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Holiday Photos of Last Remaining Bollman Truss Bridge

trumpettraintrumpettrainOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Everyone !!

 

Here are two photos of the first iron suspension bridge in America which was designed by Wendell Bollman.  At one time there were about 100 of these bridges on the B&O system.  Check out photos of Harpers Ferry, WV during the Civil War and you will these bridges spanning the Potomac River as they take the B&O mainline from Maryland to West Virginia.

 

These two photos are of the Bollman Bridge in Savage, Maryland ( my home town ).   The bridge was moved here from another location on the B&O during the late 1800s.  No one knows where this particular bridge was formerly located on the B&O system.  

For well over 100 years now this bridge has spanned the Little Patuxent River taking a spur over the Little Patuxent from the old B&0 Patuxent Branch.  This spur went to the Savage Manufacturing Company which manufactured cotton duck used in military tenting among other things.  You can see the Savage Manufacturing Co. in the background of the daylight photo. 

 

The bridge was donated to the Howard County Parks Dept by the Chessie System, as rail service to Savage ended in the early 1970's  The Parks Dept decided this year to light the bridge for the holidays.  So here are two pics, daylight and at night in full lighting.  

 

Enjoy!

Bollman Bridge Daylight

Bollman Bridge Xmas Light

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Images (2)
  • Bollman Bridge Daylight: Savage Manufacturing Co ( now called Savage Mill ) in background
  • Bollman Bridge Xmas Light: All lit up
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trumpettraintrumpettrainOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Mike CT Many thanks for the photos of the Bollman Bridge near Meyersdale.  There is also another Bollman Bridge spanning the C&O Canal in Williamsport, Md. ( I don't have photos of that one but have personally seen it )  Wendel Bollman created several different bridge designs.  The one in Savage, Md is unique in that it is the first design of an iron suspension/truss bridge used by railroads in the US and is recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers.   Originally Posted by Mike CT:
Near Myresdale Pa on the Great Allegheny Passage there is another persevered Bollman Bridge.  It was moved from another location.







 

Allan MillerAllan MillerOGR Editor-in-Chief SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Originally Posted by trumptrain:

 

These two photos are of the Bollman Bridge in Savage, Maryland ( my home town ).   The bridge was moved here from another location on the B&O during the late 1800s.  No one knows where this particular bridge was formerly located on the B&O system.  

For well over 100 years now this bridge has spanned the Little Patuxent River taking a spur over the Little Patuxent from the old B&0 Patuxent Branch.  This spur went to the Savage Manufacturing Company which manufactured cotton duck used in military tenting among other things.  You can see the Savage Manufacturing Co. in the background of the daylight photo. 

 

The bridge was donated to the Howard County Parks Dept by the Chessie System, as rail service to Savage ended in the early 1970's  

 

I lived--literally--just across the street from this bridge in an apartment complex when I lived in Laurel, MD.  I walked across that bridge many times en route to the old factory complex, which at that time housed a couple of nice places to eat and a variety of craft and antique shops.  That was back in the late 80s and early 90s.

trumpettraintrumpettrainOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

AWow Allen!  We were practically neighbors.  I live one block from the Bollman bridge and old cotton mill. I walk across the Bollman bridge most days as I go to the park to work out.  

 

As a matter of fact I had dinner at the mill new years eve with my brother.  I also bought fresh baked bread from the French bakery there yesterday.  There are still lots of craft shops, antique stores, art studios, and several eateries at the mill.  The Christmas decorations this year are exquisite btw.  I will try to get some photos of the decorated mill to you soon.  

 

3 generations of my family worked in that mill.  My great grandfather was the head electric power engineer. My grandmother and father worked in the mill as well.  My mother worked there during the two years the mill produced Christmas ornaments just after WW2.

 

 I can remember rail activity there when I was a young kid.  At one time Savage used to get one B&O freight 5=6 days per week and at others on 3 per week.  On the tracks just before you approach the bridge from your apartment was a cement unloading facility where 3 to 6 hoppers were unloaded daily.  Just as you cross the bridge there was a coal unloading facility, which used to get 2 - 3 50 ton hoppers every other day or so.  Then the mill would get an occassional box car or two every once in a while.  Again on your side of the bridge there was also a team track where I saw everything from one of B&Os big hooks, MOW equipment, boxcars of Christmas trees being unloaded, tank cars unloaded, flat cars of lumber& big machines, gondola loads of pipe, you name it. This was all in the 1950s and 60s  This may be TMI but its great to know you once lived here.

At any rate Happy New Year to you and your family Allen.

     Originally Posted by Allan Miller:

Originally Posted by trumptrain:

 

These two photos are of the Bollman Bridge in Savage, Maryland ( my home town ).   The bridge was moved here from another location on the B&O during the late 1800s.  No one knows where this particular bridge was formerly located on the B&O system.  

For well over 100 years now this bridge has spanned the Little Patuxent River taking a spur over the Little Patuxent from the old B&0 Patuxent Branch.  This spur went to the Savage Manufacturing Company which manufactured cotton duck used in military tenting among other things.  You can see the Savage Manufacturing Co. in the background of the daylight photo. 

 

The bridge was donated to the Howard County Parks Dept by the Chessie System, as rail service to Savage ended in the early 1970's  

 

I lived--literally--just across the street from this bridge in an apartment complex when I lived in Laurel, MD.  I walked across that bridge many times en route to the old factory complex, which at that time housed a couple of nice places to eat and a variety of craft and antique shops.  That was back in the late 80s and early 90s.

 

Allan MillerAllan MillerOGR Editor-in-Chief SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

It definitely is a small world, isn't it, Patrick!  I enjoyed living in the area…close to D.C., but not too close.  Close to Baltimore, too, but, again, not too close.  I used to take the MARC--often enough Budd RDC cars--into Washington a couple of times a week when I was doing some research at the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.

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