International Railway Bridge
Encyclopedia
The International Railway Bridge carries a railway line across the Niagara River
between Fort Erie, Ontario
and Buffalo, New York
. It was built in 1873 for the International Bridge Company by Casimir Stanislaus Gzowski and D.L. MacPherson.
The bridge consists of two sections, the first extending from the Canadian shore to Squaw Island, NY, and the second extending from Squaw Island to the American mainland shore. The portion between these was originally built on a trestle, but was filled to form an embankment soon after the bridge opened. Once on the American mainland, rail traffic is received by the Black Rock Rail Yard
. The CN Rail Fort Erie Yard for interchange (shops and roundhouse) is now closed.
Proposals for a bridge surface by 1856, raising concerns about the effect to navigation rights on the river. By 1857, the Grand Trunk Railway
had also proposed the crossing. The Dominion of Canada and the New York State Legislature drafted an agreement for construction of the bridge. Engineering surveys and fundraising took place over the next several years.
Construction of the bridge was recognized as a major technological challenge. The Niagara River in this area is up to 45 feet (14 m) deep and flows at up to 12 mph (5.4 m/s). It is also located at the east end of Lake Erie
, and during the spring, large blocks of ice often flow down the river, threatening to destroy any bridge placed in its path. There are also major financial challenges in a project such as this. Accordingly, some years were required to overcome these obstacles. Additionally, in the 1860s, the American Civil War
, and rebuilding afterwards, consumed much of the resources of the United States and further delayed construction. It is noted though that planning did not stop altogether, even during the war. A meeting of the Commissioners of the company took place on April 5, 1864.
On May 18, 1870, The American and Dominion International Bridge Companies met to merge into one corporation for the purpose of building this bridge. A contract for the construction of the bridge was concluded with C. S. Gzowski & Co. It was stated that the bridge should be completed by the end of 1871.
. Each of the 12 Pratt Truss spans was constructed on floating pontoons between the piers. Upon completion, the pontoons were filled with water to lower the bridge span precisely into place on the piers.
The bridge was constructed with two swing spans. One was located on the American side of the main channel of the river and provided a navigable opening of 160 feet (49 m) width. The second was located over Black Rock Harbor and provided a navigable opening of 90 feet (27 m) width. Both were operated by steam and could open or close in approximately fifty seconds. The portion of the bridge from Squaw Island to the US Mainland was constructed for two tracks. The longer portion from Squaw Island to Canada was built as only a single track. Both sections had a common sidewalk on one side.
The bridge was opened November 3, 1873, almost two years after the date originally evisioned. Construction cost $1.5 million. It was constructed without the loss of any lives, which was most uncommon for a major construction project in that era.
, Great Western
, Canada Southern Railway
, Erie
, New York Central
and New York, West Shore and Chicago were all prepared to begin using the bridge soon after opening day. There were conflicts between the various companies using the bridge, including one where the Canada Southern Railway filed suit over the excessive rate of $1 charged for each rail car it carried over the bridge. Such conflicts are not unexpected when several competing railway companies use a single track.
The bridge was modified in 1900, during which time the pedestrian walkway was removed from the main span, The bridge's busiest day ever was July 10, 1916, when 264 trains crossed.
The swing bridge in the main channel ceased to open at some time between 1941 and 1944 (it appears on the US War Department chart 312 in February 1941, but not on the same chart in March 1944, or any time thereafter). The swing span between Squaw Island and the American mainland continues to swing today. This portion of the bridge was built for two tracks, but currently carries only one. It also carries a road on one side, and a bicycle trail on the other side. This span also crosses over Interstate 190
, the Niagara Section of the New York State Thruway
.
Operations on the bridge were suddenly suspended in February, 1993 due to problems with some of the stone piers. Canadian National spent $2 million to refurbish these and get the bridge back into operation.
Stamford Subdivision. It is also used by the Canadian Pacific Railway
. The bridge has seen an increase in traffic since the Canadian Pacific abandoned its route via Niagara Falls, Ontario
and re-routed across this bridge in late 2001. Fifteen trains per day is now typical and often trains are seen at or near a stop on the bridge undergoing various security checks to cross the international border. The bridge no longer carries any passenger trains.
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
between Fort Erie, Ontario
Fort Erie, Ontario
Fort Erie is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly across the river from Buffalo, New York....
and Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. It was built in 1873 for the International Bridge Company by Casimir Stanislaus Gzowski and D.L. MacPherson.
The bridge consists of two sections, the first extending from the Canadian shore to Squaw Island, NY, and the second extending from Squaw Island to the American mainland shore. The portion between these was originally built on a trestle, but was filled to form an embankment soon after the bridge opened. Once on the American mainland, rail traffic is received by the Black Rock Rail Yard
Black Rock Rail Yard
The Black Rock Rail Yard is on the west side of Buffalo, New York, a half mile inland from the Niagara River, in the Black Rock neighborhood. The rail yard receives Canadian National Railway freight trains arriving from Canada by way of the International Railway Bridge.The yard is surrounded by old...
