Bridgehunter.com | CSX - Fort DeWolf Bridge #5.5

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Looking Eastward (Western Face of Bridge) from KY 61

Picture taken by Taylor Marion on 9/16/2016 while driving along Preston Highway. This angle gives a good view of both parts of the bridge. One can see that the left half of the bridge is "naked." This is the part that was destroyed during the derailment episode in 1991.

Photo taken by Taylor Marion

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BH Photo #364750

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Description

With some humor this is Fort De Wolf Bridge v. 5.5. The first three were destroyed during the War of Northern Aggression. The fourth one was too wimpy so it was replaced by this one (v. 5.0). In 1991 the little engine that could really couldn't so it decided to check out and take half the bridge with it. The nearby villagers decided that they loved their bridge so much that they replaced the broken half, and so, we have F.D.W.B. v. 5.5

Facts

Overview: Fifth incarnation (previous three destroyed by Civil War Battles) Pratt Through Truss railroad bridge over the Salt River on CSX Railroad
Location: Shepherdsville, Bullitt County, Kentucky
Status: Open to Traffic
History: Built ca. 1909 after four other bridges were built here. Three were destroyed and rebuilt during Civil War. The fourth one was replaced by this bridge around 1909. Two spans destroyed in a derailment on November 19th, 1991
Railroads: - CSX Railroad (CSX)
- Family Lines System (FL)
- Louisville & Nashville Railroad (LN)
- Seaboard System Railroad (SBD)
Also called: SBD - Fort DeWolf Bridge #5
L&N - Fort DeWolf Bridge #5.5
SBD - Fort DeWolf Bridge #5.5
FL - Fort DeWolf Bridge #5.5
CSX - Fort DeWolf Bridge #5
FL- Fort DeWolf Bridge #5
L&N- Fort DeWolf Bridge #5
CSX - Salt River Bridge
SBD - Salt River Bridge
FL - Salt River Bridge
L&N - Salt River Bridge
Approximate latitude, longitude: +37.98448, -85.71573 (decimal degrees)
37°59'04" N, 85°42'57" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 16/612781/4204871 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:: Shepherdsville
Inventory number: BH 43594 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Update Log

January 31, 2019: New photos from Melissa Brand-Welch
September 17, 2016: New photo from James McCray
October 25, 2015: Updated by James McCray: recorrected myself and updated info to reflect that this is really bridge v. 5.5
October 25, 2015: Updated by Luke: Clarified number of spans lost in the derailment
October 23, 2015: Updated by Luke: Noted that at least one span was lost in a derailment on November 19th, 1991
April 28, 2010: New Street View added by J.P.
February 26, 2010: New photos from J.P.
February 23, 2010: Updated by Bill Eichelberger: Added GPS coordinates.
November 8, 2009: Added by James McCray

Related Bridges

LN - Fort DeWolf Bridge #4 (Predecessor)