Cleveland's Abandoned Railroad Bascule Bridges
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- Опубликовано: 23 авг 2024
- Cleveland's abandoned railroad bascule bridges number 464 and 463 are considered icons by many people. Some people simply call them "bridges 1 and 2" or "jackknife bridges." They can be seen while driving along the shore-way, in advertisements, and, in the flats. They've always piqued my interest when I've been downtown, and I've always wanted to learn more about their history and why they were abandoned. Come join me as I cover these topics.
Image Sources:
Library of Congress - www.loc.gov/pi...
Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Bowling Green State University - www.bgsu.edu/l...
Cleveland Public Library Photograph Collection
cpl.org/aboutt...
Works Cited:
“Some New Scherzer Bascule Bridges.” Railroad Gazette, vol. 42, no. 11, 1907, p. 372. Google Books, www.google.com/books/edition/Railroad_Gazette/-I1MAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Scherzer+rolling+lift+bridge+at+cleveland+ohio+railroad+gazette&pg=PA372&printsec=frontcover.
“Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge at Cleveland, Ohio.” Railroad Gazette, vol. 44, no. 11, 1908, pp. 380-82. Google Books, www.google.com/books/edition/Railroad_Gazette/nCA2AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=End+view+230+ft.Scherzer+bridge+showing+method+of+construction+without+interference+with+traffic&pg=PA380&printsec=frontcover.
"B&O Won't Wait For New Viaduct Railroad Refuses to Defer Building of Roller." Plain Dealer, 25 June 1908, p. 12. NewsBank: America's News - Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A122AFBBA107AC9E4%40EANX-NB-125F89E3D9743641%402418118-125C244E10F64A88%4011- 13845350F6F79C11%40B%2B%2BO%2BWon%2527t%2BWait%2BFor%2BNew%2BViaduct%2BRailroad%2BRefuses%2Bto%2BDefer%2BBuilding%2Bof%2BRoller. Accessed 5 Feb. 2022.
"Bridge Nearly Finished. Merwin-av Improvement Ready for traffic in Few Days." Plain Dealer, no. 63, 4 Mar. 1911, p. 4. NewsBank: America's News - Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A122AFBBA107AC9E4%40EANX-NB-125DE88643CC4DCC%402419100-125AE1DE47C1A6BC%403- 138E73E6955F352A%40Bridge%2BNearly%2BFinished.%2BMerwin-av%2BImprovement%2BReady%2Bfor%2Btraffic%2Bin%2BFew%2BDays. Accessed 5 Feb. 2022.
"New B.&O. Bridge Finished. Huge 'Jack Knife' Structure Perfect on First Test." Plain Dealer, no. 71, 12 Mar. 1911, p. 6A. NewsBank: America's News - Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A122AFBBA107AC9E4%40EANX-NB-125DE89CEF79AB5E%402419108-125AE1DEEB63DCA3%405- 138E467793594AFB%40New%2BB.%2B%2BO.%2BBridge%2BFinished.%2BHuge%2B%2522Jack%2BKnife%2522%2BStructure%2BPerfect%2Bon%2BFirst%2BTest. Accessed 9 Feb. 2022.
"Wants Change In New Bridge Plans City Engineer Asks That B.&O. Alter Specifications." Plain Dealer, 12 Nov. 1908, p. 12. NewsBank: America's News - Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A122AFBBA107AC9E4%40EANX-NB-125D3B28D3DA7035%402418258-125C244545C6A8C2%4011- 138C3A0D72E2B2AF%40Wants%2BChange%2BIn%2BNew%2BBridge%2BPlans%2BCity%2BEngineer%2BAsks%2BThat%2BB.%2B%2BO.%2BAlter%2BSpecifications. Accessed 5 Feb. 2022.
"Workmen Toy With Death High On Jacknife Bridge." Plain Dealer, no. 34, 3 Feb. 1911, p. 4. NewsBank: America's News - Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A122AFBBA107AC9E4%40EANX-NB-125DEB7020D7A0F9%402419071-125AE1DB82C8475D%403- 138E46E00333E943%40Workmen%2BToy%2BWith%2BDeath%2BHigh%2BOn%2BJacknife%2BBridge. Accessed 5 Feb. 2022.
