Niagara rail bridgeIn 1883, the international cantilever railway bridge at Niagara Falls was opened with a ceremony before a gathered crowd estimated at more than 10,000 persons. Atop each of two steel towers, two cantilever arms were built, one reaching the shore while the other reached over the gorge, then an ordinary truss bridged the gap between the cantilevers. The bridge span was 495-ft, carrying a double track railway 240-ft above the Niagara River, with weight capacity for two trains. Construction took from 15 Apr 1883 to 1 Dec 1883. This Michigan Central Railway Bridge remained in operation for more than 40 years until replaced by the present stronger steel arch bridge to carry heavier modern trains.« |
