We moved to Beaver Falls in 1977 and I remember the Smithfield St. bridge quite well. From some years after we arrived in BF there was passenger train that ran form Geneva College to what became Station Square. Workers would take the train to and from Pittsburgh and walk over to their jobs on the point. Is Station Square still shopping area and tourist attraction?
Some commenters have called this a "Lenticular Truss" bridge, but I would call it a "Tied Arch bridge. The main support is the upper arch, but the end of the arch are tied by another reinforcing structure so the load is not entirely forced outward, as on a simple arch bridge.
Just imagine the difficulty of building this structure considering the tools and methods available at the time. You've shown us another hidden gem. Thanks, Chris
There were several lenticular truss bridges in Northeast Connecticut. The one in Thompson was demolished in the 1980s. There were two in Plainfield into the 1990s but I haven't visited there since. There is one on the Appalation Trail still used as a foot bridge. The lenticular design saved about 10% in materials over conventional trusses. That made a big difference in 1900. Nice video. Good Luck, Rick
Considering the bridge had been standing since 1886 it seems like it was built pretty well. The bridge post piers do appear to be sketchy, but so far they lasted 137 years. what is amazing is very old steel train bridges that are still in service today. There are lots of rail bridges that are over 100 years ago and still handling daily freight trains. There is a 100 foot tail iron rail bridge that was built in 1907 near my area that still in service handling large freight trains.
Most very old train bridges -- other than stone arch bridges -- have been reinforced over the years. Sometimes, the bridge & building gang built another bridge around the existing bridge.
@@juliebraden6911 - That is so true. People always complaining about their trips being delayed because of maintenance or even new construction. The railroad was closed in San Clemente because of a slope sliding down and people were immediately asking why aren't the tracks re-routed to run alongside the 5 Freeway. Like that is going to be done in a couple weeks. These same people probably also complain the loudest about their state taxes.
It’s a shame the smaller truss was destroyed. With some improvements to the support pillars and a new deck and railings, that would make a great hiking/biking trail bridge.
Since the core of the bridge is an arch compressing against the rock walls it looks like a strong design. The under arch is interesting and the tie rods for stabilty would add a lit of stiffness. My engineering knowledge is pretty limited but it looks like a sound design that functioned for many years. The video narrator obviously has very limited structural knowledge.
That drone shot with the wires totally freaked me out. I thought you going to crash. Thanks for dropping the comment afterwards. As a drone pilot myself, I had my hands over my eyes. Safe flying out there. Cool location.
It probably has some very good design to it like some kind of reverse pressure that pushes back up, so it may look a bit shabby lol but the designer probably was quite intelligent.
Trying to figure that out, the bottom of the bridge is a catenary cable - under tension - maybe they just started by laying cables across the river then pulled them up and started from there ?
Has lasted longer then some bridges built 30 years ago. There's a bridge in my town that was rebuilt taking 2 years being shutdown and 10 years later it looks like it did before they fixed it
I suspect that once the ownership question is resolved, the bridge will be torn down. The owner will not want the risk of owning an "attractive nuisance" on which some foolish person will injure themselves in a fall. Insurance companies make those decisions for us.
Wrought iron is not as strong as steel, but it is much more resistant to corrosion. A good example is the Brooklyn Bridge, the Covington Bridge, all the bridges designed by John Roebling, they were built of wrought iron, not steel.
Wrought iron is no longer made anywhere in the world . A company in the UK sells reclaimed wrought iron , Real wrought iron , not steel people call wrought. Very corrosion resistant like you said compared to modern mild steel .
@@josephpadula2283 - That's my understanding, as well. My metallurgical knowledge doesn't extend to wrought iron, but the material reportedly has amazing properties compared to mild or high-strength steel.
I’m loving this trip Chris. I heard ”Livermore Falls” and thought to myself that now you had crossed into Maine. Totally forgot about this one. My bad. While trucking I used to drive through Berlin NH 3 times per week. Cool little town also. Saw many moose in the area.
