1895 Macombs Dam Bridge over Harlem River in New York, NY

(Bridge Hunter broke Mar 22, 2023; Historic Bridges; HAER; Satellite, 225 photos)

This is the third bridge at this location. This blog documents the 1814 and 1861 bridges and Macomb's Dam.

"The Macombs Dam Bridge, a rim-bearing swing bridge, features a 412-foot-long draw span that allows 150 feet of horizontal clearance through the two navigable channels, and 25 feet of vertical clearance in the closed position. A two-stage electric engine powers the swing span. The 40-foot-wide roadway between the two exterior trusses permits two lanes of vehicular traffic in each direction, as well as two sidewalks." Between 1999 and 2004, a $145m rehabilitation was done. In the 2010s, a $36m seismic retrofit was done. [nycroads]

HAER NY,31-NEYO,175--5
5. Elevation of swing span, from west approach, looking east. - Macombs Dam Bridge, Spanning Harlem River Between 155th Street Viaduct, Jerome Avenue, & East 162nd Street, Bronx, Bronx County, NY

HAER NY,31-NEYO,175--6
6. South elevation of swing span

Significance: The bridge was designed by eminent structural engineer Alfred Pancoast Boiler and was a considerable municipal endeavor as well as a significant engineering feat. It is the third oldest major bridge in New York City, with the Brooklyn and George Washington bridges being the only ones older. It 1s the city's oldest intact metal truss swing-type bridge, which style was typically used In New York City along the Harlem River between the 1880's and 1910. The appearance of the bridge and viaduct 1s highlighted by the outline of the central swing span truss, the various steel latticework, the ornamental steel and iron details, and the large block masonry piers and abutments. It continues to provide a significant historic connection between upper Manhattan and the Bronx. [HAER_data]

 

modjeski
The construction schedule for the $145m rehabilitation was designed around the Yankees baseball season.

 

MichaelMinn, this webpage has several more photos of the bridge

1 of 3 photos posted by River Rail Photo
Ending an unusual daylight run down the lower Hudson Line on Friday, November 3, 2023, CSX M701-02/Y102-03 with CSXT 470 leading heads down the Oak Point Link under the Macombs Dam/155 Street Bridge.
New York City's only Class I freight railroad, CSX, operates several daily trains. In recent years, the power for the longer runs has been changed to mostly using a specific set of GE built AC44CWs, identifiable by the yellow stripe on the plow that they have sufficient clearance to pass third rail. The manifest train that originates in Selkirk, New York comes down the Hudson Line, sharing space with Amtrak and MTA Metro-North Railroad before switching to the freight only Oak Point Link to access Oak Point Yard. Occasional daylight runs of the manifest train are unpredictable and usually not planned, but that makes catching them even more rewarding.
Full resolution pics and prints: https://www.riverrailphoto.com/freighttrains [But I could not find this photo.]
David Leon: Plows have been modified to clear the 3rd rail.
Roberto Oppedisano: Nice to see different freight other then sealed garbage containers.
River Rail Photo: Roberto Oppedisano CSX moves a variety of commodities to New York City, including lumber, food in a variety of types of cars, and raw materials for manufacturing, and you can see many examples on this page.
Ellis Simon: Much of this traffic moves on to Fresh Pond Jct. via the Hell Gate Bridge and is transferred to the New York & Atlantic Railway.