1883+1905 NYC Wilbur Bridge over Rondout Creek at Kingston, NY

(Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges; B&T; 3D Satellite)

It was built by the New York, West Shore & Buffalow Railroad (NYWS&B).

2011 Flickr Photo taken by Joseph via BridgeHunter, License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA)
Rondout Railroad Bridge
This impressively high bridge spans the Rondout Creek in Kingston, New York. CSX freight trains still frequent it heavily.

I include this view from the Wurts Street Bridge because I was studying that suspension bridge and noticed this bridge.

Street View, Oct 2019

In fact, the Wurts Street Bridge appears in the left background of this photo.

1 of 3 photos posted by Bridge & Tunnels

The Wilbur Bridge is a testament to the undervalued significance of railroad bridges within transportation infrastructure. Despite its lack of ostentation, the bridge has a rich history dating back to its construction in 1882-1883 by the New York, West Shore & Buffalo Railway. It was initially built with three Whipple through trusses and a towering height above Rondout Creek. The line was later reorganized as the West Shore Railroad by the New York Central in 1885, leading to plans for a new viaduct to accommodate increased weight in 1901.

The replacement of the Wilbur Bridge was carried out seamlessly, with no disruption to freight or passenger lines. The American Bridge Company was responsible for its construction between 1904-1905, utilizing a main Parker through truss span and a deck truss, among other configurations. One of the original spans from 1883 was repurposed for the Mahopac Branch of the New York & Harlem Railroad, while another was dismantled and relocated downstream.

➤ Check out more photos of this impressive bridge at 

 http://bridgestunnels.com/location/wilbur-bridge/

Dennis DeBruler: I like that you included the Wurts Street Bridge in the background.

B&T
The steel towers are 155' [47m] tall and the total height was 195' [60m].
HistoricBridges

Dave Blaze Rail Photography posted

M218 On High

I shared a couple of track level head on shots from earlier this same day but then returned after a sojourn to the east side of the river to capture this view from below. 

I'm standing along the north bank of Rondout Creek off of Abeel Street upstream of the railroad looking up at the 1228 foot [374m] long Wilbur bridge standing some 198 feet [60m] above water level.  CSXT train M218 (Selkirk to Philadelphia East Side Yard unit auto racks) is passing thru the 400 ft [122m] tunnel out of sight at left and sailing high over the creek at MP 87.5 on modern day CSXT’s very busy River Sub mainline. 

To learn more about the history of this spectacular structure and see some historic photos and drawings check out these links: 

http://bridgestunnels.com/location/wilbur-bridge/

https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=newyork/wilburbridge/

CSXT's River Sub (ex Conrail, Penn Central, New York Central, nee West Shore) dates from 1883 in this area and despite being a relative latecomer its mainline up the west bank of the Hudson has only grown in importance over the decades as traffic patterns have shifted.  Today this line between northern New Jersey and the Albany area is by far the busiest north south route in the northeast, while conversely virtually the entirety of the West Shore's route to Buffalo along the south side of the Mohawk River has long been abandoned. 

Kingston, New York

Saturday October 26, 2024

This is obviously during construction of the 1905 bridge.

BridgeHunter

"The main span is listed as pin-connected, but some of the diagonals are rigidly riveted to gusset plates, showing a transition from pin connected to rivet connected thinking. This bridge replaced a very impressive Phoenix column through truss bridge that included "Triple Whipple" (Triple Intersection Pratt) truss spans. One of the approach Whipple (Double Intersection Pratt) spans was relocated and still exists as the Goldens Bridge." [HistoricBridges]

I-30/US-65+67+167 Bridge over Arkansas River in Little Rock, AK

(no Bridge Hunter; Satellite)

Massman posted four photos with the comment:

The 30 Crossing team is making headway on the design-build reconstruction of the I-30 corridor between Little Rock and North Little Rock. Since the beginning of the year, work has progressed on a number of critical items, including the completion of the drilled shafts for the eastbound river unit and north approach. The joint venture has also opened the first piece of permanent work to traffic: a new entrance ramp onto westbound I-30.

Arkansas Department of Transportation's largest project, 30 Crossing is intended to improve mobility and safety throughout the heavily traveled corridor. The project’s centerpiece is a new Arkansas River crossing, addressing structural and functional deficiencies on the the existing Arkansas River bridge. It will also improve adjacent roadways and overpasses. The final configuration will improve both roadway and navigational safety throughout the corridor. 

