Back Cove Swing Bridge - Portland, ME
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 43° 40.401 W 070° 14.967
19T E 399278 N 4836352
This abandoned bridge permanently in the 'open' position crosses the east side of Back Cove.
Waymark Code: WMPXNJ
Location: Maine, United States
Date Posted: 11/05/2015
Views: 2
In Portland, crossing the outlet to Back Cove, is the Back Cove Swing Bridge.
The way that I saw the bridge was to take a ride on the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad to the end where they pause before they head back. Thre is also a walkway along the park almost to that location.
The bridge is a truss swing bridge with tracks on a trestle. The truss is a Pratt through truss, a single span. Bridgehunter.com didn't have any specifications for this bridge.
The bridge is no longer used. It was abandoned in 1967. In 1984, there was a fire either on the bridge or the trestle (comments disputed text on Bridgehunter.com). A forum related that there was some controversy about the future use of the bridge - either as a pedestrian walkway or a bridge for the narrow gauge railroad presently there. When actively a railroad bridge, it was used by the Grand Trunk Railroad and Canadian National Railway.
Sources:
Archboston.org (Portland Passenger Rail):
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visit link)
bridgehunter.com (Back Cove Swing Bridge):
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visit link)