You're in my friends neck of the woods in New Hampshire. She used to live out here in California, but now works at a government job in New Hampshire... They have a large piece of property with a few really old homes on it. One they remodeled and live in. Gorgeous area.
Amazing how simple it was back then just to pull funds together and accomplish a need for the people. Getting a bridge done now in comparison with simplicity of need to finish and the amount of funds required is question of wether we’re going in the right direction..
Very interesting design, I wonder if it flexed and moved much in operation. It looks like it's holding up surprisingly well, considering that it's wrought iron and not being regularly treated. Amazingly fortuitous drone piloting, glad you didn't lose it to the cables!
*Home. I lived just a mile south of there. Used to be a beautiful spot, used to be a great swimming area on the up river side of the mill ruins. But that was almost 40 years ago, back when Plymouth State College was one of the top 10 playboy party picks. The photo shoot was done around the mill and you can see the pumpkin seed bridge in the background in a couple of shots.*
It's obviously far enough removed that the Methbillies haven't gotten a hold of it yet and that is a Good Thing Because something of that Architectural Uniqueness and Age Does Truly Deserve to be restored if for no other reason than to be made into a hiking trail!!! 🤠👍
😮Woah! I can’t seem to figure out where the cars drove? The top, or underneath? I’m confused 🫤 Amazing and Frightening! Be careful in these places Chris 🙏🏻💙🤯
That is amazing! I just watched your video of the paper mill was fasinating and you referred this video to watch about this bridge! It made me think how they constructed this bridge and all those years ago. How it's still standing and cost to make it safe as a tourist attraction. Thanks for sharing.
You used to be able to get to the rope swing from the other side. I lived just on the other side in the mobile home park, growing up. I know the area pretty well.
I checked in with you today. Glad you are still around and traveling. Your channel is so interesting. You must be a cool person to know. It's good to see you again. That bridge looks beyond dangerous.
Kind of a sketchy looking bridge, but nothing compared to the original Kinzua Viaduct that had carried trains across it. It looked like something that a spider would have built! 😂
@@Yusa9204 the second bridge was solid. Unfortunately, they reused the original anchors in the foundations when the bridge was updated, and they were not so solid.
First, paranormal encounters with the little girl popping out behind a grave stone. Now drone master whizzing through power lines. What's next a yeti appearance while in New Hampshire. As always, excellent content and always looking forward to the next one. Keep it coming.
Chris always winkles out the most interesting and recondite facts and places with true journalistic instinct. In my salon are photographs of New Hampshire sites from my several greats grandfather who came from France, fought for a Maine battalion in our Civil War and remained in New Hampshire...a beautiful place and we still speak French when we go there since it's so close to Quebec.
Wouldnt pass construction standards today yet has stood for long past a century with no up keep for the last 60+ years. Building codes in large part are to allow consistency of inspection not longevity or strength.
It is a lenticular truss bridge. There is a preserved walkable one in Lovers Leap State Park in New Milford CT. Since WWI both Berlin NH and CT have been pronounced BERlin, not BerLIN.
The "pumpkin seed"? Try the "HELP HELP HELP I'M FALLING" bridge. Shxt. That's nuts. But, me at 11 years old....would have had me and my friends, brothers climbing all over the damn dangerous thing.
whats the issue? thats a very strong design... the cables underneath are tensioned and that pulls upward... you have an arched span on the top which is very strong against gravity...
This is a DECK lenticular truss. The roadway is on the TOP instead of being on the bottom for a THROUGH lenticular truss like with all but one of the other lenticular trusses built. That exception was/is out over the Sacandaga River in Corinth NY north of Albany near Saratoga. THAT one is a lenticular half-truss where the roadway is halfway up the truss passing through the endpoints. Strange Beast. That one has been fake-restored with the lenticular trusses detached from the original and welded onto a new bridge.
WHOAAAAA!. Chris, couldn’t believe you flew BETWEEN those wires/cables! Do you think the drone’s SENSORS SAVED it? I saw your message on-screen and wanted to ASK YOU: What specific drone you’re utilizing for capturing footage for your channel? GREAT footage and your editing has ALWAYS been very well done. Is it a DJI model ? (Just a guess). Great vid by the way.. that was such an awesome shot though!
