HistoricBridges.org Menu: HistoricBridges.org Menu:


We Recommend:
Bach Steel - Experts at historic truss bridge restoration.

HistoricBridges.org: Bridge Browser

Harlem Avenue Railroad Bridge

Santa Fe Railroad Bridge

Harlem Avenue Railroad Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

Bridge Documented: March 2008, September 23, 2012, and December 12, 2012

View Photos
and Videos
View Maps
and Links

Location
Forest View: Cook County, Illinois: United States
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1899 By Builder/Contractor: Keystone Bridge Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Rehabilitation Date
Not Available or Not Applicable
Main Span Length
364.2 Feet (111 Meters)
Structure Length
372.5 Feet (113.5 Meters)
Roadway Width
Not Available
Spans
1 Main Span(s)
Inventory Number
Not Applicable

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
View Information About HSR Ratings

Bridge Documentation

View Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Documentation For This Bridge

HAER Data Pages, PDF

View A Historical Biography of Emil Swensson

Like most of Chicago/Cook County's historic railroad swing bridges, this bridge is very important, since it is an example of a structure type that was once common in the area, but was replaced with Chicago's trademark historic bascule bridges which stand today. Only some of the railroad bridges never made the change to a bascule.

This bridge is difficult to find a good place to photograph from. However a little dead-end road that runs along the south side of the canal appears to be public and passes near the bridge.

The McArthur Brothers and Winston and Company were the substructure contractors for this bridge. The Keystone Bridge Company, listed on the bridge plaque, appears to have been the fabricator for the bridge. However, a report by the canal's chief engineer, Isham Randolph, indicates that the superstructure contractor was Carnegie Steel Company. These were both companies associated with Andrew Carnegie, and this bridge was built around the time that the companies were in flux, eventually resulting in the creation of US Steel and the American Bridge Company, so this may explain the inconsistency. The total cost of the bridge was $76,404.19 and the total weight of iron and steel when the bridge was built was 1,724,636 pounds.

Emil Swensson was an engineer for the Keystone Bridge Company who worked his way up the company to become Chief Engineer around the time this bridge was built. Isham Randolph was Chief Engineer for the Sanitary District. Their portraits are shown below.

Emil SwenssonIsham Randolph

Side Note: Shop Riveting

One of the reasons why bridges like this swing bridge and many other truss bridges from the 19th century and the very early 20th Century have pinned connections is because it avoided having to drive any rivets in the field. Until portable hand-held pneumatic hammers became common in the early 20th Century, most riveting was done in the shop using very large riveting devices that were very heavy and if they moved at all only moved within the shop. Due to their size, these devices were not economical to use in the field. Some example of shop riveters are shown below.

Shop Riveters

Sanitary District Plaque

1898
THE
SANITARY DISTRICT OF CHICAGO.

 BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

WILLIAM BOLDENWECK.
JOSEPH C. BRADEN.
ZINA R. CARTER.
BERNARD A. ECKART.
ALEXANDER J. JONES.
THOMAS KELLY.
JAMES P. MALLETTE.
THOMAS SMYTH.
FRANK WINTER.

ISHAM RANDOLPH.
CHIEF ENGINEER.

Builder Plaque

KEYSTONE BRIDGE
WORKS
1898
PITTSBURG, PA

Divider

Historic Bridges of Chicago and Cook County

Flag of Chicago Seal of Cook County

Complete Bridge List

Chicago and Cook County are home to one of the largest collections of historic bridges in the country, and no other city in the world has more movable bridges. HistoricBridges.org is proud to offer the most extensive coverage of historic Chicago bridges on the Internet.

General Chicago / Cook County Bridge Resources

Chicago's Bridges - By Nathan Holth, author of HistoricBridges.org, this book provides a discussion of the history of Chicago's movable bridges, and includes a virtual tour discussing all movable bridges remaining in Chicago today. Despite this broad coverage, the book is presented in a compact format that is easy to take with you and carry around for reference on a visit to Chicago. The book includes dozens of full color photos. Only $9.95 U.S! ($11.95 Canadian). Order Now Direct From The Publisher! or order on Amazon.

Chicago River Bridges - By Patrick T. McBriarty, this is a great companion to Holth's book shown above. This much larger book offers an extremely in-depth exploration of Chicago's movable highway bridges, including many crossings that have not existed for many years. Order Now Direct From The Publisher! or order on Amazon.

View Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Overview of Chicago Bascule Bridges (HAER Data Pages, PDF)

Chicago Loop Bridges - Chicago Loop Bridges is another website on the Internet that is a great companion to the HistoricBridges.org coverage of the 18 movable bridges within the Chicago Loop. This website includes additional information such as connections to popular culture, overview discussions and essays about Chicago's movable bridges, additional videos, and current news and events relating to the bridges.

Additional Online Articles and Resources - This page is a large gathering of interesting articles and resources that HistoricBridges.org has uncovered during research, but which were not specific to a particular bridge listing.

Divider

Photo Galleries and Videos: Harlem Avenue Railroad Bridge

 

View Photo Gallery

Bridge Photo-Documentation

Original / Full Size Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

Divider

View Photo Gallery

Bridge Photo-Documentation

Mobile Optimized Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

Divider

Maps and Links: Harlem Avenue Railroad Bridge

Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):

Search For Additional Bridge Listings:

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

2021 National Bridge Inventory: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

Additional Maps:

Google Maps

Google Streetview (If Available)

Bing Maps

OpenStreetMap

GeoHack (Additional Links and Coordinates)

Apple Maps (Via DuckDuckGo Search)

Apple Maps (Apple devices only)

MapQuest

HERE We Go Maps

ACME Mapper

Waze Map

Android: Open Location In Your Map or GPS App

Flickr Gallery (Find Nearby Photos)

Wikimedia Commons (Find Nearby Photos)

Directions Via Sygic For Android

Directions Via Sygic For iOS and Android Dolphin Browser

USGS National Map (United States Only)

Historical USGS Topo Maps (United States Only)

Historic Aerials (United States Only)

CalTopo Maps (United States Only)


Divider
 
Home Top

Divider

About - Contact

© Copyright 2003-2024, HistoricBridges.org. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: HistoricBridges.org is a volunteer group of private citizens. HistoricBridges.org is NOT a government agency, does not represent or work with any governmental agencies, nor is it in any way associated with any government agency or any non-profit organization. While we strive for accuracy in our factual content, HistoricBridges.org offers no guarantee of accuracy. Information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Information could include technical inaccuracies or errors of omission. Opinions and commentary are the opinions of the respective HistoricBridges.org member who made them and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone else, including any outside photographers whose images may appear on the page in which the commentary appears. HistoricBridges.org does not bear any responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use of this or any other HistoricBridges.org information. Owners and users of bridges have the responsibility of correctly following all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, regardless of any HistoricBridges.org information.

Admin Login

Divider