Re: from Flimsies below..

I don't understand why this bridge supposedly "can't just be taken down, because it's cast iron". Wasn't it put up piece by piece, probably with simple equipment? I can see that some of the pieces probably are fragile, but can't figure out why taking it apart is such a big deal, nor why it should cost $80,000 to take it down and set it aside for further possible use..

http://www.tribune-democrat.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=7395773&BRD=2332&PAG=461&dept_id=484742&rfi=6
ryarger@rypn.org

> Re: from Flimsies below..

> I don't understand why this bridge
> supposedly "can't just be taken down,
> because it's cast iron". Wasn't it put
> up piece by piece, probably with simple
> equipment? I can see that some of the pieces
> probably are fragile, but can't figure out
> why taking it apart is such a big deal, nor
> why it should cost $80,000 to take it down
> and set it aside for further possible use..

I'm incompetent to comment on the practicalities of dismanting this bridge, but one thing should be made clear: This is NOT one of the unique Bollman-designed truss bridges, as the article says. The only true surviving Bollman truss is at Savage, MD, and is being preserved by Howard County. The bridge at Meyersdale was built by Bollman's bridge works, but, as I recall, is an ordinary Pratt truss or something similar. (I'd have to check my photos to be sure, and they're not handy.) After Bollman left the B&O he set up his own bridge-building company, and built various kinds of truss designs.

herbhar@yahoo.com