CSX - Cape Fear River Bridge

Several additional shots of this bridge. Note also that the reference to the "Northeast" Cape Fear River is incorrect. This is the Cape Fear River. The Northeast Cape Fear River flows generally SSW into Wilmington where it joins with the Cape Fear River.

Just saw the posting for the CSX - Cape Fear River Bridge. This is a great bridge, used every day with traffic going to and from Wilmington NC. I have about 50 pictures of this bridge, mostly detail shots as I would love to build this in 1/87 scale. I have included several photos all taken in August of 2013, and could provide others if there is interest. The only way you can get pictures of this bridge, without a boat, is to stand on the bank of the river directly south shooting N to NE from private property. One fortunate day I was allowed access to this property, so all of these are shot from that position.

An interesting story was related to me about this bridge from a life long resident of the area. Sometime during the '60's, the railroad decided to replace the fixed portion of the bridge. Early that morning, all of the local kids took up position on the south bank of the river to watch. The railroad had a flooded barge placed under the bridge during low tide. As soon as the last train of the morning came over the bridge, the railroad started pumping out the barge. Between pumping the water out, and the tide coming in, the barge quickly rose under the bridge, making contact and lifting the bridge off it's piers. It was then moved downstream and the new bridge, which had been built earlier, and waiting on a barge upstream, was moved into position. As they say, timing is everything. At this point the tide had turned and started to go out. Between the flooding of the barge and the tide going out, the new bridge quickly settled down on to the piers. Within what seemed like minutes to the observer, the next train of the day approached the bridge and stopped short of the new section, but was waved through by the work crew. The gentleman I heard this story from said that he thought this whole process took less than 6 hours. If true, and I have no reason to doubt him, this is a testament to the railroads and their workers on how they keep America's goods moving.