I removed this detail photo from the contest thread. I thought it was interesting that they used a cut-out to display the build date on every part of the span. There are at least dozen of these "1912"s on the bridge. UP bridge over the Salt River, Tempe, AZ.
Sunset Route, Second Bridge Second Bridge. This one is hidden right next to Rittiman Road. I moved as close to it as I could. The sun in this picture is on the other side of the tracks, but that area was inaccessible (in tennis shoes). For a model, this would be a really nice bridge area with low water and grass. Once again, this is wet because of the recent rains. Sometimes it is hard to believe this is the main UP line across the southern USA as the bridge is certainly not new. This is a single track, ballasted, wooden deck bridge.
Sunset Route, Third Bridge Third bridge. This single track, ballasted, wooden deck bridge is one of my favorites. Like five of the seven bridges, I had forgotten it was even there. I took this picture standing on the concrete road bridge parallel to the track. I even blocked highway traffic for a moment to get the picture. You can get an idea of how close the track is to the road. There was a cat under the bridge here, too.
Swing bridge over the Columbia River, looking from the Vancouver, WA side. Notice the derails just ahead- even if a train ignores the signals, they'll be on the ground before they get too far on the bridge.
Sunset Route, Fourth Bridge Fourth bridge. Unballasted, wooden deck bridge. Actually, it is my favorite as I think it would be a most useful model and can be used many places on the layout. There are no closely spaced "bridge ties" and it is made from wood. The track is simply supported with wooden beams. The depth here below the track is about 4-5 feet. I had to traverse about 20 feet of thicket to get this photograph as this bridge was not visible from the highway. I located this bridge because of the highway culvert in a similar location. This is the first picture of the bridge I took before I moved closer.
I like that photo, FB. Interesting two structures crossing like that. I've been there, but not that close!
Sunset Route, Fifth Bridge Fifth Bridge. Ballasted, wooden deck bridge. This is where Gibbs Sprawl Road crosses back under the Sunset Route. This bridge has been rebuilt, too. You can see the dual pilings next to each other where the bridge has been reinforced. I am now back on the side of the track so the sun is behind me. This is also a low water crossing and an 11'-8" height restriction. The creek is to the left of the underpass. Sure is a blue sky, too!
Sunset Route, Sixth Bridge Sixth Bridge. Deck, unballasted, wooden trestle. This is the longest trestle of the seven and it is not visible from the road. A small turnoff goes under the east end. You have to imagine these two pictures combined to get the idea of the full length. The water here was significant; the highway bridge was concrete.
Seventh, And Last, Bridge Seventh Bridge. Concrete deck bridge. It might not even be noticeable except for the water there at the time. These two UP engines pulling a solid rock train with green MOW hoppers were the only picture I took for the whole day with motive power. This could also be a simple bridge for a model railroad; it doesn't even have a mid-span support. Notice the simple railing along the sides. There was one section along this track that had a berm about 40 feet high and one thousand feet long. I don't know why there was no bridge there; I expected to see one. So, that is what I did last Sunday morning to get some pictures for the bridge contest. I certainly did enjoy myself and I recommend looking around a little for some good photos in your area.
I was in the old Lone Star/Pioneer Gravel pit today cashing trains and took some shots of the BNSF Draw Bridge so that I could participate in this thread. I hope you all enjoy my pics. I just bought a new Digital SLR Cam and am really liking it! 1. UP eastbound rolls off the bridge slowly on main one. Soon this UP train will pass an Amtrak westbound that is waiting for the UP to clear, allowing the Amtrak to cross over to main one. 2. A close up view of the BNSF Draw Bridge at Steilacoom. 3. Pulled back view of the BNSF Draw Bridge at Steilacoom. 4. I was hoping to have a train at sunset but this westbound BNSF came a little too late. I think the photo came out okay. However, I was hoping for a better sunset photo with the train. ah well you can control everything with your camera!
Helping another trainboard member BNSF7173 is busy moving so I thought I would help him post. :angel: Giving credit where credit is do http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/124 BNSF7173 photo^^ I pass under this bridge every day going to and from work both me and Jim have been trying to catch a train on the bridge. With this being a main line on the BNSF you wouldn't think it would be that hard.:sad: They come from the east through trees with no crossing to blow a whistle to tell you there almost here. You have to have a train moving slow going on to the siding 1/2mile down track to catch them moving slow enough to photograph on the bridge. Mrtrain's photo^^ He was moving kind of slow but I tried to race him to town I was to slow to get up close. Maybe next time I can make Jim proud.
Back road railfaning I was back roading and found this bridge. Yes that is a wood deck and side railings and the road is still a public use road. This is along a siding called Burk between Chadwick and Savanna IL over the BNSF main.
Savanna IL The over head bridge is a walking bridge over the ICE along side the BNSF. This bridge is suppose to be the longest foot bridge in Illinois.
My wife said that they could not print money fast enough for her to go across this bridge. I would have to think long and hard before crossing it.
On the left is the old Southern Pacific swing bridge at Clear Creek between Kemah and Seabrook, Texas. The photo is from around 1970. This SP line along Texas Highway 146 has been abandoned for many years now and the bridge is long gone.