1

2

3

4

Did a steel girder bridge get replaced by a steel girder bridge? (Update: No, the video below shows that a steel girder bridge got replaced by two steel girder bridges. I wish Illinois could get that kind of highway funding.)

3D Satellite

 

1:58 video

1:58 video

1:58 video

1907 NS/Southern Tunnel under Lookout Mountain at Chattanooga, TN

West Portal: (Satellite)

East Portal: (Satellite)

I used geographic directions because I don't know the timecard directions for Southern. East/west directions are probably correct for CSX.

Dale Proctor posted two photos with the comment: "Southern Railway tunnel under Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga Tenn., 1990."

Wayne Lamkin: It’s hard to imagine that it was double track at one time.

Randall Hampton: Wayne Lamkin I sure am glad that they went to single track there instead of notching that beautiful arch on both sides.

Randall Hampton: Isn't this a trackage rights situation? NS and CSX?

Jimmy Swearengin: Randall Hampton CSX goes around the base of the mountain here. They meet in Wauhatchie, sharing trackage as far west as Stevenson, AL.

Dale Proctor: Randall Hampton I’m pretty sure NS and CSX share the tracks from Stevenson Ala. to Wauhatchie. From Wauhatchie through the tunnel and into Chattanooga is all NS trackage. Southern Railway built that tunnel in 1907.

Wayne Jenkins: I think it's a reciprocal arrangement. CSX gets to use NS's bridge at Decatur, AL, and NS gets to use the CSX bridge @ Bridgeport, AL.

Dennis DeBruler: In terms of labeling the portals, was Southern a north/south or an east/west railroad in terms of timecard directions? [I got a couple of likes, but no answers.]

1

2

Bryan Stover commented on Dale's post

Dale Proctor commented on Jimmy's comment
Here’s the CSX trackage, sandwiched between I-24 and the edge of Lookout Mountain.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Jimmy's comment
This shows the L&N tracks wedged between the mountain and the river and the dotted lines of the Southern tunnel. I included Cravens Yards because of the roundhouse and because it shows that I-24 is built on landfill.

1911,2015 Tees Transporter Bridge over River Tees in Middlesbrough, UK

(Historic Bridges; Satellite)

The Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth, MN, has a truss across the top because it was built as a transporter bridge. A transporter bridge used a gondola hanging from the truss to ferry cars from one side to the other side.

This is the largest transporter bridge in the world. [NationalTransportTrust]

Bridges Now and Then posted
"A colourised postcard of the Steel River icon in its early days" Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge, c. 1911. (Teesside Archives)

 

Bridges Now and Then posted
An undated photo of the Tees Transporter Bridge, Middlesbrough, England. (BBC)

Andrew Saul: Where’s the gondola?

Bridges Now and Then commented on Andrew's comment
Isn't it between the towers on the lower right?

John Mannick Photography posted

Views over industrial Teesside with the iconic Tees transporter bridge,

Port Clarence, Middlesbrough, UK.. (2021)

John Mannick Photography shared with the same comment

Heritage Unlocked posted
Queuing for the Tees Transporter Bridge, c.1930s in Harold Hood's 'Middlesbrough: Pictorial & Industrial'.

Heritage Unlocked posted

Ian Jones: I like this a pity the council closed it 😳😳😳😳

 

Heritage Unlocked posted
The Tees Transporter Bridge in action c.2012.
Heritage Unlocked shared
The Tees Transporter Bridge in action c.2012.

 

The cables hanging from the end of the anchor span are tied to anchors in the ground. They are used instead of counterweights to offset the weight of the longer main span. [HistoricBridges]

Jon Bulmer, Feb 2014

Heritage Unlocked posted
Visitors take a look at the Tees Transporter Bridge taking shape in March 1911 (courtesy of Teesside Archives).

DJ Aerial Photography posted

Transporter Bridge – Teesside’s Blue Beast

The mighty Transporter Bridge, standing tall over the Tees since 1911, isn’t moving at the moment—but it still knows how to steal a scene. That towering blue steelwork has outlasted just about everything... except maybe the ferry timetable.

Sailing beneath it here is the Emerald Duchess—a very green and very new dredger that looks like it means business. It’s high-tech, eco-friendly, and honestly wouldn’t look out of place in a Bond villain’s fleet. Classic Teesside: big structures, bold colours, and just enough drama in the sky to keep things interesting.

DJ Aerial Photography shared

DJ Aerial Photography posted

Teesside’s Blue Giant – Still Standing, Still Waiting

The Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge has been a proud Teesside landmark since 1911, carrying cars and pedestrians across the Tees in just 90 seconds. The world’s longest working transporter bridge and a Grade II* listed marvel, it’s a feat of engineering that’s earned its place on screen in Billy Elliot and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. Painted its signature blue since 1961, it’s as much a part of the skyline as the river it spans.

