KJRY - Hamilton Slough Bridge

You got me with that one Art... I have seen several old CBW ads, but not anything advertising RR spans. A possible theory could be that after D.H. Morrison's death (1882 I believe), the firm reorganized under the Columbia Bridge Company moniker. The company may have advertised rail structures in an attempt to bolster their business that would struggle and ultimately fail.

I hope that someday when my family life slows down a bit that I can spend much more time on research. In the mean time do keep up the good work!

Tony,

CBW always advertized RR bridges along with road bridges, i assumed they got a few that are now unidentified. Maybe my assumption was incorrect.

The two bridges you posted are interesting, with very similar/same portal bracing. I found another in California. I guess my question is: is that bracing some company's signature design? If so, why did CBW use it on St. Clair St.? My step in logic was that it was CBW's standard RR bridge portal design, which would tie in St. Clair St.

The name on the 1882 span puts a hole in my theory unless they erected it and CBW fabricated. If not, how do you explain St. Clair St. Bridge's design? Was bridge building that much of a cottage industry back then? I know Phoenix sold columns to other builders, could you also order premade portal bracing?

I'll try to keep posting articles as time permits - finding them is a fun distraction from work. Unfortunately, there are many more negative ones than positive...

Regards,

Art S.

Hi Art,

CBW was not known to have fabricated RR spans. Not impossible that they could have... Just highly unlikely.

From some other rail bridges I have seen from that era I wonder if it might not have been built by Union Bridge out of Athens, PA Here is a similar span that I believe they also might have erected:

http://bridgehunter.com/in/bartholomew/clifty-creek/

Before becoming Union Bridge, the firm was known as Maurice & Kellogg. Here is a confirmed span of their construction from 1882:

http://bridgehunter.com/in/dearborn/tanners-creek/

I see many similarities in both of these to the KJRY span.

Keep posting all the news articles and info Art... I always enjoy reading them when I come home from work!

Tony

Prior to reenforcement:

http://www.trainweb.org/kjry/images/KJRY029.JPG

Tony,

I yield to your greater expertise. However, why do you say it isn't CBW? To me the structural cues and portal bracing match the St. Clair St. Bridge (excluding the add-ons to the KJRY) and the period is correct.

Just trying to learn.

Regards,

Art S.

Not CBW... Just a RR span with some nice portal bracing

Columbia Bridge Works?

The portal bracing is the same as St. Clair St. Bridge:

http://bridgehunter.com/oh/preble/6842364/

Any thoughts?

Regards,

Art S.