CSX - Cedar Creek Bridge

I found on eBay copies being sold of a photo of the Cedar Creek railroad bridge after being rebuilt by Union troops in 1865.

Here is the link below:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/222146693328?hash=item33b8f988d0:g:...

Below is some information regarding the photo posted on the eBay page:

Cedar Creek Bridge, Raleigh & Gaston Railroad, NC

We agreed to, "rebuild the bridge over Cedar Creek for the use of four locomotives and forty cars for as long a time as they might be required for military purposes." US Chief Engineer W. W. Wright

In April of 1865, the retreating Confederates had burned the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad bridge over Cedar Creek, North Carolina. It was located below Franklinton and 25 miles north of Raleigh.

The US Military Railroads Department worked feverishly to keep US GEN Sherman's Army supplied as he fought CS GEN Johnston's Army of Tennessee. As part of that effort, Chief Engineer W. W. Wright cut the deal with the President of the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad.

Springing into action, the Construction Corps took 72 hours and 319,200 Feet B.M. of timber to build the 530 ft long and 88 feet high trestle. Seen in this picture is an unidentified 4-4-0 type locomotive shown with Atlantic & North Carolina RR Conductors Car N. 1. on the bridge.

According to Wright, "The rebuilding of the Cedar Creek bridge completed the railroad connection between Raleigh and the Roanoke River at Gaston and also at Weldon. During the suspension of hostilities we operated the North Carolina Railroad to Durham's station, twenty-five miles from Raleigh."

Johnston's surrender on April 26th, resulted in the bridge not being used to supply Sherman's Army moving forward. Instead, "a large amount of stores were sent up the North Carolina Railroad for use of the force which had just surrendered during the time required to parole the men."

On May 8, 1865, the USM RR returned the railroad line to its owners without having used the four locomotives and forty cars. By this time, Wright, "had a good opportunity to judge of the condition of the rolling-stock of the 'Confederacy'. It was nearly worn out."

In looking at a 2007 supplement provided by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources earlier today in reference to the proposed Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor, it looks like there were three bridges built over Cedar Creek south of Franklinton. The first one was built around 1839 which was 528 feet long. It was destroyed by Confederate troops during the Civil War in 1865 along with the bridges at Weldon and Gaston. About a year or so later, Union Army troops rebuilt the bridge over Cedar Creek. The current steel deck girder bridge was constructed by Seaboard Air Line Railroad shortly after 1900, probably around 1902-1903. Based on information provided by Mike DeGrace that a second bridge over the Tar River between Franklinton and Kittrell, also a steel deck girder, was built in 1903. I'd expect that both bridges were done by SAL at the same time. According to GIS measurements, the current bridge over Cedar Creek is around 512 feet long.

Here is a link to the 2007 supplement provided by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources:

https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/historic-preservation-office/PDFs...

Wow... Very encouraging that you get such excellent video from an inexpensive drone! My brother uses them in his production company, but those cost 3K apiece!

This was shot on a DJI Mavic Mini!

Nice video! Looking at drones and wondering what make and model you used? Thanks again for sharing this!

Hope you enjoy!!

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