Canadian Pacific (CP), Kansas City Southern (KCS) and Merger (CPKC) Overview

According to a Facebook comment, they CPKC also got the Panama Canal Railway.

Ted Gregory posted, cropped

It looks like CN found some partners to help it compete.

UP (source)
[I sure hope the intermodal interchange between CN and UP in Chicago is done with steel wheels rather than rubber wheels. (CSX forces interchange to be done with rubber wheels.)]

 

safe_image for New Transcontinental Rail Route Announced Through Chicago
This article implies the interchange will be done with steel wheels using CN's EJ&E route.

I guess CN will be beefing up this connector between their GM&O and EJ&E properties.

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Overview

Origin Terminus, Cumberland: (Satellite)

Destination Terminus, Frostburg: (Satellite)

This railroad shares the abandoned Western Maryland right-of-way with the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail.

wmsr
"Leaving Cumberland, the route travels west through a breach in the Allegheny Mountains over an iron truss bridge, around Helmstetter’s Horseshoe Curve and through the 914-foot Brush Tunnel under Piney Mountain. Climbing grades up to 2.8% on the 16-mile trek, the route follows the former Western Maryland Railroad right-of-way, then joins the old Cumberland & Pennsylvania Railroad." It turns around in Frostburg, MD.

wmsr-tour

 

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad posted

WMSR 734 leads a 11 car freight consist around Helmstetter’s Curve for a photo charter on January 18th 2004.

The WMSR 734 is currently in the fundraising phase of her restoration, and you can help out by making a donation here: https://wmsr.com/donate

Photo by Butch Schuler

Ryan AC: Let me ask this, would No. 734 be useful on the Georges Creek Division at all?

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad: Ryan AC Depending on how she would get there, the line is pretty flat and would do just fine.

[See Westernport Depot for more information about Georges Creek Division.]

55:47 video @ 0:38

1987 Smith Avenue High Bridge over Mississippi River in St. Paul, MN

1889: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; HAER)

1987: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; John A. Weeks III; Satellite)

The 510' (158.5m) main span has a clearance of 149' (45.4m) and a deck height of 160' (50m). [JohnWeeks] John's text provides a lot of information, and it is well worth reading. In summary, the first wrought iron truss bridge collapsed on Aug 20, 1904, because of a severe thunderstorm. The design of the bridge was strong enough to handle the lateral forces of a wind storm, but the towers were not anchored to the foundations and one of the towers was blown off its foundation! The second bridge was closed in 1984 because it used pin-connected trusses. MN_DOT got worried about the pins being a non-redundant point of failure. When they inspected the pins after they blew up the bridge, they discovered the pins were in excellent condition. Just because the Silver Bridge had a bad pin doesn't mean that all pins are bad. That is good because I go out of my way to walk on pin-connected bridges to take photos of them. And the new arch bridge had problems with cold weather.

 

Street View, Aug 2021

Street View, Jul 2016

 

History’s Mirror posted
"In 1905, the view of St. Paul and the Mississippi River from beneath the High Bridge offered a striking blend of natural beauty and urban progress."
[If you want to read some more platitudes, then click the "posted" link.]

"Significance: The Smith Avenue High Bridge, a nineteenth century wrought iron Warren deck truss, is the longest and highest roadway truss bridge in Minnesota. It was designed by Keystone Bridge Co. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the leading bridge building firm of the era. It provided an important link in the development of the heights area of St. Paul's west side." [HAER_data]

I added the label "metalIron" to these notes since this bridge was made with wrought iron.

HAER MINN,62-SAIPA,12--3
3. VIEW TO SOUTH, SHOWING RIVER PIERS: PIER NO. 21 IN FOREGROUND - Smith Avenue High Bridge, Smith Avenue between Cherokee Avenue & Cliff Street, Saint Paul, Ramsey County, MN

This is a bluff-to-bluff bridge and thus requires some non-trivial approaches. The east approach is particularly impressive. (I've noticed that the right ascending bank is always called the east side. In this case, this long approach is actually on the northwest side of the river..)

Street View, Jul 2016

I became aware of this bridge because of this video of the Apr 2023 flooding.

Mary C Kennedy posted
Miss at downtown St Paul today [Apr 23, 2023] in major flood stage at 17.62 feet. Crest is mid week at 18.88 feet. Could see some empty barges down river waiting it out.

The short approach on the west side (left) is higher than the long approach on the east side (right)

Street View, Aug 2021

6 of the 12 photos posted by Twin Cities with the comment:

The Smith Avenue High Bridge or the High Bridge is an inverted arch bridge that carries Minnesota State Highway 149 and Smith Avenue over the Mississippi River in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. It was built and opened in 1987 at a cost of $20 million. The bridge carries two lanes of street traffic over the river and is the highest bridge in St. Paul, with a deck height of 160 ft. [190m]

One of 27 bridges were you can walk or roll across the Mississippi in the Twin Cities. 