Berlin. AGAIN, not said like the city in Germany, this small New Hampshire town located along the Androscoggin River is pronounced "BURR-LIN" Stressing the BURR, not so much the lin
Hey Chris, that's old school fun. I am not saying anyone should be doing it but I see kids swinging of the tree in to the creek I won't say where .. Just like in 80's
Lol.... that shorts was the only brightest color , other than that it's green and beautiful , the rushing water down below sounds crisp and clean the wonderful site of nature ❤💯 I wouldn't even get on what's left of that bridge just to make it across or swing just to enjoy it...sheesh
"Alrighty, gentlemen. We all pitched in some money and got 4100 Dollars for this project. Now take to the scrap yards and find the parts for our new bridge!"
That's a lenticular truss bridge. The Smithfield St. Bridge in Pittsburgh is another example-still carrying traffic since 1883.
We moved to Beaver Falls in 1977 and I remember the Smithfield St. bridge quite well. From some years after we arrived in BF there was passenger train that ran form Geneva College to what became Station Square. Workers would take the train to and from Pittsburgh and walk over to their jobs on the point. Is Station Square still shopping area and tourist attraction?
@@Yusa9204 It is, though they're renovating the Freighthouse so no more shopping really.
@@ostrich67 Sad, many memories at Station Square.
Some commenters have called this a "Lenticular Truss" bridge, but I would call it a "Tied Arch bridge. The main support is the upper arch, but the end of the arch are tied by another reinforcing structure so the load is not entirely forced outward, as on a simple arch bridge.
Nothing quite like reviewing your drone footage and THEN seeing the wire you came inches from! 😱
Just imagine the difficulty of building this structure considering the tools and methods available at the time. You've shown us another hidden gem.
Thanks, Chris
Yeah it's too bad there aren't any photos of them building it
There were several lenticular truss bridges in Northeast Connecticut. The one in Thompson was demolished in the 1980s. There were two in Plainfield into the 1990s but I haven't visited there since. There is one on the Appalation Trail still used as a foot bridge. The lenticular design saved about 10% in materials over conventional trusses. That made a big difference in 1900. Nice video. Good Luck, Rick
Considering the bridge had been standing since 1886 it seems like it was built pretty well. The bridge post piers do appear to be sketchy, but so far they lasted 137 years.
what is amazing is very old steel train bridges that are still in service today. There are lots of rail bridges that are over 100 years ago and still handling daily freight trains. There is a 100 foot tail iron rail bridge that was built in 1907 near my area that still in service handling large freight trains.
Most very old train bridges -- other than stone arch bridges -- have been reinforced over the years. Sometimes, the bridge & building gang built another bridge around the existing bridge.
Yeah but for some reason Americans think bridges last forever.
@@juliebraden6911 - That is so true. People always complaining about their trips being delayed because of maintenance or even new construction.
The railroad was closed in San Clemente because of a slope sliding down and people were immediately asking why aren't the tracks re-routed to run alongside the 5 Freeway. Like that is going to be done in a couple weeks. These same people probably also complain the loudest about their state taxes.
It’s a shame the smaller truss was destroyed. With some improvements to the support pillars and a new deck and railings, that would make a great hiking/biking trail bridge.
Since the core of the bridge is an arch compressing against the rock walls it looks like a strong design. The under arch is interesting and the tie rods for stabilty would add a lit of stiffness. My engineering knowledge is pretty limited but it looks like a sound design that functioned for many years. The video narrator obviously has very limited structural knowledge.
That drone shot with the wires totally freaked me out. I thought you going to crash. Thanks for dropping the comment afterwards. As a drone pilot myself, I had my hands over my eyes. Safe flying out there. Cool location.
It probably has some very good design to it like some kind of reverse pressure that pushes back up, so it may look a bit shabby lol but the designer probably was quite intelligent.
Fantastic feat to build that bridge in 1886. Thanks for sharing, Chris.🤠
Would be interesting to see how the bridge was constructed, the support pillars are downright scary 😮
Yeah, but they're still standing without cracks so they must've been doing something right at least.
