Caledonia Bridge

To the best of my knowledge, the Independence Bowstring Bridge is the only bridge in the United States, or Canada for that matter, that uses both Phoenix columns and Keystone columns.

My bad; I took a quick glance on a smaller screen and thought the cross section was similar to Independence. It is in configuration but uses Keystone type rather than Phoenix type sections. BTW, image 6 of the Independence bridge shows both types (the pony span has the Keystone style).

Regards,

Art S.

I just enlarged a photo. Yep, this one has the Keystone style not the Phoenix Style.

I suspected that Phoenix column sections could be modified with other forms of iron. Thanks to Nathan for confirming that.

I also should add that someone mentioned the "flat section" on the top chord of the Phoenix columns, this is because regular Phoenix iron columns are actually composed of several sections of partial circles that are riveted together and so it was easy to create other shapes by instead combining these partial sections with other pieces of steel like channel for example. The mill would have sold the sections by the each to anyone who wanted just the sections.

The Caledonia Bridge uses the Keystone-style columns as do the vast majority of Wrought Iron Bridge Company (WIBC) bowstrings. I have never seen a Keystone column style WIBC bowstring with a name brand on it, so I have never been able to prove if they were using genuine Keystone columns however the shape profile of these columns do match Keystone design. As for the few bridges where WIBC used Phoenix Columns in all three such bridges in which I have documented, those bridges used patented Phoenix columns and all have the name Phoenix name rolled into the columns so those are 100% genuine patented Phoenix columns, in addition to the one in Kansas mentioned the following bridges also use the Phoenix sections: http://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=mi... and http://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=oh...

I have not visited this bridge in person but I have visited the Independance Bowstring Bridge in Independence, Kansas. That bridge has Phoenix columns for the main span. In fact, the columns are actually stamped with Phoenix brands. I would not be surprised if these columns are stamped as well.

There was some debate on this website as to whether or not the Phoenix columns on the Independence Bridge were truly Phoenix columns or whether they were a knockoff. Given the stamps, I would call them genuine Phoenix columns even if they do have a flat surface on the top.

Those are a form of Phoenix Columns. They also used a dirivative of Carnegie's Keystone Columns.

Regards,

Art S.

I've been looking through a few Wrought Iron Bridge Co bridges, it's interesting that they use something very similar to Phoenix Columns.

I wonder if they were related companies in any way. I'd have assumed Phoenix Columns were patented.

Wow, what a beauty ! Great find and post Joshua. Would love to see this one restored.