- Source: Vasai Creek Railway Bridge
The Vasai Creek Railway Bridge is located between Western Railway's Bhayandar and Naigaon railway stations, above the Vasai Creek. This rail bridge starts from Bhayandar at the northern end of the Salsette Island, passes through the Panju Island, and ends at Naigaon on the mainland side.
History
When the BB&CI Railway's (precursor to Western Railway) first line was to be laid between Ahmedabad and Bombay, the Bassein Creeks (Vasai Creeks) were among the more formidable obstacles. The creeks were regarded as 'tidal', with high and low tides ranging a difference of around 15 ft (4.572 m). The creek was divided into two by the intermediate Panjoo island (Panju Island), and hence the crossing bridge too had to be divided as such. The bridges were built in (probably in the end of) 1850s. They were however opened for traffic only around 5 years later, when the Grant Rd-Ahmedabad line opened on 28 November 1864. The Southern portion of this bridge was 4,312'-6'' (1,314.45 m) long, while the Northern portion was just 1,562'-6'' (476.25 m) long. The Bridges were erected with 60 ft (18.288 m) deck Warren Girders, on 2'-6'' (0.762 m) diameter cast iron screw piles. These were screwed till depths, the shallowest being 20 ft (6.096 m), the deepest 72 ft (21.945 m). The bridge piers were 62'-6'' (19.05 m) centres, and each consisted of three piles, 14 ft (4.267 m) centres. These were held together, with 14 ft (4.627 m) long bearing girders. The Southern Bassein was bridged by 69 spans, the Northern by just 25. For Screwing, 16 oxen yokes were employed. These would move in circular paths on rafts anchored in set positions.
Bridge Information
Overall Length: 5 kilometres (3.1 mi)
Width: 12 metres (39 ft)