Wood Trestle Still In Use

[glakedylan]

http://trainfanatics.com/1908-railroad-trestle-still-gets-job-done/

enjoy!

[oakcreekco]

Well, not still in use, but still standing strong on an old CB&Q branch that's been very "long gone".

[oakcreekco]

A different perspective:

[oakcreekco]

http://trainfanatics.com/1908-railroad-trestle-still-gets-job-done/

enjoy!

Thanks for sharing this. That's got to be a little nerve racking few the crew crossing that one!

[nkalanaga]

They're not as big as this one, but there are other timber trestles still in use in the Northwest.  Quite a few lines still have the small, low ones over creeks, and there are a few larger ones.  Timber is readily available, and some of the western varieties are relatively rot resistant, so they last a long time, and are easily repaired.

[wazzou]

There are timber trestles in use all over the United States.  Wherever sufficient Southern Yellow Pine or Doug-Fir is available, you'll find wood trestles in constant use.
This one is about 50 mile south of me and sees daily use.  The track in the foreground is the shared double track mainline of the BNSF/UP between Portland, OR and Seattle, WA.

[cv_acr]

Nice. That's a nice big trestle in the original link.

This is one of a pair of 400-450' trestles across minor bays of a lake on the former Algoma Central. These wooden bridges still see active passenger service as well, this shot was taken out the back of the rear coach.



A third bridge, over 1100' long, was finally replaced by a steel-pile bridge in the late 1990s.

And as mentioned, there's still plenty of examples of small wood trestles out there in service.

[nkalanaga]

Wood trestles last a long time, as long as they're not overloaded or burned, partly because they're so easy to repair.  If a piece starts to rot, just pull  it off and replace it.  Even a rotted piling can be replaced, although today it would often be replaced with a concrete footer and a post.  Much easier to repair than a steel bridge, and less expensive than concrete or stone.

[eric220]

Hayward, CA



Definitely on the "short" side, but on a very active mainline, both freight and passenger.

[Catt]

Saranac,Michigan.This is a ballasted deck bridge.In late spring and all summer if you did not know it was there you could walk across it and not even realize you were on a trestle because of the under growth brush.There is a small creek that flows through under the trestle.

[Philip H]

aside from a ton of bayous with them still, we send trains into New ORleans on long low ones:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C46871%5CIC%206101-2000%2002%2006%20Bonnet%20Carre%20LA.jpg

[wazzou]

Yeah, well feast your eyes on this one.  Long and high. 
BNSF, nee BN, nee Northern Pacific trestle in civilized area only moments from Bellevue and Seattle, WA.

https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6025902,-122.1899459,655a,20y,90h,41.55t/data=!3m1!1e3

Be sure to look at some other photos of the Wilburton Trestle, possibly in the explore bar below the aerial.

[nkalanaga]

Didn't either Mainline Modeler or the original N Scale have an article on Wilburton Trestle years ago?

[Catt]

Didn't either Mainline Modeler or the original N Scale have an article on Wilburton Trestle years ago?

Yes