State Records NSW is highlighting a number of anniversaries on its website this year. The Sydney Harbour Bridge features in two of these.
NRS 12685, Sydney Harbour Bridge Photographic Albums; [Digital id: 12685_a007_a00704_8734000067r] First passenger train to cross Sydney Harbour Bridge, 19/03/1932.
Between when this image was taken in 1932 and when our second photo was taken in 1952, the Bridge changed.
Series: NRS 9771, Miscellaneous correspondence files Department of Main Roads Dated: 1926-1978
Item: Image from [10/27345] File 42m457
Can you spot the difference? And no it’s not the train.
Stayed tuned for further information!
Also of interest:
Category: Collections in NSW
The blockhouse towers on the pylons for the WW2 anti-aircraft guns.
Well spotted to both beachcomberaustralia over on the Flickr site and to David Bromage. And in record time too. We thought these photos might have kept you guessing for a little while.
For further information see our War and Australia webpage where we have posted material concerning the use of the Bridge pylons by the military and the raising of Lewis machine guns to two of the pylons.
http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/research-topics/war-and-australia/war-and-australia
Jenny
The 1932 photo shows 1500v overheads for the pantograph fitted train sets.
The 1952 pic had 600v overheads for tramcars.
I can advise a lot more tech data. I worked at Randwick tramway depot, and at ELCAR in Chullora on railway trains 1946 to 1952.
Alistair
PO Box 215 Bundanoon NSW 2578
There are no flags flying in the 2nd photograph.
Thank you, Alistair. Yes the photographs are taken from a slightly different angle.
The 1932 image has the overhead wires for trains in the foreground and the wires for the trams on the eastern side of the bridge can be seen in the background. The 1952 image has a good closeup of the tram wires with the train wires in the background. The lane that was used for trams is now a roadway.
Well spotted, Richard. The flagpoles in the outer corner of each pylons (and the flags that are flying from them) are not present in the 1952 image.
Digital image 12685_a007_a00704_8734000109r
entitled Public crossing Bridge after Opening Ceremony, 19 March 1932
is the clearest image I can find that shows the flagpoles on two of the pylons. It can be accessed vis Photo Investigator on our website.
I wonder if they were removed in 1942 when the gun emplacements were installed or at some other time?
Jenny
Here’s the link to the image that Jenny mentioned in the comment above http://investigator.records.nsw.gov.au/asp/photosearch/photo.asp?12685_a007_a00704_8734000109r
The top photo shows the rail track and the bottom photo shows the tram track