Saturday, January 27, 2024

1896+1924 CSX/KCS/Mobile & Ohio and 1973 Vehicle Bridges over Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa, AL

Railroad: (Bridge Hunter broke Mar 22, 2023; Historic Bridges; HAER; Satellite)
Vehicle: (Satellite) Hugh R. Thomas Bridge. I've also seen the name Lurleen Wallace.

The claim to fame for this railroad bridge is that the approaches are still wood trestles.
Street View, Jan 2022

And the trestle on the north side is curved.
Street View, Mar 2014

Street View, Mar 2020

Bridges Now and Then posted
The Hugh R. Thomas Bridge over the Black Warrior River at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, nears completion, c. 1973. The 1922 lift bridge was demolished after the Thomas Bridge was opened. (95.3TheBear)

tavm_demolition
Calvin Hannah, “Demolition of the Drawbridge Across the Black Warrior River, 1973,” Tuscaloosa Area Virtual Museum, accessed January 27, 2024, https://tavm.omeka.net/items/show/973.

tavm_demolition
Calvin Hannah, “Demolition of the Drawbridge Across the Black Warrior River, 1973,” Tuscaloosa Area Virtual Museum, accessed January 27, 2024, https://tavm.omeka.net/items/show/973.

USACE
The channel is 250.4' (76.3m) wide with a minimum clearance of 62' (19m).

Note the railroad bridge in the background.
The channel is 123' (37.5m) wide and the clearance varies from 67.4' (20.5m) to 59.8' (18.2m).

HistoricBridges
The main span is 275' (83.8m), and the total length is 3,600' (1097.3m or 0.7 miles).
"This unusual asymmetrical continuous through truss bridge replaced an earlier bridge dating to 1896-9. The truss lacks any v-lacing or lattice on its members and used plate with holes, a design that became common in the middle 20th century. Assuming the 1924 construction date is accurate, this is one of earliest known example of a bridge lacking lattice or v-lacing and instead using these plates with holes. The bridge also features deck plate girder approach spans, plus an extremely long series of timber approach spans. Lengths given are estimates."

This would have been the previous 1896 railroad bridge.
tavm
“Mobile and Ohio Railroad Bridge, circa 1925,” Tuscaloosa Area Virtual Museum, accessed January 27, 2024, https://tavm.omeka.net/items/show/1135.

Before the trees completely obscured the trestle.
Tim Ryan posted
This wonderful photo was posted by Mr. Barry Newman on the "remembering Tuscaloosa" page.
It is one of the best photos taken on the BWR at Tuscaloosa I have ever seen. There is so much detail in it. I love that the COOK got his due in the photo. And I do love the navigation lights and the spotlight on the launch.
The photo is of Dr. Smith of the U of A with his survey vessel and crew. Early 1900's no doubt.
I would be delighted to see this photo be the Banner photo of our Black Warrior River history page for a while. Anyone agree with me?

"Chartered in 1848 to link Mobile to the Ohio River, the Mobile and Ohio Railroad was not completed through Tuscaloosa until the late 1890s. Its completion coincided with the construction of the original series of locks and dams that opened the Warrior River for commercial navigation north of Tuscaloosa. Upon completion of the mainline of the M. & O. from Mobile to St. Louis, the railroad extended spurs into the Cahaba and Warrior Coal fields, contributing significantly to industrialization at Holt, Kellerman and Brookwood along the Warrior River, and linking the entire Birmingham District to markets in the midwest and the south. The American Bridge Co. replaced the origin" [HAER_data]

HAER ALA,63-TUSLO,27-
EXTERIOR VIEW, LOOKING TOWARDS TUSCALOOSA, WITH APPROACH, CONCRETE PIERS AND CENTER SPAN. - Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad Bridge, Spans Black Warrior River between Northport & Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, AL Photos from Survey HAER AL-12

HAER ALA,63-TUSLO,27-
EXTERIOR VIEW WITH CURVED APPROACH TRESTLE ON NORTHPORT SIDE.

HAER ALA,63-TUSLO,27-
VIEW LOOKING NORTHEAST, WARRIOR RIVER, OLIVER LOCK IN RIGHT BACKGROUND, GULF MOBILE & OHIO BRIDGE IN MIDDLE GROUND, LURLEEN WALLACE BRIDGE IN FRONT OF GULF MOBILE & OHIO.

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