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Key Facts |
Bridge Name | Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
| London North Branch Railroad Bridge | Truss | Railroad | Middlesex County, Ontario | London | North Branch Thames River and Oxford Street |
There is something for every bridge enthusiast here! Three spans of breathtaking Pratt through truss bridges carry the railroad over the North Branch Thames River, and have lattice and v-lacing on select members. A Baltimore through truss carries the railroad over Oxford Street, and may lack decorative v-lacing and lattice but has a heavy skew which makes the bridge very interesting, and fun to photograph. The overpass and the river crossing are connected by a couple deck plate girder spans, which are supported by truss-like supports. The wide variety of span design and type reminded me of the large multi-span plate girder back in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
I am unsure why the overpass is so different from the river crossing on this bridge. They may have different construction dates, but both are old, as they are riveted, and somewhat rusty. I would guess that the Baltimore truss overpass is probably newer, if they were built at different times. The bridge carries a single railroad track, but is still fairly wide, as there is a sidewalk of sorts on each side. Little outlook-like spots along the bridge appear to have been installed in case some railroad worker gets caught on the bridge when a train is coming. The bridge sits on concrete abutments and piers, with the exception of the plate girders, whose middle support is steel truss. The three span Pratt through that goes over the Thames River, has v-lacing on a few of the diagonal members, and lattice on the bracing. Large lattice forms a portal bracing. The Baltimore through truss is single span, and has no v-lacing or lattice anywhere. It makes up for its plain appearance with its unusual Baltimore configuration, as well as its heavy skew. From beside the bridge, it looks like it is tipping over. From on the road below, the bridge has the appearance of being two-dimensional. These are the illusions that are associated with through truss skews, which are hard to find these days.
This track continues to be in use, and I was lucky enough to photograph one as it crossed the bridge.
