this post was submitted on 01 Apr 2024
309 points (99.4% liked)

HistoryPorn

4984 readers
155 users here now

If you would like to become a mod in this community, kindly PM the mod.

Relive the Past in Jaw-Dropping Detail!

HistoryPorn is for photographs (or, if it can be found, film) of the past, recent or distant! Give us a little snapshot of history!

Rules

  1. Be respectful and inclusive.
  2. No harassment, hate speech, or trolling.
  3. Engage in constructive discussions.
  4. Share relevant content.
  5. Follow guidelines and moderators' instructions.
  6. Use appropriate language and tone.
  7. Report violations.
  8. Foster a continuous learning environment.
  9. No genocide or atrocity denialism.

Pictures of old artifacts and museum pieces should go to History Artifacts

Illustrations and paintings should go to History Drawings

Related Communities:

Military Porn

Forgotten Weapons

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
PugJesus
[email protected]
309
Dale Creek Bridge, Sherman, Wyoming, 1885. A dangerous crossing that required trains to slow down to 4mph. (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/historyporn
24 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 
top 24 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Spastickyle 65 points 8 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 8 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 8 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 8 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 8 months ago

I laughed out loud at this. Thank you.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 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 8 months ago

Windy in Wyoming, color me shocked 😲

[–] [email protected] 43 points 8 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] CptEnder 35 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Honestly the wood one looked more secure

[–] [email protected] 26 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Needs more triangles

[–] Graphy 5 points 8 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 8 months ago

Wood weathers incredibly fast in the sun

[–] Rolando 34 points 8 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 15 points 8 months ago

The first one was wooden? Oh my...

[–] TomMasz 29 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Civil Engineering took a while to catch on.

[–] Thrashy 38 points 8 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 8 months ago (1 children)

That bridge looks rickety af

[–] 1995ToyotaCorolla 29 points 8 months ago

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

[–] grue 23 points 8 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 14 points 8 months ago

FLOOR IT

[–] Anticorp 9 points 8 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] Schmuppes 2 points 8 months ago

Time is money, brother.

[–] kokesh 7 points 8 months ago

Just send it!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

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