Lake Oswego Railroad Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Lake Oswego Railroad Bridge (also known as the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge at Lake Oswego and formerly as the Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge at Lake Oswego) is a truss
railroad bridge that spans the Willamette River
between Lake Oswego, Oregon
and Milwaukie, Oregon
. Owned by the Union Pacific Railroad
, it is currently leased by the Portland and Western Railroad
.
city planners for an eastside railway bypass to keep rail traffic out of downtown Portland. With its acquisition of Southern Pacific in 1996, Union Pacific Railroad
assumed ownership of the bridge. Currently, the bridge is operated by the Portland and Western Railroad
under a lease from Union Pacific.
approach span that was built in 1900 and moved to this location in 1931. In 1934, a 60 feet (18 m) open-deck trestle
was built on this side of the river. Holding the railway deck across the river are two 298 feet (91 m) through truss
spans. Completing the bridge on the east side in Milwaukie is a 668 feet (204 m) open-deck trestle.
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
railroad bridge that spans the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
between Lake Oswego, Oregon
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Lake Oswego is a city located primarily in Clackamas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Small portions of the city are also located in neighboring Multnomah and Washington counties. Located south of Portland surrounding the Oswego Lake, the town was founded in 1847 and incorporated as Oswego in...
and Milwaukie, Oregon
Milwaukie, Oregon
Milwaukie is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Multnomah County. The population was 20,291 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1848 on the banks of the Willamette River, the city, known as the Dogwood City of the West, was incorporated in...
. Owned by the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
, it is currently leased by the Portland and Western Railroad
Portland and Western Railroad
The Portland and Western Railroad is a Class II railroad serving the U.S. state of Oregon, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of shortline and regional railroad holding company Genesee & Wyoming Inc...
.
History
The bridge was built in 1910 by the Southern Pacific Company, in response to the desires of PortlandPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
city planners for an eastside railway bypass to keep rail traffic out of downtown Portland. With its acquisition of Southern Pacific in 1996, Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
assumed ownership of the bridge. Currently, the bridge is operated by the Portland and Western Railroad
Portland and Western Railroad
The Portland and Western Railroad is a Class II railroad serving the U.S. state of Oregon, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of shortline and regional railroad holding company Genesee & Wyoming Inc...
under a lease from Union Pacific.
Description
The entire bridge is 1378 feet (420 m) in length. On the west (Lake Oswego) side, there is a 50 feet (15 m) deck plate girderPlate girder bridge
A plate girder bridge is a bridge supported by two or more plate girders. The plate girders are typically I-beams made up from separate structural steel plates , which are welded or, in older bridges, bolted or riveted together to form the vertical web and horizontal flanges of the beam...
approach span that was built in 1900 and moved to this location in 1931. In 1934, a 60 feet (18 m) open-deck trestle
Trestle
A trestle is a rigid frame used as a support, especially referring to a bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by such frames. In the context of trestle bridges, each supporting frame is generally referred to as a bent...
was built on this side of the river. Holding the railway deck across the river are two 298 feet (91 m) through truss
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
spans. Completing the bridge on the east side in Milwaukie is a 668 feet (204 m) open-deck trestle.