In the early mid 60's, my family lived in a Acclimatisation Department house just by the Oreti River and on the Lumsden/Mossburn highway. Alongside the road was the Mossburn Branch for rail traffic. The unique thing with this line was the single lane Oreti River bridge, which catered to both road and rail.
The image above is Locomotive AB 725 crossing the bridge from the Mossburn side heading east to Lumsden (in 1968)
The image above is our front yard Looking norwest towards Mossburn. Where the trees are is the Lumsden/Mossburn rail line. In the winter's hoar frosts and snowfalls the temperatures are often well below freezing, and the trees beside the line would break and fall on the tracks. Dad used to go and move them all so the train gets through.
A few photos and some text on the branch line. Click here.
I was about 5 to 7 when we lived here and fondly remember the steam trains.
Question for you? Were (are) there any other dual purpose single lane rail/road bridges. I seem to remember in the early 80's the Awatere River Bridge (near Seddon) was still a single track on top and single road lane beneath. I am sure there are others.
Above - our House on the Lumsden/Mossburn road. Typical winters day snowfall, some as much as 400mm deep.
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