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NORTH FREMANTLE BRIDGE.
A Rocky Concern.
For the past couple of years this
pa-per has- consistently pointed to th
fact that it was'unwise to place too
much faith in the stability of the Nor:h
Fremantle railway -bridge, and
frequent]v expressed grave doubts as
to. its absolute safety. However, nothing
has been done to it. except that
it got a little patching v.p. Railway
bridges, like everything else, can't be
expected to last for ever, and this N.F.
structure is a pretty ancient concern
Therefore; it' wasn't at all surprising
that a couple of engine-drivers got a..
sudden shock the other day when crossing
it-. They swore that they distinctly
felt the bridge rocking beneath the
train, and he£rd ominous noises. ^ The
matter was reported at once, and the
station masters from Fremantle and
North Fremantle procured an engine
and investigated things. They went
slowly across.and failed to detect anything*
and so came to the conclusion
that everything was O.K., end that the
engine-men. must have had 'em, or
dreamt it or something. Anyway, the
trains were allowed to run as. usual
and nothing further'has been done.
Perhaps the engine hands were mistaken,
but it must be remembered that
it- is a 'vastly different thing crossing
a doubtful bridge on an' unattached
engine to crossing it on a heavy-laden
train. This bridge ha s been looked
upon, with suspicion for many a long
day, and it is certainly up to the
department to make a thorough test
it. 'But to usual, nothing will probably
be done until something happens.
One of . these days a couple of train
loads of people will drop into the
Swan with a wrecked bridge on top
of them, and Short and Co. will awake
and say, "Look at that! who'd -have
thought it?" and the Minister for
Railways will find himself working
overtime signing compensation cheques.
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