Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge
1912 - 2011
GPS Location: 44°24'44"N 66°00'20"W
View Old Dominion Atlantic Railway bridge over the Sissiboo River
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge
1912 - 2011
• The Bridge: 2012 March 12
• The Bridge: 2012 March 08
• The Bridge: 2012 February 27
• The Bridge: 2012 February 21
• The Bridge: 2012 February 18
• The Bridge: 2012 February 15
• The Bridge: 2012 February 10
• The Bridge: 2012 February 08
• The Bridge: 2012 February 03
• The Bridge: 2012 February 02
• The Bridge: 2012 January 31
• The Bridge: 2012 January 26
• The Bridge: 2011 November 29
• The Bridge: 2010 November 30
• The Bridge: Aerial photograph
• The Bridge: Rail to Trail
• The Bridge: Brief history
• The Bridge: Engineering report, 1879
• Notice to Mariners: 2011 September 03
• Notice to Mariners: 2012 January 26
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Located at mile 41.64 Yarmouth Subdivision, a quarter mile west of Weymouth.
1,224 feet long, 13 spans including a swing span.
This important link in Nova Scotia's transportation infrastructure was built originally as a timber trestle bridge in 1879 by the Western Counties Railway. Construction of a new steel replacement bridge on concrete piers began in 1912 and was completed in 1914. The last passenger train crossed this bridge on 15 January 1990. On 27 March 1990, the entire Yarmouth Subdivision, including this bridge, was abandoned by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), owner of the Dominion Atlantic Railway (DAR). Ownership of the right-of-way, including this bridge, passed to the Province of Nova Scotia a few years later.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 12 March 2012 9:28am ADT
The bridge that stood here for a hundred years has disappeared.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 08 March 2012 3:22pm AST
The bridge that stood here for a hundred years has disappeared.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 08 March 2012 3:21pm AST
The bridge that stood here for a hundred years has disappeared.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 08 March 2012 3:07pm AST
This small pile of scrap metal is all that remains of the bridge that stood here for a hundred years.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 27 February 2012 9:12am AST
Five days after the last five piers were blasted apart.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 27 February 2012 8:59am AST
Five days after the last five piers were blasted apart.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 27 February 2012 9:11am AST
Five days after the last five piers were blasted apart.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 27 February 2012 9:11am AST
Five days after the last five piers were blasted apart.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 27 February 2012 9:11am AST
Five days after the last five piers were blasted apart.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 27 February 2012 9:47am AST
Five days after the last five piers were blasted apart.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 27 February 2012 9:47am AST
Five days after the last five piers were blasted apart.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 27 February 2012 9:47am AST
Five days after the last five piers were blasted apart.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 27 February 2012 9:31am AST
Five days after the last five piers were blasted apart.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 27 February 2012 9:29am AST
Five days after the last five piers were blasted apart.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 27 February 2012 9:31am AST
Five days after the last five piers were blasted apart.
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Final blast at Sissiboo River bridge
22 February 2012, 9:00am AST
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Final blast at Sissiboo River bridge by ValleyTrails1, 5:39
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Final Blast Sissiboo Bridge by InnovativeDrilling, 0:33
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Final Blast Sissiboo Bridge Digby Courier, 0:33
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 21 February 2012 1:39pm
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 21 February 2012 1:52pm
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 21 February 2012 2:01pm
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 21 February 2012 2:21pm
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 18 February 2012 1:17pm
Another bridge span has been demolished.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 18 February 2012 1:15pm
Another bridge span has been demolished.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 18 February 2012 1:51pm
Another bridge span has been demolished.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 18 February 2012 1:30pm
Another bridge span has been demolished.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 18 February 2012 1:30pm
Another bridge span has been demolished.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 18 February 2012 1:31pm
Preparing to drill blasting holes in this concrete pier.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 18 February 2012 1:46pm
Drilling blasting holes in this concrete pier.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 15 February 2012 11:24am
When the tide goes out, the big barge is parked
on a specially-constructed level landing pad.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 15 February 2012 11:22am
When the tide goes out, the big barge is parked
on a specially-constructed level landing pad.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 15 February 2012 11:44am
The debris, from the two recently-demolished piers, has been removed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 15 February 2012 11:44am
The debris, from the two recently-demolished piers, has been removed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 10 February 2012 10:07am
Two more piers have been demolished.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 10 February 2012 10:07am
Two more piers have been demolished.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 10 February 2012 10:19am
Two more piers have been demolished.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 10 February 2012 10:19am
Two more piers have been demolished.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 8 February 2012 11:06am
Six days after the crane collapsed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 8 February 2012 11:25am
Six days after the crane collapsed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 8 February 2012 11:27am
Six days after the crane collapsed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 8 February 2012 11:27am
Six days after the crane collapsed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 3 February 2012 11:47am
Thirty hours after the crane collapsed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 3 February 2012 11:47am
Thirty hours after the crane collapsed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 3 February 2012 11:46am
Thirty hours after the crane collapsed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 3 February 2012 12:05pm
Thirty hours after the crane collapsed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 3 February 2012 12:15pm
Thirty hours after the crane collapsed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 2 February 2012 2:47pm
About nine hours after the crane collapsed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 2 February 2012 3:01pm
About nine hours after the crane collapsed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 2 February 2012 3:05pm
About nine hours after the crane collapsed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 2 February 2012 3:50pm
About ten hours after the crane collapsed.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 31 January 2012 12:48pm
Getting ready to lift off a steel girder span.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 31 January 2012 1:12pm
Getting ready to lift off a steel girder span.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 26 January 2012 12:20pm
Getting ready to lift off a steel girder span.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 29 November 2011
The approach spans at the west end (left in this view)
of the bridge have been removed.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 29 November 2011
The approach spans have been removed at both ends.
