Ozaukee Interurban Trail - Cedarburg Bridge

The looped strut/upper lateral connectors as well as the slight elliptical shaped and punched eyebar heads suggest to me that Massillon may have fabricated this bridge.

I do, however, dispute the build date I'd found for the similar Grafton spans (Which bled on to this entry, since the trusses are the same) These are far too heavy for 1850. John & I guesstimated that they're closer to mid-1880s/early 1890s than 1850s.

The source for the date stems from http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=turn..., which stems from Central Electric Railfans Association bulletin on the TMER&L from 1972 https://books.google.com/books?id=Uf06AAAAMAAJ&q=The+truss+s...

Agreed; locomotives were lighter back then than they are now.

Another example:

http://bridgehunter.com/mn/hennepin/bh45221/

On the contrary, this bridge (And the matching span at Grafton.) is typical of early railroad bridges.

A different design, but accentuates the point I'm trying to make: https://bridgehunter.com/pa/somerset/wells-creek-bollman/

Wondering if they ever )past or present) put dead-weighr load ratings on these bridges - (Pier to pier weight limits) and PSI/area rating as well. This bridge has been commented as a possible former R/R bridge. I seriously doubt that - it clearly would not be capable of supporting pier to pier loads of a multi-ton R/R car or locomotive. My opinion only living near it and seeing it daily. Many other Interurban bridges are near clones of this one.

Photo 13 of 35; This car is leaving downtown Cedarburg and is heading across the Cedar Creek in a NORTHEAST bound direction toward Port Washington. It will travel about 2 miles (Approx) before crossing what is now I-43 Freeway (now a bike bridge later added to pass over the freeway), The walkway is on the right side in the photo which would be the north side with downtown to the car's rear which is to its wouthwest.Once in Port Washington near thje lake-front, it travels down Spring St and meanders around downtown near the power plant before proceeding north (slightly east)to Sheboygan. As is well known - the Interurban bed is now a well-known bike and walking trail (trax2trail)and follows much the original track-bed route with some minor detours due time, terrain and property adjustments. It is a fully paved and well used trail.

If it did replace an 1850s structure, it would have been built in the 1880s in Michigan. This is the original structure here. Nathan or anyone in that region, do you know if there are archives for the Michigan Central Railroad?

I've seen that U-bar once, maybe twice... Very unusual

I'm more inclined to think that it replaced an 1850 structure.

Looks like an 1880s or maybe early 1890s Carnegie font to me.

James,

Looking through the photos; I can only make them out on laced members. I did not pay attention to the Carnegie marks when I visited, as I assumed it was a cut and dry date situation.

The sway bracing and portal bracings do not look like they belong on this bridge. In addition, I see a special type of connection (what I've always referred to as a U-Bar) on the underside of this bridge. These type of connections are most common on the 1870s and 1880s trusses that I've seen.

http://bridgehunter.com/photos/36/22/362239-L.jpg

I would think if this bridge date to the 1850s, it has been extensively rebuilt and not much remains of the original structure, specifically the main frame components.

How many members on this bridge have Carnegie mill marks?

Tony,

Numerous sources indicate the bridge was built in 1850. The floor beams this bridge has tell me it's very old. I suspect it could have been heavily rebuilt. 1850 would make this the oldest railroad truss I know of.

...Could have been acquired from elsewhere and moved here in 07'.

I agree John that it's kinda light for a post-1900 RR span, But that 1850 date is even a bigger stretch! I would say more like 1885-1895 maybe.

This bridge appears to be far too light for a 1907 railway bridge. In addition, it matches this structure:

http://bridgehunter.com/wi/ozaukee/grafton-interurban/

Which was reportedly built in 1850 by the Michigan Central Railway. Input?