Closed since 2019 due to safety concerns, it now stands silent, waiting for the day it can serve the town again. For many, it’s more than just steel and rivets – it’s memories, pride, and a symbol of Teesside’s resilience. Here’s hoping its story is far from over.

DJ Aerial Photography shared

Random Outings, Sep 2022

 

DJ Aerial Photography posted

Transporter Bridge at Sunset

Middlesbrough’s iconic silhouette catching the last of the light. A proper Teesside sunset, with the sky throwing out every colour it’s got.

Sometimes, the view from an industrial estate beats any postcard.

DJ Aerial Photography shared

DJ Aerial Photography posted

Once the pride of Teesside engineering, the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge carried passengers and vehicles high above the River Tees for over a century. Today, it stands silent – closed since 2019 due to safety concerns – a towering reminder of the area’s industrial past and the generations who relied on it.

From the air, you really get a sense of its scale and legacy. It might not be carrying cars across the Tees anymore, but it still dominates the skyline – a steel giant with a story to tell.

DJ Aerial Photography shared

Heritage Unlocked posted
An artwork of the Tees Transporter Bridge (undated, unknown artist - on display at The Masham)
Heritage Unlocked shared

The 1911 photo shows the gondola going across the river.

Then & Now GB posted

Tees Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough, opened in 1911, is one of few remaining transporter bridges in the world.

The engineering masterpiece has been closed since 2019, however, a recent report was approved that pledged £30m to bring it back into operation.

[The comments mention other transporter bridges in Europe.]

Preeti1 posted with the same description

HistoricBridges, Historical photo from Popular Mechanics showing the opening of the bridge.
"The gondola of this transporter bridge is suspended from the bridge by a system of cables, which attach to the truss span by way of rollers, which move along the bottom chord of the truss as the gondola moves over the river. A machine house south of the bridge houses motors and electrical equipment. Two operating cables extend out from the machine house up to the truss span to move the gondola. These cables were originally powered by two 60 horsepower Westinghouse electric motors, although in normal operation only one of these motors was required."

Heritage Unlocked posted

Workmen leave the Tees Transporter Bridge - an incredible scene from the days of dozens of ironworks and steelworks along the banks of the River Tees 

Featured in 'Middlesbrough: The Postcard Collection'. Buy at https://www.heritageunlocked.com/shop/middlesbroughpostcard

This would be the gondola that hangs via cables from a roller on the truss.

TripAdvisor, 117 of 315

 

Heritage Unlocked posted

A colourful postcard of the iconic Tees Transporter Bridge

Featured in 'Middlesbrough: The Postcard Collection'. Buy at https://www.heritageunlocked.com/shop/middlesbroughpostcard

Heritage Unlocked posted

Transport To The Match by Philip Meadows featuring the Tees Transporter Bridge.

Visit The Art House Middlesbrough for more of Philip's work.

Trish Hughes: If the transporter bridge was in Sunderland or Newcastle it would be in working order!!

It’s a marvellous piece of engineering & should be restored regardless of cost.

Patrick Mcgill: Going to cost the council over 20 million pounds to have the bridge back into working condition. Cheaper to give the bridge a coat of paint ' and maintain the Flood Lamps for appearance purposes Land-line Heritage of our Town. Great cartoon picture of when the Gondola used to carry the Boro supporters on match day.

Heritage Unlocked shared

You can take stairs or a glass-enclosed elevator to a walkway on the top.

TripAdvisor, 69 of 315

TripAdvisor, 176 of 315

They support some "extreme sports" such as bungee jumping.

TripAdvisor, 176 of 315

Great Northern (GN) Surrey Cutoff

(Satellite, the cutoff was about a straight line between Surrey and Fargo.)

The original route, and the passenger route, paralleled I-29 to Grand Forks and then went West.

In the early 20th century, after decades of being the only long-distance transportation option, the railroads were rich enough to elevate their tracks in cities and build better routes in the country.

Great Northern Railway Historical Society posted

This date in Great Northern Railway History- October 2nd, 1912:

The Surrey Cut-Off opens for traffic.  Running at a diagonal from Surrey (Just east of Minot) to Fargo shaved off 52 miles from the original transcontinental route through Grand Forks and Devils Lake.  