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A local historian....about time!
Thank you for not forgetting aboit Cleveland. In 1993 my family moved to Cleveland, OH and then re settled to Broadview heights, Shaker Heights, Parma Heights, Solon, and so on as we grounded ourselves in Cleveland ever deeper. By 1994 my aunt had opened her home cleaning services buisnes, and is very successful to this day. In 2005 my dad opened up our own business....a freight transportation company and had been successful and slowly growing since then. Cleveland turned out to be a blessing as a Location in the trucking buisness. Good rates, and plentiful freight to be had. We love Cleveland. I LOVE THE BROWNS...lol. Thank God for that so called...."MISTAKE ON THE LAKE". Inmy families minds, Cleveland is not a mistake but a great hub for jobs, historic places to see, the Beautiful lake, the beautiful downtown (although it does seem to be under construction or road repairs endlessly), and very affordable homes and rent overall in the suburbs and the inner city of Cleveland itself.
GIVE CLEVELAND A CHANCE!!! 😆
Your family made a damned good move. Y’all got in while the getting was very good. Even though the Cleveland of the 90’s was still pretty grimy, slowly but surely the place my own family came to from the coal fields of WV in the late 50’s is on a big ole come up.
There is not another place between NYC and Chicago where you can legitimately live in the city proper without a car. I know multiple friends who use only public transportation, and bike everywhere else.
From the music, to the art, to the food (dear god the food 😂) Cleveland is once again living up to its old motto of “The Best Location In The Nation”
I don’t care what anyone thinks these iconic bridges are more beautiful and existential than the Brooklyn Bridge - which I could care less about thanks for the PhD film on these treasures Buffalos South Side has one right next to her iconic Grain elevators . LOVE IT!!!
Local history is the best history. I appreciate your efforts in all of your videos.
I had a feeling this was old valley railroad stuff but had never had the ability to get myself up there. Thank you for the information, so good to know this bit more about the old CVSR
It’s cool that the 460 is still maintained and operated. Just imagine the bloated budgets and low quality of something built like that today that wouldn’t last half as long.
There is a current railroad bascuile bridge still under operation in the Delray neighborhood of Detroit that crosses the Rouge River, to allow lake freighters to access the Ford Rouge Plant in Dearborn Mi. I love to watch it in action when it stops the trains dead in their tracks, and see the lake freighters silently cruise by.
I'm from Cleveland area, I'm pretty sure I remember hearing back in the 90's that both those bridges are 'frozen' meaning they can't even be lowered anymore. The funny part is there is a twist bridge again in the flats for cars, that's currently closed for repairs. The flats went downhill in the late 90's when everything closed. But since has been started to be rebuilt with new luxury apartments/condos and new restaurants and bars even tho the bars seem to close as fast as they open and something else goes in a few months later.
We even opened the RTA Waterfront Line in 1997 down in the flats from Tower City to Muni Lot which was an extension of the Blue/Green (Shaker Rapid) lines. It has since been closed also about 2 years ago because the curved bridge needs repairs that RTA cannot afford. (Side Note: RTA still uses 40 yr old cars on both heavy & light rail because they can't afford to replace them).
And Whiskey Island just upgraded a lot recently with a new bike bridge connector to the flats and new bike bridges to Edgewater Park also...
I think that you’re referring to the Center Street swing bridge. That is a beautiful piece of industrial engineering. It’s amazing to watch her open. I hope that bridge can continue to be preserved and used.
I think I heard the same thing
Ha, frozen schmozen. Just soak the moving parts in PB Blaster and automatic trans fluid, then apply high voltage to the motor. She'll free right up!
Very impressive presentation! Buffalo also has several bascule bridges as well. I have always been fascinated by lift bridges myself and have an operating model of one on my model railroad. Thank you for sharing your knowledge on these icons.
Providence, Rhode Island also has a bascule bridge. Depending upon the eye of the beholder it's either an eyesore or unbelievably cool.
