Columbia River Bridge at Celilo, Oregon
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 45° 38.453 W 120° 58.568
10T E 657722 N 5056140
The Columbia River Bridge at Celilo crosses the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington.
Waymark Code: WM5NYV
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 01/27/2009
Views: 16
From this site rail traffic on three different lines is visible. Along the north shore of the Columbia River the east-west mainline of the BNSF Railway (Burlington Northern Santa Fe). Along the south shore is the mainline of the UP Railway (Union Pacific). Branching from the BNSF mainline on the northshore is the BNSF mainline that runs south through Oregon into California. With these three mainline visible, there are frequent opportunities to watch railroad activities.
The Columbia River Bridge at Celilo was built to connect the Oregon Trunk Railroad with the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway. Construction on the bridge began in July 1910 and the first train crossed it on January 4, 1912. The 4,197-foot steel bridge at Celilo Falls rests on 29 piers and three abutments. From south to north the bridge consisted of four deck girder spans 75 feet long, one deck girder span 76 feet long, one swing span 250 feet long over the Celilo Government Canal, one 320 foot through-truss span, 6 through-truss spans each 230 feet long, and 16 deck girder spans 102 feet long, which form the wye at the north end.
Due to the construction of The Dalles Dam (completed in 1957) the entire bridge had to be raised several feet. In addition the Celilo Government Canal was covered by rising waters so the swing span was closed and permanently attached. In place of the swing span the 320 foot through-truss span was converted to a vertical lift span to accommotate river traffic.
Information on bridge comes from “The Deschutes River Railroad War” by Leon Speroff.
Viewing coordinates are along the gorge rim south of the bridge and can be reached by a good gravel road which begins at the mouth of the Deschutes River. There are also some good views of the bridge from I-84, but there is no place to stop.
What Best Describes This Location: Mainline
Is this rail location handicap accessible?: No
Other Describe: Not listed
If there is a fee how much?: Not Listed
Related website: Not listed
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