Oregon Railway and Navigation Company Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Oregon Railway and Navigation Company Bridge
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Bridge over the McKenzie River near Coburg
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 Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Coburg |
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| Built | 1887 |
| Architectural style | Double intersection Pratt through truss (Whipple) |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003332 |
| Listed | March 13, 1980 |
The Oregon Railway and Navigation Company Bridge is a really cool old bridge in Lane County, Oregon. It's located in the state of Oregon in the United States. This bridge used to carry train tracks over the McKenzie River. Today, it's a special path for people who want to walk or ride bikes! It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 because it's an important part of history.
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What Makes This Bridge Special?
This bridge has a unique design. It's a type called a Whipple through truss bridge. Imagine a giant metal frame that supports the bridge from above and below. This design makes the bridge super strong.
How Big Is It?
The bridge is quite long, stretching about 405 feet (123 meters) across the river. It's also 25 feet (7.6 meters) wide and stands about 44 feet (13.4 meters) high. It rests on strong concrete supports.
What is a Whipple Truss?
A Whipple truss is a special way of building bridges using lots of crisscrossing metal bars. These bars form triangles, which are very strong shapes. This design helps the bridge hold a lot of weight, like a heavy train! It was invented by a man named Squire Whipple.
A Bridge with a Journey
This bridge has an interesting past because it wasn't always in the same spot!
Its First Home
The bridge was first built in 1887. It was made for the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company. A famous engineer named George S. Morison helped build it. Its first job was to cross the John Day River in a different part of Oregon.
Moving Day!
In 1907, another big train company, the Southern Pacific Transportation Company, bought the bridge. They decided to move it to its current spot over the McKenzie River. The American Bridge Company carefully took it apart and put it back together here.
Replacing an Old Friend
When the iron bridge arrived, it replaced an even older bridge. That one was a wooden covered bridge built in 1891. Covered bridges look like long barns because they have roofs and walls. The old wooden bridge was about 380 feet (116 meters) long, making it one of the longest covered bridges ever built! Before that, people crossed the river using a ferry called Spores Ferry, which started way back in 1847. It was very important for early settlers traveling by wagon train.
Where Can You Find It Now?
The Oregon Railway and Navigation Company Bridge is near the town of Coburg.
Nearby Crossings
Right next to the old railway bridge, there's a modern highway bridge where Coburg Road crosses the river. A little further upstream, Interstate 5 also crosses the McKenzie River on another highway bridge.
A Park Nearby
If you want to visit the area, you can find Armitage County Park. It's about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of Eugene. The park is right along the south side of the river, close to these bridges. It's a great spot to see the historic railway bridge and enjoy the river.
