning had to be made to fit the profile of the bridge supports, and fit the underside of the steel supports and girders and so on.
This is so that at some time in the future, if PTA ever vacate the area, the bridge can be put back to its original condition.
As an aside, the angle of the slope between pillars is three (3) brick courses until the level road at the top or William St on either side is reached..
The spacing between pillars/piers is approx. 3.5 metres where the offices are located.
The maths lot can work out the angle as a result.
The shape and angle of the climb on each end of the bridge was done to obtain the necessary clearances over the railway lines which passed through the station, and also to permit the horse drawn carts to climb the approaches and descend the other side.
I will be working there Sunday so will try and get accurate dimensions of the piers and distances between in the area at which I will be.
Incidentally, the Horseshoe bridge and the Barrack St Bridge (as well as the Mt Lawley subway, West Perth subway on Sutherland St AND the East Perth Power House, along with many other structures) were built by the WAGR --- very versatile people in those halcyon days of Perth.
The Horseshoe Bridge was also designed and built for passing over future standard gauge tracks from Kalgoorlie and was opened for traffic in 1904, although trams didn't get to use the bridge until 1921.
Bob in Perth
-----Original Message-----
From:TramsDownUnder@... [mailto:TramsDownUnder@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Saturday, 11 November 2017 11:15 AM
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Subject: [TramsDownUnder] The horse shoe bridge [1 Attachment]
Another 1952 pic from Noel Reed - this time showing 121 on the famous horse shoe bridge that connects Perth's CBD with the northern suburbs.
121 is one of the second (bogie) A class, built by WAGR in the late 1920s and ran on Brill 62E trucks.
That makes it a contemporary of Brisbane's drop centre cars, Sydney's Ps and Melbourne's W2s.
It's similar to the D class, but didn't have MU control and the windows differed in detail.
Mal Rowe - noting the Brush heritage of the Perth designs, but also noting how 'American' they look.
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