@@MoonwolfeConsulting Thanks!! I love the way they work. Really impressive in the up position.
I'm born in and lived in the Cleveland area my whole life. Grew up in Old Brooklyn, now I live in one of the westside suburbs and work downtown. I knew those bridges had great history but I never knew exactly what the full history of them was. Thank you for making such an informative video! These bridges are iconic parts of the Cleveland skyline now, I don't think they should be taken down even if they wanted to.
I always loved Cleveland's bridges being lit up at night but never could put names on them. This really helps me unlock a longtime mystery!
Superb images and editing! This video does a great job of comparing how the bridges and the neighborhood looked 100 years ago to the way they look today.
Never been to Cleveland, but I'm from Chicago and there are a bunch of bascule Bridges there. I find these bridges fascinating marvels of engineering, thanks for the video. If I ever get around to Cleveland I'll definitely go visit these.
Welcome to Cleveland ❤️
At 11:32, the eastward looking aerial photo shows the old swing bridge, (#1) nearest the lake, across the Cuyahoga. It also shows the old mail hall where mail trains would arrive, be off-loaded and bags of mail transferred to trucks for delivery throughout the city. That swing bridge was still in operation in 1955, but the new vertical lift bridge was being built. That new bridge is referred to as "Conrail #1." That same photo shows the Lakeview Terrace housing projects, and the kitchen window where I lived is easily seen. It doesn't, however, show the 3 Huletts at the ERIE RxR ore dock, nor the 4 at the Pennsylvania ore dock. I remember walking across the River Road swing vehicle bridge,the NYC swing bridge #1, AND B&O bridge 464 many times. Thanks for the memories. Jon
I am in CT and have not been to Cleveland. However, I found this video to be extremely interesting, comprehensive and well documented.
Thank you!
Fascinating!! Excellent presentation and archive research!! 👍👍
I remember when the line was active. At the north end, near the NYC interchange was a little grade crossing guard house, at ground level. No gates, the watchman had a stop sign on a pole. Sometime in the 1960's, a drunk was crossing bridge 463 when the operator raised it and went home. After hanging on for quite a while, somebody heard him yelling, and eventually the bridge was lowered. South of, but nearly under the ex-CUT Rapid Transit bridge, B&O had a fair sized bridge crane for handling flatcar loads. Trolley had a little doghouse over it to protect it from the weather. Would have been approximately where the Waterfront line turns to enter CUT.
Not on a railroad, but there is a beautifully maintained operating heel trunnion bridge in Ashtabula Harbor. In the summer, it is raised every half hour to let small boats through. It was thoroughly rebuilt a few years ago. It has a light show.
You are providing a valuable service with your videos. The research takes a lot of persistence. Thanks!
And it causes the only traffic jams in “downtown” Ashtabula…
@@foxbodyblues6709 LOL! Sure does!
Pops worked at the Erie Ore Dock, from the early 60's, until mid 70's, when they closed. As a youngster, went down there many times, either with Dad or with Mom and the rest of the family (5 kids) to pick him up from work. Truly consider myself, a child of all this industry.
Really good information. thanks for sharing.
JT: Orlando, FLA
As long is i can remember I've always wanted to know more about these bridges but I've found it hard to find things about them online. Thanks for the video as it gave me so much of the information I wanted to know!
Same here. I'm local to the area and went on the Good Time 3 leisure cruise thru Cleveland as a kid and was always very intrigued by the relics we seen that day.
@@rredeyee2460 WOO HOO!! What 'Meniscus' and 'RredeyeE' SAID!!!
It's nice to know I wasn't the only one curious about their history. Glad I could help!
@@RailroadStreet DUDEZILLA! These types of bridge are in ALL 'rust belt' cities right? Kripes I remember seeing a few in Buffalo too.......
there is so much that can be done with these bridges i hope they will preserve them
Interesting to learn. You see how these railroad bridges help build Cleveland and America to what it is today. Long before concrete highways. Railroads connected every major city in America.
