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"Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
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Author:  Randolph R. Ruiz [ Sun Apr 05, 2015 4:12 pm ]
Post subject:  "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
The Northwestern Pacific's Haystack bridge in Petaluma, CA is available for free to qualified non-profits. The bridge is being replaced with a bascule structure relocated from Galveston, TX for the new SMART commuter operation. The swing bridge is National Register-eligible, so the transit agency is trying to see that another entity preserves it.

Needless to say, costs of relocating and reconstructing the bridge are up to whomever takes it.

http://www2.sonomamarintrain.org/
http://www2.sonomamarintrain.org/userfiles/Haystack_Bridge_NOA.pdf

Attachment:
File comment: Bridge in 1908
haystack.jpg
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Author:  Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Sun Apr 05, 2015 5:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
More info:

http://bridgehunter.com/ca/sonoma/petaluma-railroad/


Image
Author:  Dougvv [ Mon Apr 06, 2015 3:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
Hi,

First Funny, change the round pilings and you could turn a short train on it.

Next, how long is the bridge?

Thanks.

Doug vV
Author:  Randolph R. Ruiz [ Mon Apr 06, 2015 3:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
One hundred eighty feet (10110100 feet in binary).
Author:  Dougvv [ Mon Apr 06, 2015 9:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
Sure wish I could do something - I need to cross a creek and flood plain for a distance of about 150' here in Georgia.

Doug vV
Author:  CREEPING DEATH [ Mon Apr 06, 2015 1:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
Randolph R. Ruiz wrote:
The bridge is being replaced with a bascule structure relocated from Galveston, TX for the new SMART commuter operation.

I'm glad the not-old bridge (replaced in the 1990s I believe) from Galveston is finding a new home!

CD
Author:  JimBoylan [ Mon Apr 06, 2015 5:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
Does this mean that Galveston, Tex., including its railroad museum, is to be physically isolated from the rest of the National Network?
Author:  Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
Not from the looks of this:

http://www.cianbro.com/ProjectsMarkets/ ... ridge.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galveston_Causeway
Author:  CREEPING DEATH [ Mon Apr 06, 2015 10:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
JimBoylan wrote:
Does this mean that Galveston, Tex., including its railroad museum, is to be physically isolated from the rest of the National Network?


Not at all. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway goes through the Galveston Causeway. The original bridge - hinged from the mainland side - was large enough and served for many decades. Then, the Coast Guard (or some other authority) decided it wasn't big enough, and the opening was widened and a new span (hinged from the island side) was installed around 1990.
Several years ago, the operating authority decided that recent bridge wasn't big enough, and ordered a much larger replacement installed. This is why the existing bridge is headed to California, it's still very young in lifespan with many years of service left.
Thankfully, BNSF (who owns the bridge from ancestor GC&SF) decided it's economically viable to replace the bridge - although there was likely some (highly justified) governmental assistance involved.
ETA: It'd be nice if UP picked up the 'free' bridge to replace the burned ex-SP (GH&SA) bridge over Clear Lake that has been gone 20 years or so!

CD
Author:  Txhighballer [ Mon Apr 06, 2015 10:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
CREEPING DEATH wrote:
JimBoylan wrote:
Does this mean that Galveston, Tex., including its railroad museum, is to be physically isolated from the rest of the National Network?


Not at all. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway goes through the Galveston Causeway. The original bridge - hinged from the mainland side - was large enough and served for many decades. Then, the Coast Guard (or some other authority) decided it wasn't big enough, and the opening was widened and a new span (hinged from the island side) was installed around 1990.
Several years ago, the operating authority decided that recent bridge wasn't big enough, and ordered a much larger replacement installed. This is why the existing bridge is headed to California, it's still very young in lifespan with many years of service left.
Thankfully, BNSF (who owns the bridge from ancestor GC&SF) decided it's economically viable to replace the bridge - although there was likely some (highly justified) governmental assistance involved.
ETA: It'd be nice if UP picked up the 'free' bridge to replace the burned ex-SP (GH&SA) bridge over Clear Lake that has been gone 20 years or so!

CD


I believe the Corps Of Engineers paid for the new structure after deciding the old, "new" bridge wasn't big enough. There were rumblings the UP was going to buy the old bridge to use on the Clear Creek Channel, which would essentially give them two main lines to Galveston.
Author:  Dougvv [ Tue Apr 07, 2015 12:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
Hi,

My second job after college was at Clear Lake City. I worked at Johnson Space Center. Only for a year - Dad died and had to help out Mom.

But 1982/3 was an exciting time in Mission Control. Now I'll be 60 this November. Gad Thanks for reminding me about a year in my life with Galveston and Clear Lake and NASA and everything else.

Doug vV
Author:  ArtS [ Tue Apr 07, 2015 11:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
All,

It appears to not be pin connected, although it's early enough to be.


Doug,

You could probably disasemble the bridge, ship it to your property and reassemble it for $100k or so - not counting abutments, decking and the spin mechanism. Actually, not a bad price for a 180' span, especially considering it looks like it's in very good shape!

Regards,

Art S.
Author:  Randolph R. Ruiz [ Wed Apr 08, 2015 4:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
ArtS wrote:
It appears to not be pin connected, although it's early enough to be.

Yeah, I think I overstated that pin-connected thing. It looks to me like the top chord tension bars are pin-connected, but the rest of the joints are riveted and/or bolted, making this more of hybrid.

I hope it is clear to anyone interested that the bridge cannot span 180'. It needs a center support where the pivot is. This means the maximum span is probably closer to 80'.
Author:  Al Stangenberger [ Wed Apr 08, 2015 10:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
Randolph R. Ruiz wrote:
ArtS wrote:
It appears to not be pin connected, although it's early enough to be.

Yeah, I think I overstated that pin-connected thing. It looks to me like the top chord tension bars are pin-connected, but the rest of the joints are riveted and/or bolted, making this more of hybrid.

I hope it is clear to anyone interested that the bridge cannot span 180'. It needs a center support where the pivot is. This means the maximum span is probably closer to 80'.

The second URL in the original post confirms this - it is two 90-foot trusses tied together at the top with eyebars. I'm not sure how the bottoms are connected.
Author:  Dougvv [ Wed Apr 08, 2015 7:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: "Free" 1903 Pin-connected 180' Swing Bridge
Hi,

$100,000 for a bridge is out of my range. I'll probably just use an old flat car and drive through instead of over the flood plain.

Doug vV
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