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UP - Lower Pollard Flat Bridge

Shasta County, California
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U.P.R.R. - Lower Pollard Flat Bridge

Photo taken by Michael Goff in January 2012

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Description 

The Southern Pacific Railroad Shasta Route, built as the California and Oregon Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad between Roseville, California and Portland, Oregon was the first thrust north of the Central Pacific Railroad to tap the Oregon market. Begun in 1863 as the California and Oregon Railroad, the line was finally completed in 1887. Completion of the Natron Cutoff in 1927 saw the north end of the Shasta Route pulled back to Black Butte, California. A final change occurred 1938-1942 when construction of Shasta Dam required replacement of twenty-six miles of the original alignment with thirty-two miles of new railroad. For the purpose of the current project, the Shasta Route was found likely to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places at the state level of significance under Criterion A for its significance in engineering, transportation history, and the economic development of California and Oregon, and in the development of the West, and under criterion B for its association with E.H. Harriman. The Shasta Route's period of significance is 1863 to 1945, from the beginning of construction in 1863, through the years of its role in the economic development of California and Oregon, to the conclusion of the railroad's achievements in World War II. As contributors to the overall historic property, the route's Common Standard bridges over the Sacramento River were also found to meet criterion C, representing a type, period, and method of construction. Built in 1901, Bridge Number 301.85 is a contributive element of this property.

-- Historic American Engineering Record

Facts 

Overview
Pratt through truss bridge over Sacramento River on Union Pacific Railroad
Location
Shasta County, California
Status
Open to traffic
History
Built 1901
Builders
- B.M. Krohn (Engineer - Phoenix Bridge Co)
- Phoenix Bridge Co. of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania (Truss Fabricator)
Railroads
- Southern Pacific Railroad (SP)
- Union Pacific Railroad (UP)
Design
Pin-connected Pratt through truss
Dimensions
Span length: 208.8 ft.
Total length: 208.8 ft.
Deck width: 12.0 ft.
Also called
Shasta Route Bridge No. 301.85
Bridge No. 301.85
Approximate latitude, longitude
+40.99154, -122.41492   (decimal degrees)
40°59'30" N, 122°24'54" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
10/549212/4537982 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Lamoine
Inventory number
BH 51095 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

9-panel truss (129)
B.M. Krohn (1)
Built 1901 (456)
Built during 1900s (6,192)
California (2,287)
HAER documented (1,096)
Open (36,076)
Owned by railroad (9,600)
Phoenix Bridge Co. (133)
Pin-connected (2,992)
Pratt through truss (4,530)
 Pratt truss (7,891)
Railroad (12,854)
Sacramento River (44)
Shasta County, California (91)
Skewed (4,655)
Southern Pacific Railroad (479)
Span length 175-250 feet (1,791)
Through truss (12,774)
Total length 175-250 feet (3,696)
Truss (29,238)
Union Pacific Railroad (1,870)

Update Log 

  • January 27, 2012: Updated by Daniel Hopkins: Added category "Railroad"
  • January 26, 2012: Added by Michael Goff

Related Bridges 

Sources 

  • Mike Goff - michael [dot] goff [at] hotmail [dot] com
  • HAER CA-222 - Southern Pacific Railroad Shasta Route, Bridge No. 301.85, Milepost 301.85, Pollard Flat, Shasta County, CA
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Comments 

U.P.R.R. - Lower Pollard Flat Bridge
Posted January 27, 2012, by Mike Goff (michael [dot] goff [at] hotmail [dot] com)

Scott,

Thanks again for the information. I'll take your word for it on the railroads that built by the previously mentioned rail lines.

The information provided was automatically included from the Library of Congress, Historic American Engineering Record for the Shasta Route bridges when the photos were uploaded. This information could be incorrect since it’s about 20 years old or the researchers at the time may have not noticed the subtle name difference when compiling the document.

I do not plan to make any corrections to the data. Your post should clear up any misunderstandings to those who may be researching the Northern California/Southern Oregon Railroads.

U.P.R.R. - Lower Pollard Flat Bridge
Posted January 27, 2012, by Scott Gavin (fatpiecat2 [at] charter [dot] net)

Not to be a nitpicker, but I am going to be a nitpicker.

Only the portion of the Shasta Route between Sacramento and Ashland, Oregon was built by the California and Oregon Railroad Co. The portion of the railroad between Portland and Ashland was built by the Oregon and California Railroad Company, which was, legally, a separate entity. The Oregon and California Railroad Company was owned by Ben Holliday and later by a group of investors headed by Henry Villard, the California and Oregon Railway was not. Only after Henry Villard fell on hard times, and sold the Oregon and California Railway to the S.P. did the two companies become one.

The two railroads had two separate land grants as well, the portion in Oregon, which was returned to public ownership after the S.P. disobeyed the terms of the grant, are administered by the B.L.M. and are called the O & C Lands, not the C & O Lands.