@@ThePaulv12 true no visible cracks lol after all they are stone slabs 😊
Trying to figure that out, the bottom of the bridge is a catenary cable - under tension - maybe they just started by laying cables across the river then pulled them up and started from there ?
@@TheJhtlag that does make sense, thanks for the comment 😊
Has lasted longer then some bridges built 30 years ago. There's a bridge in my town that was rebuilt taking 2 years being shutdown and 10 years later it looks like it did before they fixed it
I suspect that once the ownership question is resolved, the bridge will be torn down. The owner will not want the risk of owning an "attractive nuisance" on which some foolish person will injure themselves in a fall. Insurance companies make those decisions for us.
"Construction and technology have gotten better."
For the next video, traveling to the collapsed section of I-95.
That's a good idea
Nice veiw Chrs! I'm afraid of heights too!😅
The bridge was deemed safe for 75 years. Probably would've lasted another 50.
Yes and no. Since 1950s car have become slightly more "portly". Just a different world back then.
Oh sure, it looks perfectly fine lol. Some of the things I read online kill me.
You always take us to the most interesting places. Thanks Chris.
Wrought iron is not as strong as steel, but it is much more resistant to corrosion. A good example is the Brooklyn Bridge, the Covington Bridge, all the bridges designed by John Roebling, they were built of wrought iron, not steel.
Wrought iron is no longer made anywhere in the world .
A company in the UK sells reclaimed wrought iron , Real wrought iron , not steel people call wrought.
Very corrosion resistant like you said compared to modern mild steel .
@@josephpadula2283 - That's my understanding, as well. My metallurgical knowledge doesn't extend to wrought iron, but the material reportedly has amazing properties compared to mild or high-strength steel.
U make me wish I was 20 years younger so I could do some of the things u do ! Thanx for sharing
I’m loving this trip Chris. I heard ”Livermore Falls” and thought to myself that now you had crossed into Maine. Totally forgot about this one. My bad. While trucking I used to drive through Berlin NH 3 times per week. Cool little town also. Saw many moose in the area.
You're in my friends neck of the woods in New Hampshire. She used to live out here in California, but now works at a government job in New Hampshire... They have a large piece of property with a few really old homes on it. One they remodeled and live in. Gorgeous area.
Amazing how simple it was back then just to pull funds together and accomplish a need for the people. Getting a bridge done now in comparison with simplicity of need to finish and the amount of funds required is question of wether we’re going in the right direction..
There's a similar bridge over the White Salmon river in Skamania, WA.
Say what you want about the ol pumpkin bridge, but it still stands/hangs to this day. She’s defying gravity like a champ.
Very interesting design, I wonder if it flexed and moved much in operation. It looks like it's holding up surprisingly well, considering that it's wrought iron and not being regularly treated. Amazingly fortuitous drone piloting, glad you didn't lose it to the cables!
I am absolutely shocked I didn't hit them! Usually I'm pretty unlucky haha
Thank you Chris!! This is the first time I’ve ever see this typeof bridge span.
*Home. I lived just a mile south of there. Used to be a beautiful spot, used to be a great swimming area on the up river side of the mill ruins. But that was almost 40 years ago, back when Plymouth State College was one of the top 10 playboy party picks. The photo shoot was done around the mill and you can see the pumpkin seed bridge in the background in a couple of shots.*
Thank you, Chris! ❤
I'm a huge fan of your video's. Thank's so much for sharing these cool hidden places.
Pretty scary to even think about crossing that supported on pillars and rocks , crazy to think that anybody would climb out there 😵
Very interesting looking bridge. Glad you were able to feature it. Thank you 👍
It's obviously far enough removed that the Methbillies haven't gotten a hold of it yet and that is a Good Thing Because something of that Architectural Uniqueness and Age Does Truly Deserve to be restored if for no other reason than to be made into a hiking trail!!! 🤠👍
😮Woah! I can’t seem to figure out where the cars drove? The top, or underneath? I’m confused 🫤
Amazing and Frightening! Be careful in these places Chris 🙏🏻💙🤯
The very top of it, I believe
At first I thought the driving area was underneath, too and then realized that it had to be up on the top! That really makes it scary!!
