RAILforum: truss bridges in New Mexico and Arizona

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Posted by mokajohn (Member # 1497) on :

Railfanning Santa Fe in Arizona and New Mexico in a couple of weeks. Looking for truss bridges to model. Anyone know where I might find them?

Posted by MPALMER (Member # 125) on :

You might try the BNSF bridge over the Rio Grande s of Albuquerque

Posted by Southwest Chief (Member # 1227) on :

I'm not familiar with any truss bridges in Arizona, but the bridge over highway 64 just north of Williams is a very distinctive bridge to check out. It is painted silver and used to proclaim, "Ship and Travel". The "travel" part has been painted over, but you can still see it.

The bridge right before Seligman, on old route 66, is a nice example of a classic Santa Fe bridge.

Another bridge in Arizona to see would be the famous canyon diablo, however access to this bridge must be nearly impossible. I've only seen it by train.

Posted by MPALMER (Member # 125) on :

I believe there is one on the UP (SP) Sunset route in Arizona, just east of Benson, over the San Pedro River.

Posted by Eric (Member # 674) on :

"Another bridge in Arizona to see would be the famous Canyon Diablo, however access to this bridge must be nearly impossible. I've only seen it by train."

Actually, if you have a 4-wheel-drive vehicle (even 4WD may not be necessary), you can get to it fairly easily.
You'll probably be traveling I-40, and you should exit at a place called Two Guns (not sure of the exit number), which is about 4 miles west of Meteor Crater.
If you're heading West onto the off-ramp, you'll take a road which turns off on your right. It will be paved, but will soon turn into a dirt road.
If you're heading East off of I-40 at Two Guns, you'll cross over the Interstate, and then drive straight past the on-ramp to the canyon road (which will connect right up with the Interstate overpass). You will then be on the road to the bridge.
The road itself has quite a few ruts, but I've made it in a family-size van. Just don't go if it's raining! It's about another 3 miles on the road, and then you will come to a railroad crossing. Don't cross the tracks, but drive or walk west a little less than a mile on BNSF's trackside road. You'll then be (or should be!) at the canyon.
I've taken a lot of pictures there, and the San Francisco Peaks make a nice backdrop. There is a lot of space to move around out there, so you can try many different camera angles.
There are also a bunch of old automobiles out there, and some ruins, which would make a nice frame for a photo.
I think it's worth the trip out there to see it. Remnants of the original bridge are there, and it's fun to walk around the canyon's edges.
Be sure to stand away from the tracks! Freights usually travel at 70MPH and Amtrak's Southwest Chief does 90.

Hope my directions make sense!
Eric

Posted by RRCHINA (Member # 1514) on :

Santa Fe, now BNSF, has replaced truss bridges with deck girders and thru girders when the normal life of the truss expires. Cost of maintenance and less vulnerability in case of derailments being significant factors in this decision. As already mentioned,the Canyon Diablo Bridge is a
truss arch bridge, similar in configuration to an inverted truss but in the form of an arch. A truly unique bridge.
There may be only one or two truss bridges
remaining between the Rio Grande and Colorado
Rivers on the BNSF. Try the bridge at RR mile
post 230.6, east of Holbrook and reachable from the Petrified Forest road over the RR.

As you go north from Albuquerque the RR is
sometimes quite a distance from, and unreachable by auto, from the highway. But there are some thru truss bridges to be found
so look and make inquiry. signed, RRCHINA