Boyerine Railway Bridge

Statement of Significance

The bridge is significant for its association with the development of transport and communication.

Physical Description

The bridge crosses the Boyerine Creek some 6 kms north of Woodanilling and about 3kms south of the Boyerine Siding. The Boyerine Creek is a winter flowing tributary of the Beaufort River. In summer, a number of pools retained a supply of water. The surveying of the railway from Beverley to Albany required a crossing of the creek at some point. The current rail bridge is the second as the previous bridge was insufficient to cope with floodwaters.

History

The wet winter of 1917 caused a tragedy when the Perth bound goods train crashed into the flooded salt creek near Boyerine. The mixed train which left Katanning at 5am consisted of 21 trucks, coach and brake van and arrived at the bridge four miles north of Woodamlling, at 6.30am. The bridge which had carried two passenger trains and a special troop train within a few hours previously, collapsed as the engine crossed it, about a 40 foot span giving way. The tender jammed the back of the engine into the broken embankment and eight trucks became piled up on the engine and tender. When the guard Turner had managed to scramble over the piled up wreckage to the engine he found the driver, Lou Starr, on the ground in a fearful state suffering from scalds while the fireman Chris Peacock was pinned in the cabin of the engine enveloped in steam. With the aid of Trooper Charlie Shaw who was travelling on the train, the guard managed to extricate Peacock after nearly an hours chopping. The unfortunate man was conscious all the time. As soon as the pressure was relieved and he was lifted out, he expired. JA Todd who was also on the train walked back to Woodanilling to report and the telephone was set into action, to both Katanning and Wagin. John Colhourn could hear the escaping steam from his house and drove down with his horse and sulky. There was danger in even this as the floods threatened to flood his sulky and horse away as he crossed the bridge over the creek. Bob Harris, who was living in a hut along the line not far from the accident, was unaware of the drama until Colhoun sought him out to help. The ease the pain of Starr, they tore up sheets and soaked them in olive oil to dress the burns. After about 5 hours delay, Dr Moule arrived by the relief train from Wagin and found Starr still alive, but unconscious to the fearful state of his injuries. He was taken back to Wagin where after being in a critical condition for some time, eventually recovered. Chris Peacock's parents resided at Cranbrook and his brother Ralph had been killed in action only a few weeks before. Peacock was buried in the Katanning cemetery. The rail wagons had been laden with apples and flour for the troops overseas and when they capsized their load was spilled everywhere. Another smash and derailment occurred here again in 1923 when once more the bridge was washed away. However, fortunately on this occasion no fatalities occurred. A ballast train had left for Boyerine to make repairs. The train came to grief and ran into the creek. A breakdown train was sent the following day to lift the ballast train out and rebuild the bridge

Integrity/Authenticity

Original Materials: None Modifications: Some

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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