View large imagea-2010nov30.jpg "Dominion Atlantic Railway: Sissiboo River Bridge, Weymouth, Digby County, Nova Scotia, 30 Nov 2010")
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 30 November 2010
In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it has for the last hundred years.
a-2010nov30.jpg "Dominion Atlantic Railway: Sissiboo River Bridge, Weymouth, Digby County, Nova Scotia, 30 Nov 2010")
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 30 November 2010
The view seen by the driver of an eastbound train approaching the bridge.
View large imagea-2010nov30.jpg "Dominion Atlantic Railway: Sissiboo River Bridge, Weymouth, Digby County, Nova Scotia, 30 Nov 2010")
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 30 November 2010
In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it has for the last hundred years.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 29 November 2011
Temporary road built on the old main line right-of-way
to provide access to the old railway bridge during the demolition work.
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 3 September 2011
Notice to Mariners
Halifax Chronicle-Herald, 3 September 2011
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 26 January 2012
Notice to Mariners
Halifax Chronicle-Herald, 26 January 2012
Thanks to G. Clarke and H. Bradford.
a-2010nov30.jpg "Dominion Atlantic Railway: Sissiboo River Bridge, Weymouth, Digby County, Nova Scotia, 30 Nov 2010")
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge
Aerial photograph showing a freight train powered by a steam locomotive on the bridge.
View large imagea-2010nov30.jpg "Association Sentier de Clare Rail to Trail Association 30 Nov 2010")
Association Sentier de Clare Rail to Trail Association 30 November 2010
Located beside Highway 1, about 2km west from Weymouth,
where the Dominion Atlantic Railway crossed Highway 1.
GPS location: 44°24'20"N 66°00'43"W
a-2010nov30.jpg "Association Sentier de Clare Rail to Trail Association 30 Nov 2010")
Association Sentier de Clare Rail to Trail Association 30 November 2010
Located beside Highway 1, about 2km west from Weymouth,
where the Dominion Atlantic Railway crossed Highway 1.
a-2010nov30.jpg "Association Sentier de Clare Rail to Trail Association 30 Nov 2010")
Association Sentier de Clare Rail to Trail Association 30 November 2010
Map showing the location of the old Sissiboo River railway bridge.
GPS location: 44°24'44"N 66°00'21"W
DAR Bridge Demolition Videos
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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
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Demolishing Bear River Bridge Pier 12 by ValleyTrails1, 0:48
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Demolishing Bear River Bridge Pier 13 by ValleyTrails1, 1:33
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Demolishing Bear River Bridge Pier 14 by ValleyTrails1, 0:57
Dominion Atlantic Railway Sissiboo River Bridge 6 February 1879
Report of Examination of the Western Counties Railway, by James Odell, C.E. (civil engineer), 6 Feb 1879
This report, written in 1879, describes the original bridge, not the replacement bridge completed in 1914. However, the main line track gradient and curve, described here at the west side approach to the bridge, is the same track that remained in use throughout the entire operating time of the railway, until the last train ran here in early 1990. "...the bridge is approached from the west side on a sharp curve with a descending gradient of one foot in sixty-six feet, or seventy-nine feet per mile..." A descending gradient of seventy-nine feet per mile is (stated in modern railway terminology) a descending gradient of 1.5 per cent. This was then (and would be now) a significant challenge to a locomotive driver, who would have to have been alert to the fact that he was taking his train down a steep (steep by railway standards) grade heading into a sharp curve leading onto a high bridge with a swing span that could be opened for a ship at any time. This required a skillful and fully alert driver at any time, and especially when the rail was wet. One of the photographs above shows the view seen by a driver as his eastbound train ran onto the bridge. At night, in a storm, the challenge was intensified.
Addressed to "His Excellency Sir John Wentworth Baronet, Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia..."
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 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
Go To: Photographs of the Sissiboo River bridge
http://ns1758.ca/rail/dar-bridge-sissiboo.html
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