The swing span bridge over the Wolf River.
One of the larger river crossings on the Green Bay Route was
the Wolf River crossing at Shiocton. this view is
looking to the north.
The original bridge over the river was a 230-foot timber structure
which was destroyed when the 57-foot draw span collapsed into the river on
September 14, 1889. The engineer and conductor lost their lives in
the tragedy. A trestle replaced the damaged span for almost ten
years until a pier collapse hastened the construction of this 137-foot
long plate girder swing span in 1898. The railroad was also raised
four feet at that time.
The bridge rotated on the round masonry pier in the river. A
few years after this photo was taken the timber approach span on the
west bank was replaced with a plate girder. The stone foundations
were replaced with concrete at that time, also. In later years the
bridge was reinforced for the heavier Consolidations and Mikados which
powered the Green Bay Route.
Thanks goes out to Scott Janz
for sharing this postcard. |