Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
1912 - 2012
GPS Location: 44°36'58"N 65°40'50"W
View Bear River bridge
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
1912 - 2012
• The Bridge: 2012 November 12
• The Bridge: 2012 September 24
• (more photographs to come, ASAP)
• The Bridge: 2012 March 24
• The Bridge: 2012 March 17
• The Bridge: 2012 January 19
• The Bridge: 2011 December 13
• The Bridge: 2011 December 5
• The Bridge: 2011 November 22
• The Bridge: 2011 October 18
• The Bridge: 2010 November 12
• The Bridge: 1912 June 7
• The A-frame Barge: 2012 March 22
• The Barge: 2012 January 09, 16
• The Barge: 2011 December 17, 27
• The Barge: 2011 December 13
• The Barge: 2011 December 5, 9
• Notice to Mariners 2011 November 26
• Notice to Mariners 2012 March 10
• Tidal range
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
12 November 2012 3:10pm AST
Removal of the old Bear River railway bridge has been completed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
24 September 2012 1:03pm ADT
Removal of the old Bear River railway bridge has been completed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
24 March 2012 9:39am ADT
The demolition contractor has arrived at the Bear River railway bridge.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
24 March 2012 12:46pm ADT
Making final preparations to lift a plate girder span off its piers.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
24 March 2012 1:41pm ADT
Two workmen arrive on top of the span,
to connect the four slings that will lift the steel span.
Unfortunately, the time available for this job is limited,
and the A-frame has yet to be moved into position.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
24 March 2012 3:42pm ADT
Moving the utility barge out of the way, and then moving the A-frame barge into position, has
taken a lot of time. It is now more than two hours past high tide, and the water surface is
falling rapidly. Is the A-frame hoist block still far enough above the bridge span to provide
adequate working space? What to do? The men are conferring on the utility barge.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
24 March 2012 3:51pm ADT
It is now 2¼ hours past high tide. The A-frame hoist is moving
downward with the falling tide. Is there now enough vertical working
space available for the workmen to be able to wrestle the heavy slings
in place, and wrap the chains around the plate girder span as required?
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
24 March 2012 4:02pm ADT
The decision has been made. It is now 2½ hours past high tide.
The tide has fallen too far, and the lifting of the plate girder span
can not be done on this tide cycle. This view shows that the
A-frame hoist has been pulled up as far as possible, and there
is not enough working space for placing the chains
attached to the lower end of the slings.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
17 March 2012 3:08pm ADT
The swing span.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
17 March 2012 3:10pm ADT
Close view of the swing span operating mechanism.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
19 January 2012 1:44pm
Swing span at low tide.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
19 January 2012 1:49pm
Stumps of old wood piles, visible at low tide.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge
19 January 2012 1:58pm
At low tide, remnants of the first railway bridge,
built more than a hundred years ago, become visible.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 13 December 2011
The west approach span has been removed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 13 December 2011
A close view of the swing span mechanism.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 5 December 2011
The east abutment with the 1912 construction date cast in the concrete.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 22 November 2011 9:53am
General view looking eastward.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 22 November 2011 10:21am
The approach spans have been removed at both ends.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 22 November 2011 10:24am
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 22 November 2011 10:27am
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 22 November 2011 10:33am
View of the swing span.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 22 November 2011 10:36am
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 22 November 2011 10:39am
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 22 November 2011 10:44am
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 18 October 2011 9:41am
Today, the three piers 14, 13 and 12 at the east end of the bridge are to
be demolished, by exploding dynamite in holes drilled in the concrete.
At the time of this photograph, pier 13 had already been demolished
and an aerial bucket is being used to load dynamite in a hole in pier 12.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 18 October 2011 9:44am
Today, the three piers 14, 13 and 12 at the east end of the bridge are to
be demolished, by exploding dynamite in holes drilled in the concrete.
At the time of this photograph, pier 13 had already been demolished
and an aerial bucket is being used to load dynamite in a hole in pier 12.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 18 October 2011 10:24am
Placing a blast mat over the side of pier 12 facing
the highway bridge, to protect the highway bridge from
flying chunks of concrete when pier 12 is blown apart.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 18 October 2011 10:47am
The work area is moved to pier 14.
Preparations for blasting pier 12 have been completed.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 18 October 2011 11:46am
Placing a blast mat on top of pier 14 to protect the highway bridge
from flying chunks of concrete when pier 14 is blown apart.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 18 October 2011 12:04pm
Watching from a safe distance as pier 14 is blown apart.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 18 October 2011 12:26pm
Piers 14 and 13 have been been demolished. Spectators are waiting,
at a safe distance, for the imminent demolition of pier 12.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 18 October 2011 12:28pm
Photographed a few seconds after the demolition of pier 12.