© Minneapolis-Photography.com

Bob McPartlin: I am confused with the term "inverted arch". Are you implying that the "normal" arch has its ends at a higher elevation than the central point? If not, then is it just "an arch", or is there something I am missing? [I was also confused by the term "inverted arch."]

a

b

c

d

e

f

If I am remembering correctly, it was just about a half-year ago that shipping on the Mississippi was being impacted by low river levels. Now it is being impacted by high river levels.

weather

Flood of 2024

19:31 video @ 6:41

1899+1939 US-12 Bridges over Snake River between Lewiston, ID, and Clarkston, WA

1899: (Archived Bridge Hunter, the description has a history)

1939: (no Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; Satellite) 

Historic Lewiston, Idaho posted
The steamer "Lewiston" under the old interstate bridge, 1930.
The first "Lewiston" was destroyed by fire along with the "Spokane" in 1922.

Street View, Aug 2019

Bryan Hermans, May 2021

When I saw this levee, I thought Lewiston had some serious flooding issues. But when I saw the portal view from Clarkston at the top of these notes, I realized that the river is always higher than Lewiston. So the pool of the Lower Granite Dam would have inundated the town if they had not built the levee.

Street View, Aug 2018

This view confirms that the river is always higher than the town.

Street View, Aug 2019

 

CJA Imaging posted
The first vertical lift drawbridge in the inland Pacific Northwest, this drawbridge only lifted a few times before the riverboats operating in this section were made obsolete by dams and locks further upstream. A bridge first spanned this section of the Snake river in 1899, linking the two cities between WA and ID named after some of America's most intrepid explorers. A great shot of color against a mono-chrome brown landscape! More coming soon to the main site...stay tuned!
Douglas Butler shared
Credit of CJA Imaging Snake River Lift Bridge between Lewiston, ID and Clarkston, WA.

Street View, Aug 2019

Lewiston is the origin for much of the grain export barge traffic on the Snake River. That traffic is the main argument for not removing the four locks and dams on the Snake River. But I see the grain terminals are along the Clearwater River rather than upstream of this bridge. I've read that Lewiston is a significant inland port in terms of tonnage. It looks like they handle logs, wind turbine parts and containers as well as grain.

Satellite

Google eBook
The length was 1,485.5' (452.8m), and the main span was 374' (114m).

Google eBook

CSX/L&N and TVRM/Southern Bridges over Chickamauga Creek in Chattanooga, TN

CSX/L&N: (Bridge Hunter broke Mar 22, 2023; Satellite)

TVRM/Southern: (Satellite)

CSX/L&N: (Satellite)

The truss bridge is a CSX/L&N bridge and the high steel girder bridge behind it is a TVRM/Southern bridge. The abandoned low steel girder bridge between the two is a mystery.

Street View, Apr 2022

The highway bridge in the background is the location of the above street view.

Bill Siegrist, Sep 2022

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Steam Locomotives posted
4501 crosses South Chickamauga Creek, as seen from the greenway trail. 
Photo by Tammy Houston Blevins
William MacDonald: What's the bridge in the background?
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Steam Locomotives: That is the Tyner Branch.
Initially constructed in 1942 by the NC&StL Railway to connect the Western & Atlantic Railroad mainline with the Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant (VAAP) where TNT was manufactured from WW2 through Desert Storm. Today the VAAP site is now the Enterprise South Industrial Park where the Volkswagen Assembly Plant is located (a bit of irony there), and the W&A and Tyner Branch are now controlled by CSX.

Bryan Burton Photography posted
Southern Railway 630 and 4501 doublehead to Grand Junction Station at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. 09/17

 

Jim Pearson Photography posted

The Iconic Thomas the Tank Engine leads a passenger train over the Chickamauga Creek Bridge as it heads to Grand Junction at West Chattanooga, Tennessee, on April 27th, 2024.

According to Wikipedia: Thomas the Tank Engine is an anthropomorphised fictional tank locomotive in the British Railway Series books by Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher, published from 1945. He became the most popular and famous character in the series, and is the titular protagonist in the accompanying television adaptation series Thomas & Friends and its reboot Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go.

All of the vehicles in The Railway Series were based on prototypical engines; Thomas's basis is the LB&SCR E2 class. Thomas first appeared in 1946 in the second book in the series, Thomas the Tank Engine, and was the focus of the four short stories contained within. In The Railway Series and early episodes of Thomas & Friends, Thomas's best friends are Percy and Toby, though he is also close friends with Edward. Later episodes of Thomas & Friends have Thomas in a trio with James and Percy, and Percy is known as his best friend.

In 1979, British writer and producer Britt Allcroft came across the books, and arranged a deal to bring the stories to life as the TV series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (later simplified to Thomas & Friends). The programme became an award-winning hit around the world, with a vast range of spin-off commercial products.

Thomas now travels the world to delight children of all ages!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, Nikon 10-24 @ 19mm, f/6.3, 1/800, ISO 100.

https://fineartamerica.com/.../thomas-the-tank-engine...

Dale Carpenter: Is there a diesel moving the train?

Jim Pearson Photography: Dale Carpenter Yes, on the end.

 

Jim Pearson Photography posted

This week’s Saturday Infrared photo is of Thomas the 

Tank Engine as it crosses over Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's Chickamauga Creek bridge as it heads to West Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 27th, 2024.

