Lost/NYC/Big Four Bridge over Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, OH

(no Bridge Hunter; Satellite, but a pier remains)

While studying the Hope Memorial Bridge, I came across the following photo. Of course, I could not find it because it no longer exists. 

HAER OHIO,18-CLEV,39--2 (CT)
Significance: The American Institute of Steel Construction praised the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge as one of the most beautiful bridges of 1932.

 

Jonathan Konopka posted
1970’s - A Penn Central train is seen crossing over the Cuyahoga River via a former Big Four bridge near Downtown Cleveland. This was an industrial spur that came off the NYC Clark Branch. This train is heading westbound back to the Clark Branch, which is currently Flats Industrial Railroad trackage. Today, the Towpath runs through this area, which is known as Scranton Flats. Photo credit belongs to Dave Hopson.
[Some comments talk about taking sand trains to Ford's Engine Plant.]
Geoffrey Moreland shared

 

Mark Schwinn commented on Jonathan's post, cropped
Almost same view on March 5, 2022.

Zach Michael commented on Jonathan's post, rotated
Found the ZTS charts for the other side of the river

 

Zach Michael commented on Jonathan's post, cropped

Jonathan Konopka posted
Photo is from 1972. Looking north along the Cuyahoga River at the bascule bridge for the spur that came off the Big Four (now Flats Industrial Railroad) near the south end of DK Yard. Unknown photographer.
Dale Pohto: Though the bridge is long gone, the concrete abutments on the west (left) bank still remain, making this the narrowest point of navigation on the river.

 

Douglas Butler posted
Cleveland Columbus Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad Strauss Bascule Bridge was used also by the New York Central Railroad in Cleveland, Ohio was gone since 1988.
Dale Pohto: The concrete abutments still remain, making this the narrowest point of navigation in the river.

 

Douglas Butler posted
Source from MutualArt.com CCC&St.L Strauss Railroad Bascule Bridge in Cleveland, Ohio was removed in 1988 was next to the Lorain- Carnegie Hope Memorial Bridge. This bridge was constructed in 1920 and fabricated by the American Bridge Co.
Geoffrey Moreland: Group expert in Civil Engineering Part of the Clark branch

Thomas Ditty commented on a post
 don’t know the number or name of this bridge, but it was at river bed yard in Cleveland. This photo is from 1962, and was one of the bridges that was later removed. No photographer credit on the slide.

Jonathan Konopka posted
This is the same bridge that I posted a few days ago (the spur off the Big Four near DK yard) but looking south instead of north. Photo dated 1972, photographer unknown.

 

Douglas Butler commented on Jonathan's post
The operator's cabin is located on the bridge tower and this Strauss Heel Trunnion Bascule Bridge was constructed in 1920 by the Strauss Bascule & Concrete Co. And fabricated by the American Bridge Co. The bridge was taken down in the year of 1988.

Bill Kloss posted
Kinsman's Chicago Trader laid up in Cleveland. A Chuck Drumm photo from the early 70s.
Fred Bultman: Getting ready for fit out. [Unfortunately, I don't know what that means.]

While studying the iron ore and coal docks of the Erie Railroad, I wondered if this mystery bridge was the lost Erie bridge. It is not. This bridge is downstream from the Erie bridge. I used this excerpt from the 1953 topo because it labels the tracks NYC. David's two maps (referenced below) indicate that this route was actually the Big Four, which was purchased by the NYC.

1953 Cleveland South Quadrangle @ 1:24,000

David Sharp left the following comments on the Hope Memorial Bridge post:

• Dennis, In reference to the picture "HAER OHIO,18-CLEV,39--2 (CT)" that was shot on Kodak Safety Film which is from at least 1938 forward. I live in Cleveland, Ohio and I have gone through old maps. etc... My only speculation is that it is a line that diverged off the Erie transfer track to the Big 4 on the west side over the Cuyahoga River to an NKP transfer yard on the east side of Cleveland. I found it on this map. The track in question is just south of "DK" yard. Here's the address of the map. That track is long gone and now seeing this picture, it opens up all kinds of new ideas about what was going on in that area of town. BTW, In Cleveland, west side is west of the Cuyahoga, east side is east of the crooked river.
• https://railsandtrails.com/Maps/Cleveland/ClevelandRRMap-100.jpg
• It is actually NYC. Another map shows the the line next to Lorain Ave.  https://railsandtrails.com/Maps/Cleveland/CleveMap-100a.jpg

The bridge appears on the 1963, 1970, 1979 and 1984 quadrangles. But it does not appear on the 1994 quadrangle. Naturally, the industrial trackage to which this bridge provided access is also gone.

1994 Cleveland South Quadrangle @ 1:24,000

It is worth noting that the bridge for the Big Four industrial spur that went West still stands, but it is now owned by the Flats Industrial Railroad.