The dust has not yet dispersed.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 18 October 2011 12:37pm
Looking westward from the east abutment
a few minutes after the demolition of pier 12.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 18 October 2011 12:39pm
At the east abutment looking westward at three piles of debris,
all that remains after the demolition of three bridge piers.
Remnants of a bridge span that supported the once-busy
railway can be seen in the shadow of the highway bridge.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 12 November 2010
In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 12 November 2010
In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 12 November 2010
In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 12 November 2010
In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 12 November 2010
In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 12 November 2010
In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 12 November 2010
In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 12 November 2010
In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 12 November 2010
In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 12 November 2010
In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 12 November 2010
In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 12 November 2010
This trench, about ten feet deep, was dug across the right-of-way at the east abutment
several years ago, to prevent access to anyone wanting to go out on the bridge.
Similar trenches were dug at both ends of all three bridges.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridges 7 June 1912
There were two versions of the railway bridge across the Bear River in Nova Scotia:
the first wooden bridge built in 1890 and its steel replacement built a few metres
downstream, completed in 1913. Both included a large swing span at the far
west end of the bridge to allow ships passage to the busy timber wharves in the
village of Bear River several miles upriver. In this view, the new (1912) bridge is
in the early stages of construction beside the existing bridge built in 1890.
The swing span is out of sight, behind the camera.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 26 November 2011
Notice to Mariners
Halifax Chronicle-Herald, 26 November 2011
Thanks to G. Clarke and H. Bradford.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Bear River Bridge 10 March 2012
Notice to Mariners
Halifax Chronicle-Herald, 10 March 2012
Thanks to H. Bradford and G. Clarke.
The Barge |
The Barge |
The Barge |
The Barge |
The A-frame Barge |
Dominion Atlantic Railway
Bridge Demolition Videos
Final blast at Sissiboo River bridge
22 February 2012, 9:00am
•
Final blast at Sissiboo River bridge by ValleyTrails1, 5:39
•
Final Blast Sissiboo Bridge by InnovativeDrilling, 0:33
•
Demolition of the Sissiboo River bridge (west piers) by Innovative Drilling, 0:54
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Demolition of the Sissiboo River bridge (west piers) by ValleyTrails1, 0:26
The four west piers of the Sissiboo River bridge
were demolished in August 2011.
The three east piers of the Bear River bridge
were demolished on 18 October 2011.
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Demolishing Bridge Piers 12,13,14, Bear River Bridge by Innovative Drilling, 1:08
•
Demolishing Bear River Bridge Pier 12 by ValleyTrails1, 0:48
•
Demolishing Bear River Bridge Pier 13 by ValleyTrails1, 1:33
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Demolishing Bear River Bridge Pier 14 by ValleyTrails1, 0:57
Weymouth, June 5, 1909 — The big drive of logs for the Campbell Lumber Company, about four million feet, reached its destination at the lower pulp mill late Saturday night, June 5th, 1909. George W. Wagoner was the boss of the drive, and he is very much elated over the success of his efforts, for it was no small undertaking.
This is the third large drive brought down from the headwaters of the Sissiboo River this year. The first drive was one of three million feet, one million feet of which was for the Campbell Lumber, and two million feet for Dickie and McGrath. The second drive was one of a million and a half feet for the Campbell Lumber Company.
The drive arriving here Saturday night was eight miles 13 km long and nearly one hundred men were required to bring it down the river, many of them being Micmac Indians. The drive was brought down through fifteen water gates, and was one of the heaviest in the history of Nova Scotia.
[The Digby Weekly Courier, 18 June 1909]
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In this context, "three million feet" means three million board feet,
or "three million feet board measure" (as it would appear in a legal document such as a contract).
one million board feet = 2,360 cubic metres one foot long, twelve inches wide, and one inch thick. In other words, a board foot was (and still is) a measure of volume equal to 144 cubic inches. 144 cubic inches = 2360 cubic centimetres = 2.36 litres The "board foot" was a measure widely used for sawn lumber,and wood quantities in general (but not for firewood) in the 1800s and 1900s, continuing into the 1980s. Production statistics, inventories, prices of sawn timber, and other business information about wood and wood products was usually stated in terms of board feet. The term "board feet" (or "feet board measure") was often abbreviated to simply "feet", as in the newspaper item quoted above. It was generally assumed that everyone understood "three million feet" of logs meant three million board feet. |
Go To: Photographs of the Sissiboo River bridge
http://ns1758.ca/rail/dar-bridge-sissiboo.html
Go To: Photographs of the Moose River bridge
http://newscot1398.net/rail/dar-bridge-mooseriv.html
Go To: Photographs of the Bear River bridge
http://ns1758.ca/rail/dar-bridge-bearriv.html
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