Fun story. When my uncle was a young kid, him and my mom rode their bikes across 464. One day the bridge lifted up just as my uncle was in the middle of crossing it. He held on to the side of the bridge as it went fully up. He held on long enough for the bridge to go back down. My family mentions it almost every time we drive by it.
Our beautiful burning river the Cuyahoga. All jokes aside awesome video. I was there yesterday..
This has been on my mind for years every time I drive through Cleveland. Thanks for clearing that up! I'll have to take a closer look at these next time I'm in the area.
I can't help but agree with you on this, over the years I've always seen them up wondering the same thing, great to hear your interest in the railroad history of my hometown
Interesting, I was visiting Cleveland the day this video came out and was wondering about these specific bridges. Thanks for answering my unasked question!
We are from Michigan but my wife worked in Lorain for several years, we saw Kenny logins at concert in the flats, great show but equally amazing were the lights on the bridges.
RUclips decided I should watch this today. I was not let down. I found this very interesting!
Fascinating! I've only been to Cleveland once, but these bridges definitely left an impression.
During one of my visits to Cleveland, I spent time in the Flats and enjoyed looking at and photographing Bridge 464. I very much appreciate this video to learn about the history of this bridge and the railroad for which it was built. Thank you for producing the video and sharing it.
Ever since I was young, I had wondered what those bridges were for, and if they were even in use anymore. It’s crazy how you spend your life in a city and know next to nothing about it’s history
As a Cleveland Ohio person born ND raised here I've always 🤔 about them all my life 😂 now I know thank you
Beautiful and very functional bridges. Thanks for sharing.
There used be a whole series of these type of bridges in the docks in Birkenhead in England (known at the time as the 4 bridges) and, for a small child, took view them still in operation was an almost magical experience
Congratulations on a video well done ! Just getting through the dialogue was significant !
I was in Cleveland in the early 1990's and saw both those bridges and wondered about them. Interesting to learn that I only missed seeing them in action by a few years.
Another good view is from the Terminal Tower weekend tour, it they still have that....
these bridges make such an impact on skylines all across the country. we have one in providence, ri, that's also stuck up and it's become an iconic landmark (also a "Scherzer rolling lift bridge")
I'm a Railfan from Central California and we have our own history of Drawbridge's intersecting with R.R. History due to the existence of the California Delta.....oh and thank you very much for this video !
I've been to the one next to Shooters. You can't appreciate the size of these things until you're standing next to one. It's great they were left standing but a shame that they're abandoned.
I live here in Cleveland and love these old bridges. Personally, I think the parks should lower these bridges several times a year in honor of those who built them, maintained them and worked the bridges. The mechanics are awesome! And what a joy it would be to see these wonderful icons in actions.
I just saw 460 on my way to the Midwest Railway Preservation Society Saturday, I didn't know any of our jackknife bridges were operational.. that's facinating
BTW under the veterans bridge is the remains of the old Cleveland subway . The trains from the fourties are still down there abandoned
Reminds me of when I lived in Louisville Kentucky. The abandon big four railroad bridge was absolutely stunning as you traveled along the waterfront especially in the fog
Love this area and been there many times, thank you for the history lesson, much appreciated
A huge thank you, love the history and still amazed by the accomplishments of the era.
Thank you for your channel. I’ve binge watched most of your videos, mainly because I’ve had some of the same questions that you had about some of the remnants of Clevelands industrial past. I’ve learned a lot and hope that you continue to produce more great content. Thank you!!
Very nicely done as usual, I really love these historical videos, they're so informative and entertaining, I don't live in Ohio but absolutely love industrial history and Cleveland has some fascinating history, thank you, your videos are excellent!!
If you get time you should do a video of the abandoned subway underneath the Detroit-superior bridge, I’ve always wanted to know the history😁
I've toured it several times over the years, though didn't take any video! It's definitely on my list of videos to make; hopefully they will re-open tours again this year.
I would see these railroad bridges all the time when I lived in Cleveland. I always wondered what they were there for.
Neat video!
very cool - thanks for the vid. Love these old bridges. We have two old bascule bridges out here in Seattle, one smaller one over the Duwamish waterway and then a huge double track bridge that Great Northern built and still carries the main north/south line north of downtown.
