NHM&W - Rockfall Bridge
Photos
Middletown CT baybe Bundy Artist
Not sure where this one is but it looks like a cast iron Pratt deck truss to me.
Photo uploaded by Art S.
BH Photo #417572
Description
This is very likely the predecessor to the current Rockfall bridge, which was built in 1898 per state records. The rail line was constructed in 1873 as the New Haven, Middletown & Willimantic Railroad, later part of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad.Facts
- Overview
- Pratt deck truss bridge over Coginchaug River on New Haven, Middletown & Willimantic Railroad
- Location
- Middlefield, Middlesex County, Connecticut
- Status
- Replaced by a new bridge
- History
- Replaced ca. 1898 by current bridge
- Railroad
- - New Haven, Middletown & Willimantic Railroad (NHM&W)
- Design
- Pratt deck truss
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +41.52832, -72.69308 (decimal degrees)
41°31'42" N, 72°41'35" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 18/692464/4599977 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Middletown
- Inventory number
- BH 80338 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- May 22, 2020: New photo from Chester Gehman
- May 21, 2020: Updated by Ian Martin: Adjusted coordinates and added description
- February 3, 2018: Added by Art S
Related Bridges
- PW - Rockfall High Bridge (Successor)
Sources
- Art Suckewer - Asuckewer [at] knite [dot] com
- Ian Martin
- Chester Gehman - gehmanc2000 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Comments
I'm fairly certain it's the Rockfall bridge - the arch in the southern abutment was what clued me in to the location. It's in the shadows in the left edge of the NERail picture, but here's a better shot showing it more clearly: https://www.flickr.com/photos/114763635@N06/28143243972/.
I am doubtful that this bridge was located at Rockfall.
While it is a NHM&W RR bridge, the two photos (likely taken
at the same time) show a roadway arch as part of the stone
abutment. While I have not visited the site personally, the
photo on the NERAIL Photo Archive website shows no such
arch. (Link provided on successor page BH 61947 Rockfall
High Bridge.) In addition, no roadway is evident on the TOPO
map for 1893 or Google Earth. Presumably the bridge location
is in the Middletown area, since the photographer (Bundy)
had his studio there, but for me the location of this bridge
is still a mystery.
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/ct/middlesex/iron-rr/
You are right, Ian. That new photo shows it clearly.