Goffstown Covered Railroad Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Goffstown Covered Railroad Bridge
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The abutments to the former railroad bridge are visible in the foreground; the NH 114 bridge is behind them.
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Next to NH 114 (Main St.) over Piscataquog River, Goffstown, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1901 |
| Built by | Boston & Maine Railroad |
| Architectural style | Town-Pratt truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000125 |
| Added to NRHP | June 18, 1975 |
The Goffstown Covered Railroad Bridge was a special kind of covered bridge for trains in Goffstown, New Hampshire. It was built in 1901 by the Boston and Maine Railroad. This bridge helped trains cross the Piscataquog River right in the middle of Goffstown.
Before this bridge, an older one stood there since 1850. The Goffstown Covered Railroad Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Sadly, it was destroyed by a fire that was set on purpose in 1976.
Contents
What the Bridge Looked Like and Its Story
The Goffstown Covered Railroad Bridge was located in the center of Goffstown village. It was just east of the bridge that carries New Hampshire Route 114 (Main Street) over the Piscataquog River. The bridge sat on strong granite foundations called abutments, which you can still see today.
Bridge Design and Size
This bridge was a single span, meaning it crossed the river in one big leap. It was about 117 feet (36 m) long over the water. The total length of the structure was about 129 feet (39 m).
The bridge used a special design called a "truss" to make it strong. It combined two types of trusses: the Town lattice and the Pratt truss. It also had a curved, laminated arch built into it for extra support. Some parts of the trusses had iron rods with turnbuckles to make them even stronger.
Inside, the bridge had plenty of room for trains. It was about 15 feet (4.6 m) wide and 21 feet (6.4 m) tall. The train tracks rested on a strong platform of timbers. These timbers were securely attached to the bridge's truss system.
Building and Use of the Bridge
The very first bridge at this spot was built around 1850. It was built by the New Hampshire Central Railroad. Later, in 1895, the Boston and Maine Railroad took over the train line.
They built this new covered bridge in 1901 to replace the older one. The train line originally went all the way to Henniker. By the 1930s, the line stopped just before this bridge in Goffstown. The bridge was still in use for trains when it was listed as historic in 1975.
The Fire and Its Aftermath
On August 16, 1976, the Goffstown Covered Railroad Bridge was destroyed. A fire was deliberately set, causing huge plumes of smoke. People in Manchester, about 8 miles (13 km) away, could see the smoke.
The fire was so hot that paint on nearby fire trucks started to blister. At the time, the Boston & Maine Railroad still served two businesses west of the river. These were Kendall-Hadley Lumber and Merrimack Farmers Exchange.
Despite the need, the railroad decided not to rebuild the bridge. Train service continued east of the river until September 20, 1980. The entire line was officially closed in February 1981.
