1886 Binkley's Bridge
Note the lattice portal bracing. Original image source Lancaster County Archives.
Photo uploaded by Art S.
View this photo at unchartedlancaster.com
BH Photo #475599
The Columbia Iron Bridge Company built a new two span wrought iron Pratt through truss bridge on the old abutments and center pier and that lasted until an overweight truck dropped one of the spans, killing the driver, on Thursday, September 29, 1929. After this, the road was relocated about 550' downstream (south), mainly to eliminate two right angle bends set in opposite directions of each other on the Pennwick Road end.
And when I say Kansas I'm referring to this one...
I agree Art! And it's easy to forget that fabricators didn't always work with their own designs. I suspect some of these variations were influenced by early city or county engineers that wanted to leave their mark. And as far as logistics go, we also know they built as far West as Kansas.
Tony,
I think we have been a bit narrow minded in our thinking in terms of defining features of CBW. There are now at least five CBW bridges pictured on Bridgehunter with some form of lattice portal bracing.
Also, the more I learn the more impressed I am with them:
Quantity (as we are discovering now, much like Bollman, Squire Whipple, and Post many/most of their bridges were replaced before picture postcards were common so their achievement is underappreciated by many),
Location, they had a nationwide, not just regional presence (they were bidding jobs in eastern Massachusetts! Not yet sure if they won any of the bids there),
Diversity of design - simply look at what has been posted so far.
Regards,
Art S.
I concur Art... It's a CBW!😜
It is indeed odd to see Lattice webbing in the portals of one of their bridges!
Tony,
Yup, I'm aware.
Plotting the locations of the known bridges is quite interesting:
https://bridgehunter.com/category/builder/columbia-bridge-wo...
I'm also aware of probables in VA, NC, TN and possibles in MD & WV. Interestingly, nothing yet in NJ, NY, MI, WI, MO, AR or MN.
Is there a way of mapping bridges built by each manufacturer prior to a certain year? I'm curious how the 'big boys' would stack up against CBW in 1882 and 1890.
Regards,
Art S.