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| safe_image for Steel is thinning on a Colorado bridge built in 1940: Here’s how CDOT is protecting history "The bridge was first built in 1940 and is registered as a National Historic Landmark, with the Colorado Department of Transportation calling the bridge one of its “oldest and most unique assets.” The bridge was rehabilitated in 2004 with a project that included a replacement bridge deck, repainting of the steel and widening the deck while preserving the historic aesthetic." Because of thinning steel, a weight restriction has been imposed to keep atypically heavy loads off of it. It is still usable by typical commercial vehicles, and, of course, cars. CDOT is planning a rehabilitation project that will remove the weight restriction. |
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
1940 US-24 Green Bridge over Eagle River and D&RGW near Red Cliff, CO
(Satellite)
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Robert E. Lee Bridges over James River in Richmond, VA
1933: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter)
The old piers just to the left of the new piers were for a truss bridge that provided a service road to the Old Dominion Iron & Nail Works that was on Belle Island.
Belle Isle Suspension Bridge: (Satellite) This bridge is under the 1989 bridge.
1933 Bridge
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| Tichnor Brothers Collection via BridgeHunter |
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| Walt Edward posted Richmond, Va during the flooding from Hurricane Agnes, August 1972. That’s the Lee bridge and the C&O main to Newport News in the background. |
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| Postcard via BridgeHunter |
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| Courtesy of Library of Virginia via BridgeHunter |
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| Courtesy of VCU Libraries via Bridge Hunter |
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| 1989 Photo by Billy Pickett via BridgeHunter "bridge's last day" |
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| Courtesy Richmond History Center via BridgeHunter [They have started construction of the replacement bridge.] |
1989 Bridge
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| David Waltenbaugh, May 2018 |
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| Street View, Apr 2014 |
The old piers just to the left of the new piers were for a truss bridge that provided a service road to the Old Dominion Iron & Nail Works that was on Belle Island.
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| Street View, Apr 2014 |
Belle Isle Suspension Bridge
In 1991, they hung a pedestrian bridge from the main bridge.
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| Street View, Mar 2020 |
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| Lisa Slate, Sep 2022 |
Abandoned/NYC Swing Bridge over Little River in North Tonawanda, NY
(no Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; Satellite)
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| Street View, Jul 2023 |
This was the original bridge to Tonawanda Island, which used to have a lot of industry. The NYC bridge had wood planks laid on it so that it could also be used as a one-lane vehicle bridge.
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| 1950/50 Tonawanda West and East Quads @ 24,000 via Dennis DeBruler |
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| ArchivedRailroad MarcMeoff: This is the bridge over the "Little River" in the 1970s. This was also a popular hang-out/swimming place for my brothers and I in the '50s. The international Paper mill along with RT Jones lumber was in full swing on Tonawanda Island in those days and the train used to go over to switch them at least twice a day. There was a bridge tender in attendence full time, but I only ever saw the bridge open once. A tug tried to push a barge through, but the current was so strong that he couldn't make it. Almost took out the bridge in the process of trying to go up-stream. |
Another story about the strong current of Little River:
"An individual I worked with had the unfortunate luck to run his cabin cruiser under bridge B18-C thereby ripping the upper deck clean off. There is quite a current there. He was forever after known as the “ADMIRAL”." [NYCRRson on ArchivedRailroad]
Monday, September 8, 2025
1954 B&O Brandy Gap/Flinderation Tunnel #2 near Bristol, WV
(Satellite)
Are freight rates based on air miles or travelled miles? On the original B&O, they were about the same for traffic from St. Louis. According to Kevin's comment, on the CSX air vs. travelled are now very different.
Indah Safytri Reel posted three photos with the comment: "One of the more intriguing tunnels left standing along the old Parkersburg Branch of the B&O Railroad is Number 2, located near Salem, West Virginia. Built between 1853 and 1854, the tunnel, known as Flinderation or Brandy Gap is 1086 feet long. Number 2 has a bit of a dark history beginning with an accident that claimed the lives of two railroad workers. Shortly after opening an unsuspecting engineer entered the tunnel, with a speeding locomotive, when he spotted the two workers who unfortunately couldn't get out of the way. Unable to stop in time both were overtaken and horribly dismembered. During the Civil War, in the early 1860s, Salem was occupied by both the Northern and Southern armies with the railroad being one of the prime targets to interrupt troop movements. Naturally, Tunnel 2 was in the middle of the rift. After the war, in the later 1860s, the tunnel was rebuilt, it's timbers being replaced with a brick and stone lining. It has been reported that Tunnel 2 has been the center of much KKK activity that took place over a great number of years. Today, the old tunnel sits pretty much in silence, waiting for the passenger and freight trains that will never return. Still, not including the visitors who explore its impressive length, as part of the North Bend Rail Trail, there is continued activity within the confines. For there is an old cemetery overtop and when it rains, the waters trickle through he graves and seep into the tunnel, forever running down its walls and dripping from the ceiling."
