Blackledge River Railroad Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Blackledge River Railroad Bridge
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 Blackledge River RR Bridge
Location in Connecticut
Blackledge River RR Bridge
Location in the United States
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| Location | Former Air Line RR right-of-way and the Blackledge River, Colchester, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1907 |
| NRHP reference No. | 86002109 |
| Added to NRHP | July 31, 1986 |
The Blackledge River Railroad Bridge is a historic Warren truss bridge located in Colchester, Connecticut. It was built around 1907-1912 on the spot of an even older railroad bridge from the 1870s. This bridge was an important part of the railway line that connected Colchester, Connecticut, to Amston, Connecticut.
The bridge was once used by trains, but it was abandoned in the 1960s. Today, it's a popular spot for walkers and bikers as part of the Air Line State Park Trail. A wooden path was built on top of the old railroad bridge, making it safe for people to cross the Blackledge River. The bridge is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
A Bridge Through Time
The story of the Blackledge River Railroad Bridge actually starts with an earlier bridge. The first bridge was built in the early 1870s by the New York and Boston Air Line Railroad. This railway line was quite important for connecting towns in Connecticut.
Later, a company called the Colchester Railway Company finished a 3.59 mile (about 5.78 km) track from Colchester to Amston. This line opened on August 3, 1877. The railway line was then leased to bigger companies, like the Boston & New York Air Line Railroad.
Around 1879, there were plans to improve the bridge over the Blackledge River. By 1881, a new iron bridge, about 110 feet (33.5 meters) long, was put in place. In 1882, the line was leased to the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, a very powerful railway company at the time.
Building a Stronger Bridge
The current Blackledge River Railroad Bridge was built around 1912. The railway company wanted a stronger bridge that could handle more weight and was higher above the river to prevent flooding.
This new bridge is a "riveted steel, double-intersection Warren deck truss" bridge. This means it's made of strong steel pieces connected with rivets, and it uses a special criss-cross pattern of triangles to make it very sturdy. It's about 108 feet (32.9 meters) long and 18 feet (5.5 meters) deep.
The engineers were smart! They used the original stone supports (called abutments) from the old bridge and built the new bridge on top of them. The bottom of the new bridge is about 32 feet (9.8 meters) above the Blackledge River.
From Trains to Trails
The railway line and the bridge continued to be used for many years, carrying both passengers and goods. However, a big flood in August 1955 damaged other parts of the railway line, which eventually led to the closure of this section in the 1960s.
After the railway was no longer used, the bridge was sold to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. By 1983, the tracks were removed, and the bridge was no longer for trains.
Today, the bridge is a key part of the Air Line State Park Trail, a popular path for walking, running, and biking. A wooden pathway was built on top of the old railroad bridge, allowing people to safely cross the Blackledge River. This new wooden path was completed before 2007. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection worked with groups like the Coast Guard Academy and the Connecticut National Guard to make this possible.
A Historic Landmark
The Blackledge River Railroad Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 31, 1986. This means it's recognized as an important part of American history and engineering.
It's considered important for two main reasons:
- It played a role in the major improvements made to railway lines by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.
- It's a great example of a typical medium-sized railroad bridge from the early 1900s.
Images for kids
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The disused bridge around 1983
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Air Line Trail deck on the bridge
