Sunday, August 16, 2015

Clackamas River Bridges: Former Railroad Bridges

…Continued from 82nd Drive/South Washington Street/Park Place Bridge.

IMG_2469 Old Railroad Bridge Piers at High Rocks City Park in Gladstone, Oregon on February 20, 2010
Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

Next are an abandoned pair of tall concrete bridge piers at a popular (and dangerous) swimming area called High Rocks.

IMG_2466 Old Railroad Bridge Piers at High Rocks City Park in Gladstone, Oregon on February 20, 2010
Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

These piers originally carried a Southern Pacific Railroad covered bridge.

IMG_2458 Old Railroad Bridge Piers at High Rocks City Park in Gladstone, Oregon on February 20, 2010
Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

Later, the covered bridge was replaced by a two-span parallel chord through truss bridge.

IMG_2460 Old Railroad Bridge Piers at High Rocks City Park in Gladstone, Oregon on February 20, 2010
Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

This bridge was replaced by the current railroad bridge just upstream as part of a realignment of the railroad that occurred in the late 1950s.

IMG_2463 Old Railroad Bridge Pier at High Rocks City Park in Gladstone, Oregon on February 20, 2010
Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

The railroad was moved in preparation for the construction of Interstate 205, which started here in the early 1960s.

IMG_2449 Old Railroad Bridge Piers at High Rocks City Park in Gladstone, Oregon on February 20, 2010
Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

Just upstream and still at High Rocks are the remains of the first railroad bridge across the Clackamas River, which was completed here in 1869.

IMG_2453 Old Railroad Bridge Pier at High Rocks City Park in Gladstone, Oregon on February 20, 2010
Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

The original bridge washed out within a year and was rebuilt on these same piers.

IMG_2451 Old Railroad Bridge Pier at High Rocks City Park in Gladstone, Oregon on February 20, 2010
Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

Continue to Interstate 205 Bridges

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