Salem, Falls City and Western Railway Bridge, Salem Oregon
Posted by: 
TheBeanTeam
N 44° 56.747 W 123° 02.463
10T E 496761 N 4976928
Most sources call it this the Salem, Falls City and Western Railway Bridge but this vertical lift bridge and 860 foot curving wood trestle is also remembered as the P. E. & E. Bridge (Portland, Eugene, and Eastern)and the Falls City Branch of the Southern Pacific.
Waymark Code: WMCA6
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 05/10/2006
Views: 77
Southern Pacific used this bridge in Salem Oregon up until the 1970's. Even then it was used in a limited way by swithcers into the 1990's. Construction on this bridge across the Willamette River started around 1907 and continued until it was finished in 1913. The bridge
is a 5 span through truss bridge, that has a center draw span (vertical lift) for river traffic. The west end of the bridge includes a dramatic curving wood trestle.
Many more photo's and history of this rail line can be found at Brian894X4's excellent web resource of Abandoned Railroads of the Pacific Northwest
The Union Pacific Railroad donated the bridge and some land for a park to The City of Salem on October 15, 2004. Salem has since converted this bridge into a pedestrian bridge.
Bridge Facts:
Facts:
Bridge Constructed from 1907-1913
Bridge Type: Steel Truss Span with Vertical Lift Span
Length of Steel Superstructure: approximately 700 feet
Minimum Horizontal Distance Between Truss Members: 15 feet
Length of Timber Approach Trestle: approximately 860 feet
Elevation Above High Water Open: 68 feet
Elevation Above High Water Closed: 14 feet
This railroad bridge and trestle can be viewed from either side of the river. On the east side of the river where the coordinates take you there is a great children’s museum (A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village) and the 23 acre Riverfront Park which is home to Salem's Riverfront Carousel. On the west bank of the river there is the 114 acre (Wallace Marine Park). Both areas provide wonderful views of this railway river crossing and this community’s rails to trails pedestrian bridge.