Hanging Bridge-Royal Gorge

This is a bit long and transcends narrow gauge aspects, so I hope a bit of latitude will be allowed concerning the topic.

I am not aware of the image posted by Chris has ever been published, but I believe I have seen copies in private collections.

The mysteries of the Hanging Bridge have captivated researchers and historians for quite sometime. The original structure at this site was a wooden trestle, built by blasting out a fairly flat rock shelf, then laying stringers upon which a low wooden trestle was constructed. The trestle was makeshift and built to allow the ATSF to lay track west. Any iron bridge were part of the original plans.
In actuality A. A. Robinson, Chief Construction Engineer of the AT&SF developed the concept for the bridge and C. Shaler Smith the architect/builder referred to the bridge as a “rafter” bridge. During the winter of 1878, Robinson and Smith visited the future site of the bridge by walking over the frozen Arkansas. A detailed accounting of the cost of the bridge is outlined below:

Voucher
1922 C.S. Smith 16,100.66
2067 Freight on 220,730 lbs @ .50 per hundred 1,103.65
2005 Freight 1 car load of cylinders, etc. 100.00
2072 Freight on 1 car load of tools used in
Construction 100.00 each way 200.00
Extra work and lost time 1,273.26
Freight on 123,000# of Oak 615.00
1940 Inspection by Engle, from Kansas City 43.00
Total 19435.57

Advance 25% on 16,100.66 4025.17
Grand total 23460.74

A bit of explanation is in order. This information is taken from the official ATSF ournal vouchers provided by A. A. Robinson as part of his testimony in Federal Court. At that time the ATSF produced the actual vouchers for the Court to look at.
$16,100.66 was Smith’s original bid for construction of the bridge. Voucher 2005 has proved interesting, Until you look at the image attached. Originally the rock side of the bridge sat on iron cylinders, it is suggested that the riverside may have also. I have not been able to verify either photographically.
The 123,000 pounds of Oak was used as bridge decking and false framework. The advance was allowed by the Court to offset the increased value of the materials and labor during the design and Construction period.

Over time the bridge has been strengthened and the riverside enclosed. The original attempt to enclosed the river side was a rock wall, that was under cut by the river. It was not discovered for quite some time. The rock wall was removed and a new concrete wall with buttresses replaced it. During the time of the rock wall failure
trains operated over the bridge being supported by the outside girder and the A frames above. With the construction of a number of dams on the upper reaches of the Arkansas water levels and flood flows have diminished greatly, that allowing the narrowing of the channel by the construction of the wall.
The A Frames have been repositioned twice according to a former DRGW Bridge inspector. The rock wall side upon inspection shows the current connection, as well as two lower previously used points. A strike by a double stack car caused the last change of position. At this time the bridge could be removed totally, as it does not function as a bridge, it remains in place as a historical curiosity protected by landmark status.

The location of the photo is at the west end of the bridge on the rock side looking east. An original cylinder is visiable on the left while a replacement stone pier has replace another. The concrete wall on the river side can be seen as well as a number of butresses.

Change in anchor points on the North A Frame Rock Side


Larry Green