Tuesday, May 17, 2022

1920s Allanburg Bridge (#11) over Welland Canal at St. Catharines, ON and 2001 Allision

(Historic Bridges; Satellite)

Street View

cmh2315fl Flickr, License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) 
Welland Canal Bridge 11 - Allanburg Bridge (Allanburg, Ontario)
Historic Allanburg Bridge (Welland Canal Bridge 11) in Allanburg, Ontario, Canada. The Parker through truss vertical lift bridge carries Regional Road 20 (Hwy 20) over the Welland Canal. The bridge has a 200 ft main span with a 120 ft vertical clearance when opened. It was built during the 1920s as part of the 4th Welland Canal expansion project (1913-1932).

See the Glendale Bridge (#5) for some photos of details of this standard lift bridge design on the Welland Canal and Historic Bridges for a description of the design.

Tanya Ward commented on Janey's post
[The ship is the Viking Octantis]

Kathie Timpano posted
Here we have the stunning Viking Octantis making her return trip northbound thru the Welland Canal at Bridge 11. So happy I was able to see her in person this afternoon.

Tim Shafley posted
Bridge 11 of the Welland canal aka the Allanburg Bridge from above.
 
Tim Shafley posted
The Viking Octantis on her maiden voyage through the Welland Canal, passing under Bridge 11 aka the Allanburg Bridge.
 
Tim Shafley posted
Theodore Tugboat under Bridge 11.. aka the Allanburg Bridge of the Welland Canal.

Association for Great Lakes Maritime History posted
An image of the steamer Fort Henry transiting the Welland Canal on Aug. 25, 1958 (Image Source: Library of Congress – U.S. News & World Report Photograph Collection). The collection notes mistakenly indicate the vessel is loaded with grain.
The structure in the foreground of the photograph appears to be Welland Canal Lift Bridge #11 near Allanburg, Ont. In 2001, the bridge sheared off the pilothouse and smoke stack of the freighter Windoc (ex-Rhine Ore) when it was prematurely lowered.
Information Source:
[The description provides more history for the Fort Henry.]
Judy Barnes-DePaul shared

On Aug 11, 2001, at 2050, the bridge was lowered on the Windoc before it cleared the bridge. "The vessel's wheelhouse and funnel were destroyed. The vessel drifted downstream, caught fire, and grounded approximately 800 metres from the bridge. Although the vessel's cargo of wheat was not damaged, the vessel was declared a constructive total loss. The bridge sustained structural damage, and the Welland Canal was closed to vessel traffic for two days. There were no serious injuries or oil pollution." [Report]
1:40 video @ 0:06

1:40 video @ 1:23

Report, p23

Report, p23

After working two 12-hour shifts in two days, the operator had a day off. He took pain killers for back pain and drank 2-4 glasses of line at lunchtime. Later he agreed to work an overtime shift later in the day. The accident occurred at 2050. The crossing was closed to  marine traffic for two days and to vehicle traffic for three months. [BuffaloNews]
 
Update:
Bruce Jackson posted
Superstructures. In 2001 the Windoc was struck by Bridge 11 in Allanburg on the Welland Canal. The wheel house and funnel were shaved off and the vessel caught fire. While the vessel was considered a total write-off, there was no loss of life, the cargo was intact and there was no pollution to the waterway.
Gerard Duggan: I was on the Canadian Leader ,we were half out of lock 7 and we got orders to go to the wall and tie up. I believe we were there four days.
Alan Wooller: They was off shift, took some antihistamines and had a couple of drinks before they were called back in to work on OT.
Paul Blackwood: Alan Wooller That'll do it!! That mixture of stuff has thrown me for a loop when I was younger. Higher than a kite. A few times of that & I just booked off sick.
A lot of those facts that you mentioned, I don't recall them being put out for the general public.
Floyd Melick: We were coming home from Niagara Falls waiting in line at the Allenburg bridge with company from England. Couldn't see the ship for the trees but saw the bridge start to descend after the fore peak light went under. Next thing we know we see smoke and cars are coming back from front of the line telling us the bridge hit the ship. Had to detour that night to find another way home.

Janey Anderson commented on a post: "While proceeding downbound under Bridge 11, Windoc was struck by the bridge's vertical-lift span, which was lowered before the vessel had passed clear of the bridge structure. Her wheelhouse and funnel were destroyed. The vessel drifted downstream, caught fire, and grounded approximately 800 metres from the bridge. Although her cargo of wheat was not damaged, she was declared a constructive total loss. The bridge sustained structural damage, and the Welland Canal was closed to traffic for two days. There were no serious injuries or oil pollution."



5:55 video, I'm in a time crunch so I did not watch it.

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