1873 International Swing Bridge at Ft. Erie/Blackrock still works today!

Built in 1873 the International Swing Bridge colossus at Black Rock/Ft. Erie still swings with the precision of a Swiss watch!
Even the passage of modern heavy freight trains haven't dampened her movement one bit.
Watch to the end as the locking mechanism rails move into place.

[@richarddombrowski5199]

My grandfather was a police officer for the railroad during the depression era and would walk this bridge looking for smugglers. He would meet a Canadian police officer in the middle. Great video thanks!

[@calrec1]

Does the operator have a camera view of the rail ends and locking mechanism?

[@tprdfh51]

Not as far as I know...I think he has indicators in his tower that tell him when the bridge is in alignment.

[@hugomartinezelias9139]

Vjg

[@jerrysinclair3771]

''Watch to the end as the locking mechanism rails move into place.'' This is the best vid I have seen with the locking mechanism activated. Of course most videos are not shot with precision closeup cameras and you had permission to shoot this detailed video. Thank you.

[@klbird]

Always good to see old technology still performing a needed function.

[@Weeklydoseofrailways]

Nice video... Can I use this video in my train compilation video credit to you in video will be given

[@tprdfh51]

Yes...you may use this video in your weekly compilation video - cheers!

[@dionkelly8420]

Kind of eery seeing something that big swivel into place, and get lined up exactly straight before the other rails lock it into place.

[@carmenmonoxide7459]

Oh, WOW. Seeing the mechanism connecting the rails was edifying. Getting a close up view was really satisfying. There's a swing bridge where I live and I only caught glimpses of it crossing a freeway overpass. Sometimes it's connected, sometimes it's not.

[@a914freak]

This may sound like a stupid question, but why is there a swing RR bridge over top of a roadway??? Overheight trucks?

[@tprdfh51]

The swing bridge is actually for the Black Rock Canal...there is an older swing bridge on the main channel of the Niagara River but it has not been used since the 1940's.

[@a914freak]

+tprdfh51 so I'm guessing the canal must be on the other end?

[@tprdfh51]

This is part of the Erie Barge Canal at Buffalo/Ft. Erie.

[@timothybarney7257]

@@a914freak Yes, the far end of the swing bridge span is over the canal/Black Rock Locks.

[@dumdum7786]

Was there once 2 tracks?

[@tprdfh51]

Yes...lifted up some years ago.

[@bullsboat1]

Damn.....American ingenuity!!!!

[@paulplaganis5429]

Worked on Livingston avenue bridge in Albany Rensselaer for twenty years. Bridge still in operation. 😊

[@royreynolds108]

The locking mechanism bars beside the rails do two things: 1. they lock the bridge from turning and keep the rails in line; 2. they are slightly higher in the center third raising the train wheels off the rails to go over the gaps so the rail ends are not battered by the wheels. We do not get to see the mechanism that stabilizes the ends and carries the weight when trains cross.

[@tprdfh51]

They do no such thing...speed over the bridge is 5mph - just saying!

[@iminnow123]

I worked there as the telegraph operator and bridge operator in 1969 .

[@garthmcgibbon4285]

I’ll bet you have some stories to tell! My friend was hired to dismantle Fort Erie shops. Such a tragedy!

[@kalpeshwani8520]

LHS footpath grating is best...... @ 01:25 👍🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼

[@waltereturner]

Very cool. Thank you for posting it!

[@FurthermoreJack]

Spectacular and magnificent

[@gaugebrady5416]

Mom that bridge is moving

[@JebbAdams]

Excellent work tprdfh51! Great quality vid! Cheers Mate!

[@tprdfh51]

Thanks Mikey!😊

[@WeazelJaguar]

Is that ever cool! I want one! Maybe we can get the swing bridge in Port Colborne to work again, And rename it: "A Bridge To Nowhere!"

[@buffalobob7172]

I use to go to Port Colborne every other year in August when the lake was the warmest I learned to swim,ski fish,sail and dive the beach would come and go The town was so very clean yards an flowers nice My aunt and uncle lived on lake all spring and summer His dad bought in the 1940s I started going in the late 1950s The last time went was a few weeks before 9-11 We went to the Falls all most every time grate times im 66 now still live in Alabama my aunt still going in her 90s

[@louislamonte334]

I hope this bridge is re-double tracked one day.

[@Bob.W.]

Looks like it was double tracked with a car lane on the side.

[@tprdfh51]

Was never double tracked even though it was built with that capacity in mind for future traffic increases.

[@William1221-q1e]

is this still used by trains

[@hickorydoc]

Yes