Housatonic River Railroad Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Devon Bridge
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circa 1984
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Milford and Stratford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | American Bridge Company |
| Architectural style | Scherzer Rolling Lift Bascule |
| MPS | Movable Railroad Bridges on the NE Corridor in Connecticut TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000842 |
| Added to NRHP | June 12, 1987 |
The Housatonic River Railroad Bridge is a special bridge in Connecticut. It carries train tracks for Metro-North Railroad and Amtrak across the lower Housatonic River. This bridge is also known as the Devon Bridge or the Devon Railroad Bridge. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 because it's an important historical structure.
This bridge is a "Scherzer Rolling Lift Bascule" type. This means it's a kind of bascule bridge that can lift up to let boats pass underneath. It has a strong steel frame and stone supports. The part that moves is a "Warren through truss" design. Another bridge like this in Connecticut is the Connecticut River Railroad Bridge.
Contents
A Look at the Bridge's Design
The Housatonic River Railroad Bridge uses a special design. Its main part is made of steel. The bridge rests on strong stone piers, which are like big pillars. The section that opens and closes is called a "Warren through truss" span. This design uses triangles to make the bridge very strong.
The bridge is a "Scherzer Rolling Lift Bascule" type. Imagine a seesaw that can lift one end high into the air. That's how a bascule bridge works! It uses a large counterweight to help lift the heavy bridge section. This allows tall boats to pass safely along the river.
History of the Housatonic River Bridge
The current bridge is not the first one built in this spot. In fact, it's the fourth railroad bridge here! This location was once called Naugatuck Junction.
First Bridge (1848)
The very first railroad bridge over the Housatonic River was built in 1848. It was made of wood and was a "Howe truss" design. This bridge was 1,293 feet long and had a section that could open 134 feet wide. It was the longest wooden covered bridge ever built in Connecticut!
Later Bridges (1872, 1884)
The second bridge was built in 1872. It was made of cast iron and was a "Whipple truss" design. This bridge was 1,091 feet long and had a wider opening of 206 feet. The third bridge came in 1884. It was made of wrought iron and used a "Pratt truss" design. It was the same length and had the same opening size as the second bridge.
The Current Bridge (1906)
The bridge you see today was finished in 1906. It was built by the American Bridge Company. This bridge is made of strong steel and uses the "Warren through truss" design. It's 1,072 feet long and has a 110-foot opening for boats. This bridge can carry four train tracks, making it very important for train travel.
In 2015, some repairs were done on the bridge to keep it in good working order.
