1976,2002 Bicentennial Bridge over St. Joseph River at Benton Harbor, MI

(Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; Satellite)

2002 is listed as a "repair" date in BridgeHunter. The bridge is 571' (174m) long with a main span of 150' (45.7m).

Thomas Alti, Sep 2020

Michael Moran posted five photos with the comment:

MDOT representatives are on scene at the Twin Cities Bicentennial Bridge this morning [July 8. 2025]. The 49 year old bascule drawbridge carries Business Loop 94 over mile 1.30 of the St. Joseph River. The bridge was stuck in a closed position for several days following the failure of a hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder has been replaced, but another issue has left the Westbound lanes unable to seat properly. The bridge was left in the raised position over the holiday weekend. This allowed vessel traffic to proceed, but hindered vehicle traffic between the two cities. 

As of 0900 on 08 July 2025, the Eastbound span is lowered, and crews are working on the bridge in an attempt to return it to full operation. 

-Harbormaster Mike

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Michael Moran posted five photos with the comment:

No updates to report on the Bicentennial Bridge at this point. 

The crew was able to get the Eastbound lanes down at various times and use them to get between the East and West sides of the bridge as part of their work, but the Westbound side still didn’t close properly. 

As such, it will remain closed to vehicle traffic until further notice, and the bridge will be raised when personnel are not walking across it to allow vessel traffic through. 

As always, I will continue to monitor things and I will report if I get any new information or updates.

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This photo and the next one makes me think it is a trunnion bridge instead of a rolling bridge.

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Ria Grande Southern Maps (Overview)

An interactive map

Richard Crabtree posted

I have had several request for this Rio Grande Southern Map

By Steven Haworth

Robert Harmen: The schematic has an error. Durango should be on the other side of the incoming RGS.

Steven Haworth: Howdy. This is my map. It started with the maps from Silver San Juan, and then I did a rather tedious process of color-coding and tracing the various lines & branches. The yellow town names are specific to my layout.

I have the original file, and I'm happy to share it. It's a huge file, and there's multiple 'layers' to turn various parts on and off. Actually someone else requested a copy, finished it (this version doesn't have all the water colored fully), and removed the layout-specific yellow highlights. I believe I have his finished version as well. That one is 2' x 3', so I said it's a big file. The image Richard shared here is a composite with the layout-specific bits added. Feel free to contact me thru rgsrr.com, or my FB layout group - https://www.facebook.com/stevesrgs/

Steven Haworth commented on Richard's post
And after all that, here's a pic of the layout from a recent op session, using those DCC throttle numbers! 🙂 I'm in the Chicago area btw, in case anyone's local.

RailMapOnline

Langley and Lune Viaducts near Bernard Castle (Teesdale), UK

Langley: (Satellite)

Lune: (Satellite)

Langley Viaduct

DJ Aerial Photography posted

Langley Viaduct – Teesdale

They say you shouldn’t have a favourite child… but nobody said anything about viaducts.

And if I’m picking favourites, it’s this beauty every time. Langley Viaduct sweeping through Teesdale is pure elegance in stone, and from above, it’s even more glorious.

Lune Viaduct

I found this viaduct while looking for the Langley Viaduct.

Even the guard rail along the road in the foreground is still made with stone.

Street View, Aug 2024

Megan V. Walker, Dec 2022

1938 55mw Buchanan Dam on Colorado River near Kingsland, TX

(Satellite)

lcra

This is the furthest upstream of the six Highland Lakes dams on the Colorado River in Texas. This dam and Travis Dam are the two storage dams for water supply and flood control.

"In 2021, LCRA completed a $51.1 million project to upgrade and strengthen the floodgates, hoists and other facilities at the dam."

"145.5 feet [41.3m] high, 10,988 feet [2249m] long"

It has 37 flood gates with a total discharge capacity of 348kcfs.

Top of dam: 1,025.5'

Spillway: 1020.35'

Full: 1020'

It holds 880,356 acre-feed when full.

[I think this is the first big storage dam I've seen that doesn't have a conservation pool that is lower than the flood pool.]

The maximum design water level is 1024'. The historic high was 1021.4' on Dec 20, 1991, and the 100-year flood is 1021'. "Currently, Lake Buchanan is operated at two normal pool levels, 1,018 and 1,020 feet above mean sea level, for May-October and November-April, respectively." [twdb]

Bill Freauff, May 2023

[I lost the reference for this photo]

July 14, 2025 Flood

As of July 15, 2025

WaterDataForTexas

Historic Levels:

WaterDataForTexas

They first opened two gates in the middle spillway.

kxan
"Floods force Buchanan Dam to open flood gates for first time in years" [Since 2019.]