. The CN Rail Fort Erie Yard for interchange (shops and roundhouse) is now closed.
The need for a bridge
Before bridges crossed the Upper Niagara River, it was crossed by several ferries running between Fort Erie and Buffalo. As well as being a serious bottleneck to both freight and passenger traffic, this crossing was often dangerous as the current in this area is swift, and ice is a problem several months of the year.Proposals for a bridge surface by 1856, raising concerns about the effect to navigation rights on the river. By 1857, the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
had also proposed the crossing. The Dominion of Canada and the New York State Legislature drafted an agreement for construction of the bridge. Engineering surveys and fundraising took place over the next several years.
Construction of the bridge was recognized as a major technological challenge. The Niagara River in this area is up to 45 feet (14 m) deep and flows at up to 12 mph (5.4 m/s). It is also located at the east end of Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
, and during the spring, large blocks of ice often flow down the river, threatening to destroy any bridge placed in its path. There are also major financial challenges in a project such as this. Accordingly, some years were required to overcome these obstacles. Additionally, in the 1860s, the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and rebuilding afterwards, consumed much of the resources of the United States and further delayed construction. It is noted though that planning did not stop altogether, even during the war. A meeting of the Commissioners of the company took place on April 5, 1864.
On May 18, 1870, The American and Dominion International Bridge Companies met to merge into one corporation for the purpose of building this bridge. A contract for the construction of the bridge was concluded with C. S. Gzowski & Co. It was stated that the bridge should be completed by the end of 1871.
Construction
Prior to the construction of the eight stone piers, it was necessary to remove up to ten feet (three meters) of gravel from the bottom of the river. The piers were constructed from stone quarried at various locations on the Canadian side. Each pier was both pointed and sloped on the upstream side to most effectively break up ice flows. The iron for the bridge was manufactured at Phoenixville, PennsylvaniaPhoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of French Creek with the Schuylkill River. The population is 16,440 as of the 2010 Census.- History :...
. Each of the 12 Pratt Truss spans was constructed on floating pontoons between the piers. Upon completion, the pontoons were filled with water to lower the bridge span precisely into place on the piers.
The bridge was constructed with two swing spans. One was located on the American side of the main channel of the river and provided a navigable opening of 160 feet (49 m) width. The second was located over Black Rock Harbor and provided a navigable opening of 90 feet (27 m) width. Both were operated by steam and could open or close in approximately fifty seconds. The portion of the bridge from Squaw Island to the US Mainland was constructed for two tracks. The longer portion from Squaw Island to Canada was built as only a single track. Both sections had a common sidewalk on one side.
The bridge was opened November 3, 1873, almost two years after the date originally evisioned. Construction cost $1.5 million. It was constructed without the loss of any lives, which was most uncommon for a major construction project in that era.
Bridge operations and changes
Before the opening day of the bridge, many railroads had already constructed tracks to its location. The Grand TrunkGrand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
, Great Western
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
, Canada Southern Railway
Canada Southern Railway
The Canada Southern Railway was a railway in southern Ontario, Canada, founded on February 28, 1868 as the Erie and Niagara Extension Railway. It adopted the Canada Southern Railway name on December 24, 1869. In 1904 the railway was leased to the Michigan Central Railroad for 99 years; in 1929 it...
, Erie
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
, New York Central
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
and New York, West Shore and Chicago were all prepared to begin using the bridge soon after opening day. There were conflicts between the various companies using the bridge, including one where the Canada Southern Railway filed suit over the excessive rate of $1 charged for each rail car it carried over the bridge. Such conflicts are not unexpected when several competing railway companies use a single track.
The bridge was modified in 1900, during which time the pedestrian walkway was removed from the main span, The bridge's busiest day ever was July 10, 1916, when 264 trains crossed.
The swing bridge in the main channel ceased to open at some time between 1941 and 1944 (it appears on the US War Department chart 312 in February 1941, but not on the same chart in March 1944, or any time thereafter). The swing span between Squaw Island and the American mainland continues to swing today. This portion of the bridge was built for two tracks, but currently carries only one. It also carries a road on one side, and a bicycle trail on the other side. This span also crosses over Interstate 190
Interstate 190 (New York)
Interstate 190 runs 28.34 miles from Interstate 90 near Buffalo, New York to Lewiston, New York via Niagara Falls. Parts of this highway were built on the former rights-of-way of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Erie Canal. It is referred to by locals as The One-Ninety...
, the Niagara Section of the New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
.
Operations on the bridge were suddenly suspended in February, 1993 due to problems with some of the stone piers. Canadian National spent $2 million to refurbish these and get the bridge back into operation.
The bridge today
The bridge is now part of the Canadian National RailwayCanadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
Stamford Subdivision. It is also used by the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
. The bridge has seen an increase in traffic since the Canadian Pacific abandoned its route via Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
and re-routed across this bridge in late 2001. Fifteen trains per day is now typical and often trains are seen at or near a stop on the bridge undergoing various security checks to cross the international border. The bridge no longer carries any passenger trains.