South Norwalk Railroad Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Norwalk Railroad Bridge |
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1910 postcard view along Washington Street with the bridge behind the trolley
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| Coordinates | 41°05′56″N 73°25′08″W / 41.09889°N 73.41889°W |
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South Norwalk Railroad Bridge
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main and Washington Streets Norwalk, Connecticut |
| Area | 5.5 acres (2.2 ha) (original) 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) (increase I) 3 acres (1.2 ha) (increase II) |
| Built | 1895 |
| Part of | South Main and Washington Streets Historic District (ID77001393, 85003505, and 99000449) |
| Added to NRHP | December 16, 1977 (original) November 8, 1985 (increase I) April 15, 1999 (increase II) |
| Carries | 4 tracks of New Haven Line |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | through Pratt truss |
| Clearance below | 3.38 metres (11 ft 1 in) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | NY, NH&H RR |
| Opened | 1895 |
The South Norwalk Railroad Bridge is an old bridge in Norwalk, Connecticut. It was built way back in 1895. This bridge helps four sets of Metro-North train tracks cross a busy area.
It goes over the intersection of Main Street and Washington Street. This area is in the South Norwalk part of the city. The bridge is also part of a special historic area called the South Main and Washington Streets Historic District.
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What is the South Norwalk Railroad Bridge?
This bridge is a very important part of the train system in Norwalk. It allows trains to travel smoothly over busy city streets. The bridge carries four different train tracks.
It is a type of bridge called a through Pratt truss. This means the train tracks go through the middle of the bridge's strong metal framework. The framework looks like a series of triangles, which makes the bridge very sturdy.
Why is this Bridge Important?
The South Norwalk Railroad Bridge helps trains on the New Haven Line keep moving. This line is a major route for trains in Connecticut. The bridge also helps keep traffic flowing safely below.
It's also important because of its history. It was built a long time ago, in 1895. This makes it a historic landmark in the city. It shows how engineering was done over a hundred years ago.
History of the Bridge
The bridge was built by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. This was a very big railroad company back then. They built the bridge to help their trains cross the growing city of Norwalk.
The bridge has been recognized as an important historical structure. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This list includes places that are important to American history.
The Bridge and its Neighbors
Right next to the bridge, you can find the South Norwalk Switch Tower Museum. This museum is a cool place to visit. It shows how railroad workers used to physically switch train tracks.
The museum is in an old switch tower. This tower was used to control which way trains would go at the intersection of the Danbury Branch and the New Haven Line. It's a great way to see how trains were managed in the past.
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An interesting building next to the bridge, with part of the bridge on the right. Picture taken August 12, 2007.
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The Switch Tower Museum, taken on August 12, 2007.
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. CT-168, "South Norwalk Railroad Bridge, South Main & Washington Streets, Norwalk, Fairfield County, CT", 21 photos, 11 data pages, 4 photo caption pages
Images for kids
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A postcard from 1910 showing Washington Street. You can see the bridge behind the trolley car.
