A Scherzer rolling- lift bridge on the Rideau Canal system at lock #31         
In 1912-1913, a Scherzer rolling-lift railway bridge (a type of bascule bridge) was built by the Dominion Bridge Company of Lachine, Quebec for the Canadian Northern Railway. The design of the bridge allowed it to be operated either manually or with the use of an electric motor. When opened in 1914, the bridge operated with a DC electric motor that would swing the bridge up 90 degrees in one minute. However, Smiths Falls switched to AC power in 1915 and the railway decided to operate the bridge manually. It took over 10 minutes to raise the bridge by 45 degrees, 20 minutes to raise it the full 90 degrees. It continued to operate manually until the bridge was closed in December 1978.
Date: 5/4/2009 Location: Smiths Falls, ON CA Country Flag   Map Show Smiths Falls on a rail map Views: 260 Collection Of:   Dave Broughton
Author:  Dave Broughton
A Scherzer rolling- lift bridge on the Rideau Canal system at lock #31
Picture Categories: Scenic,Bridge This picture is part of album:  Bridges
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