I wish they would paint these. Even if just brown, to maintain them. And light them at night, blue, or whatever. And the one at the end of old Detroit should be turned into a small museum. With facts like this video and an explanation of what the life of the workers was like. Doesn't have to be fancy, just safe. Keep it rustic.
All the lift bridges should be painted and lit. Like the ones in Pittsburgh. But different colors
Edit: the two story shanty would be the museum
Very well presented. Rich with information. Nicely done.
Great video I Always wondered why and when they were abandoned
Enjoy your videos. Worked for Erie Lackawanna and Conrail in the past. Like the railroad histories and other topics too. Keep up the fine work.
Awesome report! Thank you! I'm a Canadian that likes to travel to the USA, this will be one of my stops to visit for sure.
Interesting, we have one that has been abandoned and frozen in place in Providence RI since 1980. You can see it from I-195. Goes to an abandoned tunnel to downtown. They have been finally talking about demolition. Kids climb it all the time (not recommended), some videos on RUclips about it.
Don't forget the night it caught fire! Will it ever become the proposed "art installation " or simply be left to rot away then crash into the river?
As a Clevelander myself thanks for the history lesson haha
Great video!!! Thanks for taking the time and effort to shoot, edit and post this video.😀
Excellent work, I have always studied these bridges and have several videos on them myself. Can you possibly do a video on the New York Central DB two, the one next to Carter Road?
I grew up on the Canadian side of Lake Erie but visited family often in the Cleveland area. Never knew what these things were, cheers.
Great review so much history
My Grandfather and Uncle worked on Whiskey Island for Pennsylvania Railroad later Conrail then CSX. These Bridges were our playgrounds. We climbed most of them. There is an episode of the TV drama Route 66 that features The Iron Curtain bridge at the mouth of the Cuyahoga.
very nice documentary
Very interesting, I am now looking at RR bridges differently!
There may be a hundred or more bascule bridges in the US. There are dozens in the Chicago area and even one in my town that spans the intracoastal waterway. Ours is actually a double bascule two-lane span for road traffic..
Good job on this video. Very interesting!
I love bridges, great video!
Very nice video and great information. I will tell guest on cruises the bridges history when we pass under them.
Your videos very well done! I would love to learn how to produce similar video/stories pertaining to Rochester, NY.
Great job once again
Who would have thought those two bridges were the same line? Riveting
@@gronmic the Erie Lackawanna railroad operated one of these bridges or one just like it over the river it was set on fire by vandals and was put in up position for good
I love local history
I could never find anything about when these closed. You should do one on the tinkers creek rail bridges.
7:37 - We just gonna ignore the nut hanging off the bridge?
Lol 😆
That's not a Nut, that's an Ironworker. Technically the same thing but a different job classification.
ive always wondered about these bridges. very neat
I used to go down Scranton and cross the river on the routinely as a kid. My Dad worked for Ferry Cap, I went to Scranton School and my Mon worked at Central National Bank. Traveling north, there was a lift bridge (scary for a kid) across the river. (Maybe Abbey road bridge?) I remember the fire boat station on the left as I crossed the bridge on the way to down town.
There was one in CT on the Quinnipiac/ I95 River crossing used by Amtrack. Oh, and Connrail.
Well done my friend. 👉👊. Southside native here.
I've seen abandoned lift bridges in Chicago, Port Huron MI and now Cleveland......and probably several other places. But they are such big imposing structures. I'm surprised they'd leave something like that in the lifted position.
I want the invite next time loved the video and others great history
Saw many concerts at Nautica Stage when it was all outside and remember being fascinated by that old bridge standing over my shoulders... Anyone else ?
RIP railroad bridge you will be missed
awesome video! Thanks for making it!
Great vid. Like to see more technical and state of preservation details though.
Hasn't been blasted and painted in decades. That's a structure you don't want to get under. Be fun to climb. It's days are numbered... rust never sleeps.