This route enabled the GN to run fast passenger and freight, without much in the way local traffic (save for grain).  There were no significantly sized towns along this except New Rockford. 

The Great Northern's Empire Builder historically ran on Great Northern's Surrey Cutoff, while Western Star kept to the original route through Grand Forks, Devils Lake, and Rugby. 

After Amtrak's inception, the Western Star was eliminated and the Empire Builder, retained by Amtrak, was routed on the original route, leaving the Surrey Cut Off to be fright only, as it is today by BNSF.

Kevin Willie: Now todays BNSF KO Sub

1899 BPRR/B&O Bridge over Allegheny River at Mosgrove, PA

(Archived Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; Satellite)

BPRR = Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad

Street View, Nov 2023

John Leopard Flickr

BPRR 3344 South RINC hopper train, Allegheny River bridge, West Mosgrove, PA

Empty hopper train RINC soars at 125-feet [38m] above the Allegheny River north of Kittaning. The bridge is 1,682-feet [513m] long and was completed in 1899.

History's Mirror posted

In 1910, this photograph captures the railroad bridge over the Allegheny River at Mosgrove, Armstrong County, with the Bridge-View Hotel prominently visible on the left. The railroad bridge itself stands as a symbol of the region’s transportation infrastructure, linking communities across the river. To the right, about four miles away, lies Kittanning, a town integral to the area's economic and cultural life at the time. The scene evokes the bustling, yet serene atmosphere of early 20th-century Pennsylvania, where industry, transportation, and hospitality converged along the riverbanks.

This image is part of the Kathleen Reitler Collection, and it offers a glimpse into a pivotal moment in the area's history, capturing both the natural beauty and industrial growth of Armstrong County.

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted

The railroad bridge over the Allegheny River at Mosgrove, Armstrong County in 1910. To the left is the Bridge-View Hotel and to the right, about 4 miles away, lies Kittanning. This photo is from the Kathleen Reitler Collection.

(Photo and text from Fred Sloop)

[The East Mosgrove depot was on the left (north) side of the far end of the trestle.]

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted

B. R. & P. (Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh) Railroad bridge which is located about 4-5 miles upstream of Kittanning in East Mosgrove, Armstrong County in 1907. The bridge was later acquired by the B&O (Baltimore & Ohio).

(Photo and text from Fred Sloop)

Michael Sheliga: With the closing of Homer City Generating Station this line is down to about 1 train per day. With the Eastbound sometime near 6PM and the Westbound near midnight (based upon seeing the trains near Zelionople). The connection with the Shawmut on the West side of the bridge - very active 15 years ago - is now only used for storage and a few cars to the graphite(??) plant in Tarr Town.

Dave Grafton: I spent a fair amount of time fixing and maintaining the navigational lights on this bridge. The lenses on the lights were colored stained glass and from the 20's. That bridge would talk to you. Groan and pop and bang as it heated up with the sun. $10,000 fine per day from the Coast Guard if the lights were out.

Jay Wilson: Dave Grafton As long as it talked it wouldn't break. If it got quiet it was broke somewhere. Learned that from my aluminum flat trailer.

Bob Wittmaier shared
Fran Fiest posted

In need of just a little help.

When the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh (BR&P) built its Mosgrove Bridge, the bridge not only crossed over the Allegheny River it also crossed over the P&S on the west side and the PRR on the east side of the river. The P&S built a two mile long steep land “ramp” to connect to the BR&P at the top of the mountain. The PRR was unable to build and lay track to follow what the P&S accomplished.

Instead, the PRR had what was called a two-story, vertical interchange station. In short, they were unable to transfer rail cars or trains like the P&S, but were able to transfer passengers, mail and light limited freight on a very large set of stairs.

 Passengers had to walk up or down the stairs to make their connection with the other train.

I am looking for an old photo showing these stairs.

I have included an old photo of the BR&P Bridge at East Mosgrove. 

Notice where the people are standing. Where was/is the old stair case?

2 of 4 photos posted by Dave Kuntz Drone Photos with the comment: "Two bridges with different fates in Templeton PA:  High above the Allegheny River, a MOW crew replaces ties on the Mosgrove Railroad Bridge while below half of a bridge from the PRR Oil City Branch is used for a bike trail while the decking has been removed from the other half."

a

b

Bonus: Oil City Branch Bridge over South Fork Pine Creek

Street View, Nov 2023

These are Dave's other two photos.

c

d

Note how the connector between the mainline over the river and the branch along the river climbs up the side of the river's bluff.

1958 Kittanning and 1968 Mosgrove Quads @ 24,000