Dick Spatafore: Track was upgraded in 1979 and 1980, including the tunnels only to be abandoned in 1985. The " Branch " was the fastest track on the Monongah division in those days and it was sad when it was taken up after 1985. The Gateway 88 and the CISL were earmarked trains going to and from Chicago and St. Louis. Hi-Railed this tunnel many times.
Phillip Cottrille: Dick Spatafore never knew there was any “upgrades” in 79-80; the entire line was upgraded in 1963 when the tunnels were reconfigured to accompany the taller-longer trailer jets and several of the tunnels were “daylighted” due to stability concerns.
Did I miss something?
Kevin Davis: The through line to St. Louis was abandoned by CSX in 1985. Nowadays, eastbound trains from St. Louis are routed north at Cincinnati to Deshler, then east over the Chicago line by way of Willard, Pittsburgh, Connellsville, over Sandpatch summit, Cumberland, then on east on the Cumberland Subdivision, the Metropolitan Subdivision (the Met Sub), and on to Baltimore or Washington.
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| 1961/63 Salem Quad @ 24,000 |
Are freight rates based on air miles or travelled miles? On the original B&O, they were about the same for traffic from St. Louis. According to Kevin's comment, on the CSX air vs. travelled are now very different.
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| Rumsey via Dennis DeBruler |
CSX has quit running on the B&O line to St. Louis in Illinois. They use just the former-Pennsy line through Vandalia in Illinois. So this map is not accurate.
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| U.S. Department of Transportation |
NS/N&W/Virginian Bridges over Beaverdam and Kates Creeks near Goodview, VA
Beaverdam: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; Satellite)
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| Dylan Young posted 798 of the 23rd with the 8099 (Southern) Leading throughout the blue ridge Geoff Galat: Where is this trestle? Dylan Young: Geoff Galat Beaver dam trestle right before Goodview VA Dennis DeBruler: Geoff Galat Found it: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xgVfN8tGuBCKfFSk9. I also found Kates Creek Bridge a little further East: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qsNYwMAbjf3B4c6h8. |
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| 1951/51 Boones Mill and Moneta Quads @ 62,500 |
Sunday, September 7, 2025
1817 Spring Mill Grist Mill near Mitchell, IN
(Satellite)
The wood flume is fed by a spring in the hillside.
The grindstones are in the lower-left quadrant of this view.
These gears are in the basement, and they help increase the speed so that the stone turns about 10 times faster than the waterwheel. The gears are made with wood.
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| Street View, Jun 2017 |
The wood flume is fed by a spring in the hillside.
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| Street View, Jun 2017 |
The grindstones are in the lower-left quadrant of this view.
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| Eric Willman, Jun 2023 |
The horizontal shaft is the axel of the waterwheel.
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| Mohanned Alshamsi, Aug 2018 |
These gears are in the basement, and they help increase the speed so that the stone turns about 10 times faster than the waterwheel. The gears are made with wood.
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| 22:16 video @ 13:05 |
Pennsylvania Union Canal Overview
Graciela Whitcher posted three images with the comment: "Pennsylvania's Union Canal was a significant water transportation route that existed in the 19th century. Proposed by William Penn in 1690, it aimed to connect Philadelphia with the Susquehanna River. Construction began in 1792 and was completed in 1828, running approximately 82 miles from Middletown to Reading. The canal played a crucial role in shipping anthracite coal and lumber eastward to Philadelphia, and it featured 93 locks and a 4-foot deep channel. The Union Canal Tunnel, in Lebanon, Penna., is the oldest existing transportation tunnel in the U.S., remains a notable part of its legacy."
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| 2 [See also "1827-1885 Union Canal Tunnel near Lebanon, PA; the Oldest Extant Transportation Tunnel in USA"] |
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