My pop drove across it often. It was closed his junior year of high school.
Anxious to watch your main channel video of the Paper Mill , looking forward to spending my vacation time with you , be careful ❤️
They now disavow ownership to avoid liability and/or responsibility for removal.
That is amazing! I just watched your video of the paper mill was fasinating and you referred this video to watch about this bridge! It made me think how they constructed this bridge and all those years ago. How it's still standing and cost to make it safe as a tourist attraction. Thanks for sharing.
You used to be able to get to the rope swing from the other side. I lived just on the other side in the mobile home park, growing up. I know the area pretty well.
I checked in with you today. Glad you are still around and traveling. Your channel is so interesting. You must be a cool person to know. It's good to see you again. That bridge looks beyond dangerous.
I use to work there and live in New Hampshire! By the way, Thank you for showing where the old Man in the Mountains was!
I've never been afraid of heights, but this thing would scare me!!😮
I've been watching your channel for a while now and just really enjoy your videos.
Thanks so much for sharing your journeys.
How are we going to get this thing into the Rockledge?
I don't know, chisel off a couple of rocks and stack them up. We'll make it work
My question is, what did they replace it with?
You find the most interesting and fascinating things. I just love your channels and look so forward to the videos.
Great subject thanks for sharing. Always interested in what you find next fascinating in Americas history and elsewhere.
Kind of a sketchy looking bridge, but nothing compared to the original Kinzua Viaduct that had carried trains across it. It looked like something that a spider would have built! 😂
I remember taking a train over the Kinzua Viaduct and being amazed by how solid it felt. Just a few years later in fell!
@@Yusa9204 the second bridge was solid. Unfortunately, they reused the original anchors in the foundations when the bridge was updated, and they were not so solid.
Excellent show, thank you bro!
Wow that's crazy! No way would I want to play around with that bridge way too highfor me. Thanks Chris for sharing. Looking forward to next video
I wonder if it will be scrapped when it finally collapses, or left in the river? 🤔
Stay tuned and yeeee haaaa!
🤠👍
(I'm feelin rare today)
First, paranormal encounters with the little girl popping out behind a grave stone. Now drone master whizzing through power lines. What's next a yeti appearance while in New Hampshire. As always, excellent content and always looking forward to the next one. Keep it coming.
My friends used to jump off of that! We went to Plymouth State. I love that you are going around my stomping grounds
Chris always winkles out the most interesting and recondite facts and places with true journalistic instinct. In my salon are photographs of New Hampshire sites from my several greats grandfather who came from France, fought for a Maine battalion in our Civil War and remained in New Hampshire...a beautiful place and we still speak French when we go there since it's so close to Quebec.
Wouldnt pass construction standards today yet has stood for long past a century with no up keep for the last 60+ years. Building codes in large part are to allow consistency of inspection not longevity or strength.
Cool looking old bridge.
Cool video man, I enjoyed it. I will subscribe if you continue to do these.
It is a lenticular truss bridge. There is a preserved walkable one in Lovers Leap State Park in New Milford CT.
Since WWI both Berlin NH and CT have been pronounced BERlin, not BerLIN.
Crazy to hear it mentioned here! It’s where (on) I proposed to my wife! I have a very fond affection for it !
Great video,,, OMG your drone guardian angel was with you on that day !
Such a fun spot, a few years ago I used to go there and use the rope swing, kinda glad to see its still there.
Kids jump off of this bridge to this day. Beautiful beach just down stream, you can see it in some of the views. Go there all the time.
Fred: we need to build a bridge in this georgous spot for my flintmobile.
Barney; There are some rocks over there.
Fred: yaba dabba do....
Weird bridge. I dont understand how they thought using loose rocks as a foundation,was a good idea. Thanks for the video Chris.
It's sitting on solid New Hampshire granite. Still, it looks precarious to modern eyes.
Berlin NH is pronounced BER-lin. Don't ask me why.
