Walt Disney World Railroad Swing Bridge
Facts
- Overview
- Warren pony truss bridge over Seven Seas Canal on Walt Disney World Railroad
- Location
- Bay Lake, Orange County, Florida
- Status
- Open to traffic
- Railroad
- - Walt Disney World Railroad (WDWRR)
- Design
- Warren pony truss swing with riveted built-up beams and bolted connections
- Also called
- WDWRR - Seven Seas Canal Drawbridge
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +28.42110, -81.58514 (decimal degrees)
28°25'16" N, 81°35'07" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 17/442692/3143990 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Windermere
- Inventory number
- BH 48757 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- December 21, 2019: New photo from Luke
- March 9, 2018: New Street View added by Luke
- September 30, 2015: Updated by Luke: Added categories "Walt Disney World Railroad", "Relocated"
- August 26, 2013: Updated by Luke Harden: Added categories "Walt Disney World", "Railroad"
- August 26, 2013: New photo from Douglas Butler
- May 10, 2011: Added by Nathan Holth
Related Bridges
- Wabasso Bridge (Parts reused from)
Sources
- Nathan Holth
- Flickr Photo - Detail Photo Showing Rivets and Bolts
- Douglas Butler
- Burnsland - Info
- Luke
Comments
Well, the bridge is actually used as a swing bridge.
In the 1990's, I was part of the team that designed the sternwheeler LIBERTY BELLE II, which runs in the lagoon next to the bridge. Surrounding the park, hidden from view, is a large industrial area where WDW services their equipment, including a small shipyard to service the various ferryboats and excursion boats in the park. It was here where the LIBERTY BELLE was built.
The shipyard is a couple of lakes away from the lagoon, and is accessed via a canal with a navigation lock. When the LIBERTY BELLE is moved out of the lagoon for service, it passes through this swing bridge (used for a railroad ride), the navigation lock and a bascule service road bridge on a canal to the lakes.
The attached images are from Google Earth.
Who would have thought Disney World had a riveted truss bridge?
Anyone's input that can discuss the validity of the history of the bridge suggested below would be welcomed.
http://www.burnsland.com/disneyrailroads/viewtopic.php?f=1&t...
http://www.burnsland.com/disneyrailroads/viewtopic.php?f=1&t...
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/fl/orange/bh48757/
Admittedly, I did not expect to find a truss bridge at Disneyworld but hey, this is a nice surprise. Based on some of the latest bridge news, it just might end up being the world's only remaining truss bridge someday...Then all pontists can truly call Disneyworld "the happiest place on earth"