About New River Railroad Bridge
History
The construction of the Cincinnati Southern was spurred by a shift of shipping preferences along the Ohio River, which at the time was the preferred mode of freight transport in Cincinnati. To remain competitive, the city formulated plans to develop its own railroad to Knoxville, Tennessee in 1835. 2 The first contract for construction was awarded in December 1873. 3
An iron modified Fink deck truss 930-feet in length was constructed by T.F. Pyott of Chattanooga over the New River near Oneida, Tennessee in 1879. 1 It included an iron trestle of 730 feet, a main span of 200 feet, and four masonry piers. A construction camp was located in what is now the community of New River. The completion of the bridge and Tunnel No. 15 to the south finished the Cincinnati Southern between Cincinnati and Chattanooga. 4 5b
On September 7, 1881, the Cincinnati Southern was leased to Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific Railroad (CNO&TP) for 25 years. 1 2
The CNO&TP bypassed the bridge and Tunnel No. 15 as part of the fourth phase of a modernization project that began in 1961 to eliminate the last of the small-bore tunnels along the railway. 5a 2b 6a At 12:05 a.m. on July 10, 1963, the new New River bridge was opened to traffic. 5a With a length of 1,618 feet and a height of 307 feet, it required four million tons of steel and 15,000 cubic yards of concrete to construct.
The trackage and approach to the New River crossing were removed but the center span was kept in place.
Structure
Dimensions & Classification
| Structural Form | Deck Truss — Fink |
|---|---|
| Total Length | 930 feet (1879); 1,618 feet (1963) |
| Main Span | 200 feet (1879) |
| Total Height of Structure | 307 feet (1963) |
Photographs
History
The construction of the Cincinnati Southern was spurred by a shift of shipping preferences along the Ohio River, which at the time was the preferred mode of freight transport in Cincinnati. To remain competitive, the city formulated plans to develop its own railroad to Knoxville, Tennessee in 1835. 2 The first contract for construction was awarded in December 1873. 3
An iron modified Fink deck truss 930-feet in length was constructed by T.F. Pyott of Chattanooga over the New River near Oneida, Tennessee in 1879. 1 It included an iron trestle of 730 feet, a main span of 200 feet, and four masonry piers. A construction camp was located in what is now the community of New River. The completion of the bridge and Tunnel No. 15 to the south finished the Cincinnati Southern between Cincinnati and Chattanooga. 4 5b
On September 7, 1881, the Cincinnati Southern was leased to Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific Railroad (CNO&TP) for 25 years. 1 2
The CNO&TP bypassed the bridge and Tunnel No. 15 as part of the fourth phase of a modernization project that began in 1961 to eliminate the last of the small-bore tunnels along the railway. 5a 2b 6a At 12:05 a.m. on July 10, 1963, the new New River bridge was opened to traffic. 5a With a length of 1,618 feet and a height of 307 feet, it required four million tons of steel and 15,000 cubic yards of concrete to construct.
The trackage and approach to the New River crossing were removed but the center span was kept in place.
Gallery
Suggest a Correction
Spotted an error — a date, name, or fact? Send a correction and I'll review it.
Sources & Citations
References for this location, in MLA format.
Show all 9 sources
- Tipton, Rick. The PRR in Cincinnati. Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society, 2004, pp. 3-103.
- “The Birth of an Idea.” 14 Dec. 2014. Accessed 14 Dec. 2014.
- “Historical Timeline.” 14 Dec. 2014. Accessed 14 Dec. 2014.
- Storey, G. “The Railroads in Scott County.” 22 Apr. 2010. Accessed 22 Apr. 2010.
- “August 1963 Ties.” August 1963.
- “Helenwood to Robbins, Tenn.”
- “90 Years to Daylight.”
- “December 1961 Ties.” December 1961.
- “Breaking Through the Tunnel Barrier on the CNO&TP.”
Comments