Re: movable-span bridges

["John Browning" <ceo8@rocknet.net.au>]

There are two movable span river bridges on the Moreton Mill 2ft gauge cane
railway sysetem at Nambour, creatively known as the "big lifting bridge"
and the "little lifting bridge". They are timber bridges and each has a
lifting span pulled up by hand winch to allow the passage of water craft.
The lifting section is normally left in the down position during the
crushing season (at least at the big lifting bridge) and in the up position
in the slack season.

The big lifting bridge is across the Maroochy River north of Bli Bli and is
used frequently each day by cane trains during the crushing season. It
features in local postcards. It was built in 1921 and there is 17ft 6ins
headroom at high water mark with the span raised. The little lifting bridge
crosses Petrie Creek to the west of Maroochydore.

John Browning