Facebook Reel

Those gates must be some of the small gates. 

lcra

Four gates opened is the highest number that I've seen so far.

LCRA posted 0:36 video
Coordinated floodgate operations across the Highland Lakes system. This drone footage, shot over the past few days, shows floodgates at Buchanan Dam, Wirtz Dam and Starcke Dam, as LCRA manages water from recent flooding in Central Texas. Lakes Buchanan and Travis are designed to fill during major weather events, and another reason why staying flood-ready is crucial in Flash Flood Alley. Our thoughts remain with those affected by this devastating flood.

Meteorologist Avery Tomasco posted

Lake Buchanan is now at its highest elevation in 6 years

Lake Travis is now at its highest elevation since August 2020

Both still rising this morning. Unbelievable volume of water entering the system over the last 10 days

Brandon Butcher posted
MORE SOUTH TEXAS FLOODING - Evacuations are ongoing on the San Saba River, which will crest tonight close to the level of last time, but the heaviest rains have not concentrated in the Guadalupe River basin this time.

It is interesting that they open some of the gates all of the way instead of all of the gates some of the way. Obviously, all of the gates have dedicated lift machinery so it would be easy to partially open all of the gates

Hill Country Scanner posted 0:31 video

Lake Buchanan floodgate operations

July 14, 2025 courtesy share with Hill Country Scanner

A Buchanan Dam gate structure is in the right background.

Valentine Lakeside posted
This is below Buchanan Dam, where four gates are flowing into Inks Lake. That water will make its way to LBJ.

On the right side of the above video we can see a dock under water.

Street View, May 2024

I wonder what type of obstruction in the river causes this turbulence.

Same Video

Guy Hood commented on a post
I waited years to see this day! Please don’t let the water go away again!

Facebook Reel

Texas Lake Levels

1900-36 East End and 1892-1931 Hamilton & Barton Inclines (Funiculars) on Niagara Excarpment in Hamilton, ON

East End: (Satellite)

H&B: (Satellite)

East End Incline

Historical Niagara posted four images with the comment:

Today we head outta Niagara to a interesting structure that once existed in Hamilton 

The WENTWORTH  Street Incline.

Built around 1895 it carried pedestrians up and down the Niagara Escarpment at Wentworth st in Hamilton...It had a few different owners over the years and  in 1906 the  powerhouse was changed from steam to electric after a fire destroyed the old steam equipment.  In 1914 a large storm caused a landslide that damaged the incline and it took several months to repair. The WENTWORTH st incline was in operation until 1936 when a new road cut opened not far (Sherman access rd) and the incline became non profitable..Locals fought to try to reopen it but in 1949 it was removed...Today a set of stairs is in its place and is located near the Bruce Trail....This incline was one of two that where in the Hamilton Area and i will cover the history of the other in a future post...have you walked the stairs at The Wentworth St Incline location ?

Anita Young: The Wentworth Stairs are popular for those looking for a good workout. They also provide a nice view. I have walked them many times. I love the picture of the incline!

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Julie Rossall commented on the above post
I’m a nut for reading and taking photos of historical and other signage! This at the top of the stairs.

I Phy, Apr 2017

Lutfu Yuksel, Dec 2021

Hamilton & Barton Incline

Ji Hwan YANG, Jul 2017

Both

The Niagara Escarpment is the green belt that cuts across the town.

Satellite

Two Inclines (Funiculars) in Niagara City, ON

Falls: (Satellite)

Cruises: (Satellite)

Falls Incline Railway

Rob Gauthier posted two photos with the comment:

1st photo: postcard showing the Horseshoe Falls Incline funicular railway built by Swiss company Von Roll in 1966. Each open-air car carried up to 40 people along a 30-degree slope. The cars ran during the tourism season. There was a stepped row of concrete seats at the top where people could sit and wait for the cars and take in the view from Portage Rd.

2nd photo: replacing the old system since August 2013, the new Falls Incline Railway continues to ferry travelers and locals alike, saving us from the grueling walk back up Murray street on hot summer days! The enclosed climate-controlled cars operate year-round. Beneath the new control booths you can still see the concrete steps from the old gallery.

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Randall Gamby commented on Rob's post
The oldest incline was at the Whirlpool where you could take an open car down to the bottom (circa 1870s)

Randall Gamby commented on his comment
The oldest incline on the Canadian side that is. There was one next to the American falls that was built about 1860.

Niagara City Cruises Funicular Boarding

I found this funicular before I found the Falls Incline.

Aileen Elsbury, Jun 2019

Paul Dunn, Jul 2017

Grant Maguire, Aug 2020