Wow very cool we have a few bridges like this in Detroit I do not know the history on them Great video brother thank you for sharing
Seattle's Salmon Bay Bridge is a Bascule that still in use by BNSF Railway.
I'd like to see you take a dive deep into the Railroad history of Chillicothe OH, from photos i've seen it used to be a pretty decent sized area with a grain elevator, passenger station, freight yard, and a roundhouse, but that's not also taking into account the papermill that was nearby, today only one line runs through it and the only remaining bits of it are the roundhouse and the passenger platform, in 2011 Union Station caught fire and was then demolished sadly, I was born and raised in Chillicothe and always wondered about the history of its railroad traffic, hope your inspired by this!
Sounds like an interesting topic to dig into. I will add it to my list of future topics to cover. Thanks for the suggestion!
Thanks for sharing!! I was able to go to Google maps and do a walk around of all the areas you talked about... Google sure has made it nice for people like myself that don't have the time to actually travel to places like this..
Nice work Mr
Excellent video. Thanks for the info and outstanding research.
Detailed and interesting
Great video thanks
I studied drawbridges of all types since 2000 22 years ago and drawn them across the US and Canada.
One of my friends posted a video of them on the cleaveland waterfront, and i immediately got fascinated by these bridges.. and then confused about why so many of these jackknife bridges along the great lakes are all abandoned.
Many dont even connect to railroads anymore. But i guess they arent bothering anyone if they just stay there to rot?
Years back, was it one of these bridges involved in a train accident? The train, for whatever reason ran into the counter weight.
There was, but it was actually Penn Central's drawbridge near the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. (It's still in operation under Norfolk Southern). This happened on May 8, 1974. The bridge operator had advised an approaching freight train the route was cleared to the drawbridge. For some reason he forgot a boat had been waiting for passage, so he opened the bridge without telling the approaching train crew. The train crew ignored the red signals for the drawbridge because they were under the impression they had permission to cross and telescoped into the counterweight.
@@RailroadStreet I recall the frame sticking out from under the counter weight. No place to hide on that one.
I just climbed the right half last night but Norfolk came out and ended that real fast . I had no clue they actually own that still
Tampa has a single track bridge like this right its downtown area, plus a street running track that gets used daily.
Great info. Keep it up
Excellent video.
This is really neat
Port Huron Michigan has an abandoned Pere Marquette/Chessie System/CSX bascule bridge at the mouth of the Black River on the St. Clair River. it is one of only 6 remaining in the US, built by the American Bridge Company designed by Hugo Abt. it has been abandoned for decades and the little 1/4 acre site up for sale. the Port Huron Yacht Club bought the property in 2010 and tried to tear it down so they could dig another small harbor for more boat slips. the Friends of the Pere Marquette Bridge group appealed to the state historical society/agency about saving it and the Army Corp of Engineers debated on it for 10 years. the yacht club said it could be bought for $1 but then gave a ridiculously short 30 days to have it dismantled and moved.
an engineering firm did a complete inspection of it and found that other than surface rust, it is in no danger of coming down on its own accord in the near or even far future. it had some recommendation for it but declared it safe. the yacht club still wants it down. the powers that be sold the club a bill of sale saying it could be removed relatively easily and cheaply. the concrete pier, sitting in the Black River will NOT come out peacefully. it is an iconic structure in the city and many boaters use as an informal navigational aid coming in from the St. Clair River and Lake Huron...
facebook.com/PHBlackRiverBridge/
Swing bridges are not all gone…yet. Two cross the Cumberland River at Nashville, Tennessee. One, which carries the CSX, is normally closed as trains are frequent. Little river traffic requires it to be opened. The other is on the former Tennessee Central Railway, now the Nashville & Western Railroad. It is normally open, closed only when a train needs to cross the river.
My rowing team is moving into that old factory right next to bridge 460
There is a second bascule bridge still in operation not mentioned in this video. The bridge is just south of the one mentioned and is alongside Independance Rd. at the Cliffs. CWRO uses the bridge for the Cliff's operations. I can only assume that this bridge is still under the authority of the Corps of engineers. Be mindful of private property if anyone chooses to do further research on this bridge.