Walking the Victoria

I went walking between Emu Plains and Penrith today. The heat wasn't too bad and I explored the western end of the wonderful old Victoria Bridge which crosses the Nepean River and dates from 1867.

The wrought iron box girder design was cutting edge in its day but is now one of the oldest surviving examples in the country and must surely be destined for replacement before long.

This dual rail/road structure was once pivotal to the development of the NSW interior and while its role as the principal road crossing has basically been replaced by the M4 motorway bridge up river, the 1907 extension continues to bear the main western railway.