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum was founded as a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in 1960 by Paul H. Merriman and Robert M. Soule, Jr., along with a group of local railway preservationists. They wanted to save steam locomotives and railway equipment for future historical display and use. Today, the museum offers various tourist excursions from stations in Chattanooga and Etowah, Tennessee.

Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/5.6, 1/150, ISO 400.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Steam Locomotives posted
Westbound at Chickamauga Creek
Photo by Malachi Webb

 

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Steam Locomotives posted
Diesel locomotive 710 eases across Chickamauga Creek with CN 5288 in tow headed for East Chattanooga where it will be prepped for shipment to the Colebrookdale Railroad.
 Photo by Mike Ray
Braden Rogers: What exactly needs to be done to 5288 in order to prepare it for its journey to Pennsylvania?
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Steam Locomotives: The engine and tender have to be separated, make any stability corrections to it so to ensure it’ll survive the trip, and also remove anything that will present any vertical clearance issues.
Allen Bunn: It she going to be restored or just a static display at the new location?
James Copeland: Allen Bunn for eventual operation.
Mike Harazim: James Copeland Speaking of which, I personally choose #5288 over #5030 as my safest bet. Go Colebrookdale.
Al Bachy: Is 5288 being shipped on its own wheels or flat car?
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Steam Locomotives: The tender is going by truck, and the locomotive by Flatcar. [No wonder they have to worry about clearance.]

The TVRM Missionary Ridge excursion train brags about taking you over four bridges. Obviously, the bridge above is one of them. I think this is the next largest. Even though it is basically an overpass, I include it because it appears that it is built with concrete girders.

Street View, Apr 2022

Street View, Apr 2002

1858 TVRM/Southern and Road Tunnels under Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga, TN

From north to south:

Railroad: (Bridge Hunter broke Mar 22, 2023; Satellite) 1858

Wilcox: (Satellite) 1932

McCallie: (Satellite) 1913+1956 

Bachman: (Satellite) 1921

I learned about the railroad tunnel while studying the Missionary Ridge train ride of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. And while researching that railroad tunnel, I found some vehicle tunnels under the Missionary Ridge.

TVRM/Southern Railroad

Some of the train rides are pulled by steam locomotives.

Jim Pearson
Southern Railway steam locomotive 630 at Missionary Ridge Tunnel
September 9, 2017 - Southern Railway steam locomotive 630 heads into the west end of Missionary Ridge Tunnel with a loaded passenger train during the 2017 Railfest at Tennessee Valley Railway Museum, as it heads for the station at East Chattanooga, Tennessee. By the way, I love long lenses!!!
Completed in 1858 the tunnel is the primary reason TVRM runs on the three-mile section of the former Southern Railway. As railroad equipment grew too large to pass through and the single-track tunnel became a traffic jam for an otherwise double-track railroad, Southern Railway abandoned the three mile portion of the line and built a new section around the end of Missionary Ridge, avoiding the tunnel altogether.
The museum restored rails through the tunnel in 1971 and continues to use the pre-Civil War Tunnel on a daily basis.

2:34 video @ 0:22

2:34 video @ 2:12

Wilcox, 1932

The pedestrian walkway on the left side is just 2' wide.

Street View, May 2022, East Portal
Even rental trucks probably need to avoid this tunnel. I found a 9'6" (2.9m) clearance sign.

In 2011, the city estimated that it would cost $42m to build a better tunnel. [local3news] The current tunnel is 24' (7.3m) wide, 9'6' (3m) tall with just a 2' (0.6m) wide sidewalk and no bike path. The proposed tunnel would be 41' (12.5m) wide, 16.5' (5m) tall with a 5' (1.5m) sidewalk and a 5' (1.5m) bike path. [TimesFreePress-adding]

Instead, in 2015 they closed the tunnel for almost a year to do a  facelift. ("The substantial renovations to the tunnel include safety improvements, major lighting upgrades and a new inner tunnel liner to halt water seepage into the tunnel.") [chattanooga]

Do the "safety improvements" include venhilation? Nope. The saftey improvment is a better pedestrian railing. "Once again, the city is applying for federal grant money to build a second tunnel, but officials say the chances of that happening are slim." [Feb 24, 2015 0:23 video] This video calls this 1932 tunnel the area's oldest tunnel. I've seen other sources claim that as well. But at least the first tube of the other tunnels are older, so I'm confused.

The $1.33m project may have had a $101,966 cost overrun. [TimesFreePress-increase]

McCallie, 1913+1956

Street View, May 2022, West Portal

Streert View, Sep 2015, East Portal

1 of 2 construction photos in TimesFreePress
The first tube was opened in 1913. The second tube opened in 1956 and was 932' (284m) long.

Bachman Tunnels, 1921

I got a date of 1921 before I hit a paywall. [TimesFreePress-bachman]

Street View, Apr 2022, West Portal

They have a longer cut on this side.

Street View, May 2019, East Portal

And they had a landslide in 2021.

3:09 video @ 1:17

When the interstate was closed, not all of the trucks that were rerouted could fit through this 11' clearance.

2:16 video @ 1:14