BNSF Railway is in the early stages of seeking a permit from the US Coast Guard to replace this bridge, which carries 30-40 passenger and freight trains per day.
BNSF spokesperson Courtney Wallace says the 104-year old span is reaching the end of its useful life, and the railroad wants to be proactive about replacing a key part of its north-south rail line through Seattle.
This Strauss heel trunion has a operating struts with brake shoes that grip the top and bottom flanges when this bridge is raised the strut attached to the bascule span droops or hangs toward the counterweight. These bridges were constructed in the year of 1914 to 1920,the 191 foot Northern Pacific bascule bridge was built the same way mentioned earlier crossing the Lake Washington Canal, one in Buffalo NY for the Delaware Lackawanna & Western railroad a 125 foot Bridge crossing the Buffalo River also has emergency brake shoes. The same river Buffalo for the Buffalo Creek Railroad (CP draw) a 174 foot span also a 132 foot bridge for the New York Central railroad. Tonawanda NY over the Tonawanda Creek a 125 foot bridge for the New York Central Railroad in North Carolina a 117 foot bridge for the Seaboard Airline crossing the Cape Fear River a 99ft 3inches rail bridge for the Illinois Central railroad crossing the Galena River in Illinois, in Doctortown GA a 117 foot bridge crossing the Altahama River.
Here is a news report with several photos and an audio interview with the bridge tender.
https://www.facebook.com/143864405691223/posts/3439990516078...
BNSF announced earlier this week that it was not going to replace the current Salmon Bay Bridge No. 4 with a new vertical lift bridge. Instead, BNSF is going to replace the counterweight system on the current bridge. The story appeared on MYNorthwest at https://mynorthwest.com/2219344/salmon-bay-railroad-bridge-h...
I love the way Siege painted the light and let the bridge be the negative space.
Cited article says they plan to use a vertical lift.
Tony, will you do me a favour ... will you do me a kindness? Scan in that postcard I sent you of this bridge and add it here.
Douglas, you can now add your drawings of this here.
Here is a BNSF video about their plan to repair the bridge.
https://www.facebook.com/143864405691223/posts/3392226854188...