Bridgehunter.com | KCS - Black Warrior River Trestle

Photos

Photo taken by Ben Tate in June 2011

BH Photo #200833

Map

Street Views

Description

Historical Marker: "This wooden and steel truss bridge was constructed for the Mobile and Ohio Railroad in 1898 by civil engineer Benjamin Hardaway, and 1887 graduate of The University of Alabama and former Tuscaloosa City Engineer. Originally 135-feet high with a 110-foot clearance, it was once considered by many to be the country's longest trestle at 3600 feet. This bridge, along with Old Locks One, Two and Three, greatly improved transportation in West Alabama and heralded an era of economic development in the early 20th century. In later years the M & O Railroad became successively the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio; the Illinois Central Gulf; and the Kansas City Southern."

Facts

Overview: Cantilevered Warren through truss bridge over Black Warrior River
Location: Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
Status: Open to traffic
History: Built 1896-9; Steel truss span replaced 1924
Builders: - American Bridge Co. of New York (1924 Truss)
- Dunn, Leland & Bros. of Birmingham, Alabama (Original Truss)
- George M. Quigley & Co. (Trestling & Grading)
- Hanover Construction Co. (Engineers)
- Watkins & Hardaway of Birmingham, Alabama (Masonry)
Railroads: - Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railway (GMO)
- Illinois Central Railroad (IC)
- Kansas City Southern Railway (KCS)
- Mobile & Ohio Railroad (M&O)
Design: Timber trestle with Cantilevered Warren through truss span over the Black Warrior River
Dimensions: Total length: 3,600.0 ft. (0.7 mi.)
Recognition: Posted to the National Register of Historic Places
Also called: M&O - Black Warrior River Trestle
IC - Black Warrior River Trestle
GM&O - Black Warrior River Trestle
Approximate latitude, longitude: +33.21359, -87.57649 (decimal degrees)
33°12'49" N, 87°34'35" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 16/446276/3675114 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:: Tuscaloosa
Inventory number: BH 48886 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Update Log

September 30, 2014: New photos from Zachary S
June 9, 2011: Added by Ben Tate

Sources

Ben Tate - benji5221 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Library of Congress Photos
Historical Marker Database
HAER AL-12 - Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad Bridge, Spans Black Warrior River between Northport & Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL
Zachary S

KCS - Black Warrior River Trestle