Magnificent craftsmanship for the time 😊
The "pumpkin seed"? Try the "HELP HELP HELP I'M FALLING" bridge. Shxt. That's nuts. But, me at 11 years old....would have had me and my friends, brothers climbing all over the damn dangerous thing.
whats the issue? thats a very strong design... the cables underneath are tensioned and that pulls upward... you have an arched span on the top which is very strong against gravity...
Have you seen what it's sitting on? When it falls into the gorge it'll go in one piece; I'll give you that.
I say whoever decided to cut the bridge should be the owner of the bridge since they no longer wanted pedestrian traffic to cross.
Yeah, they acted as the owner of the bridge.
That's one of my Burn spots! Watching crazy kids jump off the Top of that bridge
I sure enjoy the videos, thanks
Many US bridges lasted a fraction of the time this has survived.
Obstinacy to crumble into the abyss is a strong force here
Go the Dixville, Notch. But don’t walk in without permission, stay on this side of Lake Glorriette.
Great close up on those wires 🤠👍👍
Cool cool bridge. But you couldn't pay me enough to climb on that bridge I have a fear of heights.
This is a DECK lenticular truss. The roadway is on the TOP instead of being on the bottom for a THROUGH lenticular truss like with all but one of the other lenticular trusses built. That exception was/is out over the Sacandaga River in Corinth NY north of Albany near Saratoga. THAT one is a lenticular half-truss where the roadway is halfway up the truss passing through the endpoints. Strange Beast. That one has been fake-restored with the lenticular trusses detached from the original and welded onto a new bridge.
WHOAAAAA!. Chris, couldn’t believe you flew BETWEEN those wires/cables! Do you think the drone’s SENSORS SAVED it? I saw your message on-screen and wanted to ASK YOU: What specific drone you’re utilizing for capturing footage for your channel? GREAT footage and your editing has ALWAYS been very well done. Is it a DJI model ? (Just a guess). Great vid by the way.. that was such an awesome shot though!
Still looks OK.
Think will go there and cross over it soon.
It looks disconcerting but then you realise it has been stood abandoned for 63 years and is still standing
Brand new that would still scare the poop out of most
Berlin. AGAIN, not said like the city in Germany, this small New Hampshire town located along the Androscoggin River is pronounced "BURR-LIN" Stressing the BURR, not so much the lin
Thanks so much for sharing🌉
You can even walk up to Table Rock! Ask people in Colebrook about her, our Balsams! Been watching you show for a long time!
I ll look it up. Thanks!
Thanks so much!
You almost put your drone in the drink.
Very lucky.
thank you for making this video it's July 4th 2023 I watched it all the way through I am John from Vermont.
Hey Chris, that's old school fun. I am not saying anyone should be doing it but I see kids swinging of the tree in to the creek I won't say where .. Just like in 80's
PSU kids party in the Pemi and jump from that all the time, my son did it lol !
Pretty cool bridge.
Lol.... that shorts was the only brightest color , other than that it's green and beautiful , the rushing water down below sounds crisp and clean the wonderful site of nature ❤💯 I wouldn't even get on what's left of that bridge just to make it across or swing just to enjoy it...sheesh
THANK YOU CHRIS
You finely found something you won't do or won't go. A bridge too far, lol. Not that blame you. Love your videos. Stay safe.
Nobody “left” their shorts, they wiped their ass with them!!
No one wants to claim it because municipalities do not want the expense of maintaining it
One question... Is the bridge still standing?
Then the construction worked!!!!!
No way Jose lol. Cool find!
Vacation with Chris Day 4 😊. Magnificent bridge and history, couldn't pay me enough even in my primo years to cross it 😅
Fascinating and terrifying!
Are you sure it wasn't a trolley car bridge that cars shared to .
Very close on the pronunciation of Pemigewasset. It’s a hard G like George.
Glad everything was good , that bridge don't look stable for vehicles anymore.
They don't claim ownership to avoid liability.
"Alrighty, gentlemen. We all pitched in some money and got 4100 Dollars for this project. Now take to the scrap yards and find the parts for our new bridge!"