this post was submitted on 01 Apr 2024
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Dale Creek Bridge, Sherman, Wyoming, 1885. A dangerous crossing that required trains to slow down to 4mph. (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/historyporn
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[–] Spastickyle 65 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I parents live within a 5-mile drive from that location. I don't think the commenters understand how windy that place is. The wood may look more sturdy but it's also a wind sail. The thin "toothpick" structure was most likely designed to allow the wind to pass through without blowing the bridge down.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 7 months ago (1 children)

There's an easy solution to make bridges stable in windy conditions:

(That bridge was built from 1846 to 1851 and it's still used today)

[–] [email protected] 18 points 7 months ago (1 children)

And how do you propose you get all those bricks to some remote pass in Wyoming in the late 19th century? There was 21,000 (non-native) people living in an area larger than the entire United Kingdom in 1880.

[–] [email protected] 43 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I mean... A train?

I get you though; built with what's readily available to meet the needs of the time.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 7 months ago

I laughed out loud at this. Thank you.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

It's not jist about what's readily available either. A giant brick viaduct would require thousands if workers, housing, food, and sanitation for them. On top of that, the army would have to dedicate a full company ti protecting the workers due to the risk of attack from natives. The logistics just make it impossible for such a remote area back then.

[–] Everythingispenguins 12 points 7 months ago

Windy in Wyoming, color me shocked 😲

[–] [email protected] 43 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Haha, according to the article, that photo is after the reinforcements were added. No thanks

[–] CptEnder 35 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Honestly the wood one looked more secure

[–] [email protected] 26 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Needs more triangles

[–] Graphy 5 points 7 months ago

That’s me playing polybridge.

“Well I think triangles are strong and don’t really know any other shapes so…”

[–] Dkarma 2 points 7 months ago

Wood weathers incredibly fast in the sun

[–] Rolando 34 points 7 months ago (1 children)

More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Creek_Crossing

[–] [email protected] 15 points 7 months ago

The first one was wooden? Oh my...

[–] TomMasz 29 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Civil Engineering took a while to catch on.

[–] Thrashy 38 points 7 months ago

The number of rail bridge collapses covered by Well There's Your Problem where the episode opens with a retelling of how the railroad company owner designed the bridge himself because the engineers couldn't grasp the genius of his vision is too damn high.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 7 months ago (1 children)

That bridge looks rickety af

[–] 1995ToyotaCorolla 29 points 7 months ago

“Steel is stronger than wood, so let’s make our trestle out of metal toothpicks”

[–] grue 23 points 7 months ago

That's the kind of bridge I'd only want to cross at 88 mph.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 7 months ago

FLOOR IT

[–] Anticorp 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Couldn't they have, idk... built a more substantial bridge?

[–] Schmuppes 2 points 7 months ago

Time is money, brother.

[–] kokesh 7 points 7 months ago

Just send it!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

Maybe less weight at once? You've got two engines there after all...