Yakima Valley Trolley - Naches River Bridge

Yeah, it's part of what was the Pacific Electric "Red Car's" Santa Ana branch (As was this lost Phoenix truss: https://bridgehunter.com/ca/los-angeles/bh78012/ ), which was built by another company in 1905 and bought by them in 1911.

Another relocated truss existed in Redlands up until it was demolished in 2012 for a UCEB:

https://bridgehunter.com/ca/san-bernardino/bh50067/

There's a Pegram on a trolley line near LA (Red Line?). I wonder if it is also relocated.

Thanks for the information. That is quite a story.

I was able to contact the Yakima Valley Trolley System and they gave me the information we have been looking for...

The YVT bridge over the Naches River is a Pegram Truss bridge that was originally built by the Union Pacific railroad in Manhattan, Kansas. It was built in 1895. In 1912 it was brought, disassembled, to Yakima for use on the YVT Naches river crossing.

Courtesy of

Ken Johnson, President

Yakima Valley Trolleys

I think your right Robert. It does appear to be much older, and it is pin-connected. There are 2 Indiana Bridge Company spans that are similar (IBCo referred to them as "High-triangular" trusses). The Indiana bridge was built in 1902, and the Ohio span was built in 1906.

I can almost guarantee that this bridge was constructed well before 1920. I have visited two Pegram Truss bridges in Kansas, one of which was definitely built in 1893. The Naches River Bridge, and both Kansas bridges feature very similar portal bracing, all of which are probably wrought iron instead of steel.

Perhaps the bridge was moved or re-habilitated in 1920.

I also question the date on this bridge. It appears to be to be a little closer to the turn of the last century or a little older. There were no plaques or date makings on the structure when I visited the site. However, a nearby bridge over the Naches River located about a mile upstream was dated 1884, which is about as old as it gets here in the Northwest.

I believe this bridge was part of the original railroad into the Yakima Valley and was converted to the electric trolley system around the 1920 date associated with this bridge. There is a newer B.N.S.F. bridge adjacent to this structure, that may be from around the 1920’s or 30’s (No date on it either)

I have been working on properly dating this structure, but have had little luck thus far.

The other two bridges will be posted soon.

I question the build date for this bridge. I think it is older.

This is a very rare example of a Pegram Truss. Great find!