This bridge brings the Norfolk Southern over the Rouge River between Delray and Oakwood Yard (on the old Wabash line west to Montpelier). The bridge has an operator (bridgetender) 24/7 but control of the interlocking, switch and signals has been transferred to the dispatcher. It is a bascule design. The bridge was rebuilt by the Midwest Steel Company in 1982.
Six switch engines stored at Oakwood Yard were placed on the bridge to keep the span down while the counterweight was disconnected and new beams were placed. From [Inside Track Magazine, 2/1982].
Photo Info: Top, this is a northbound view from a GTW freight which is about to cross the NS Rouge River Bridge in 2010. 2nd photo, Detroit & Toledo Shore Line 41 pulls a freight train across the Wabash bridge in 1967. [Emory Gulash photo, C. H. Geletzke Jr. collection]. 3rd photo, a D&TSL freight passes southbound over the bridge in 1967. [Emory Gulash photo, Charles Geletzke Jr. Collection]. 4th image, CN train 384 waits northbound for the Charles M. Beeghly to depart down the Rouge River. [Both photos from Charles Geletzke Jr.]. 5th image, a 1923 map showing the current bridge crossing along with the location of the original bridge near the Michigan Carbon Works. [Mike Delaney Collection]
The original swing bridge near this location was built in the late 1800's when the Wabash came to Detroit. The swing bridge was replaced around 1912 when the D&TSL was built and gained trackage rights over the river. The current bridge was built when the Short Cut Canal was widened for use by the Ford Rouge Works.
The bridge uses a counterweight system which swings on different axis. Called "cross-rotating" bascule, it was the only one of its kind when it was built. The motor house travels up and down an inclined track, following the movement of the counterweight, and which actually forms part of the weight itself.
The counter-weight on this bridge swings in a quarter circle on a pivot, just beneath the apex of a tall triangular steel frame, while the bridge proper is pivoted at the base of the frame. The bridge and counter-weight are connected by jointed girders.
When the bridge is down, the counter-weight is suspended in a horizontal plane, where it is locked against movement by racks and cogs of the incline. When the bridge is raised, the counterweight swings downward in a half circle, while the motor house moves down the incline in front of it.
This arrangement is said to require less power for operation than the ordinary bascule and is quicker in opening and closing the bridge. A 100-horsepower electric motor opens and closes the bridge in 90 seconds. An extra motor is provided for use in case of a breakdown. A gasoline engine that will open the bridge in eight minutes is also available.
Concrete blocks, which weighing 2,500 pounds make up the 1000-ton counterweight. The movable span is 162 feet long. In the power house is a mechanism that prevents operation of the bridge until all signals are set. [1/1923]
1893. The Wabash railroad is building a new swing bridge over the Rouge River. They will also build shops and a roundhouse at Oakwood. [DFP-1893-0917] This was the second Wabash bridge over the Rouge river.
1920's. Early. The Pennsylvania Railroad also began using the bridge in the 1920's. The bridge was originally built by the Wabash Railroad, along with the Detroit & Toledo Shore Line Railroad.
1923. The bridge is a cross-rotating bascule type, and the counterweight and bridge span swing on different axes. At the time it was built, this was the only one of its kind in the world. The motor house, which travels up and down on an inclined track, follows the movement of the counterweight and actually forms part of the weight itself. An ordinary bascule bridge operates simply as a lever with a counterweight to balance the bridge proper. The counterweight on this bridge on the other hand, swings in a quarter circle on a pivot just beneath the apex of a tall triangular steel frame, while the bridge, proper is pivoted at the base of the frame. The Bridge and counterweight are connected by jointed girders.
When the bridge is down, the counterweight is suspended in a horizontal plane where it is locked against movement by racks and cogs of the incline. When the bridge is raised, the counterweight swings downward in a half-circle, while the motor house moves down the incline in front of it. This arrangement is said to require less power for operation than the ordinary bascule and is quicker in opening and closing the bridge. A 100-horsepower electric motor opens and closes the bridge in 90 seconds. An extra motor is provided for use in case of breakdown. A gasoline engine that will open the bridge in eight minutes is also available.
Concrete blocks, each weighing 2,500 pounds make up the 1,000-ton counterweight. The movable span is 163 feet long. In the powerhouse is mechanism that prevents operation of the bridge until all signals are set. [January, 1923 news article, Michael Delaney collection].
1926. Wabash has placed an order with the US&S Company for the material necessary to enlarge the electric interlocking plant at Rouge River Draw so as to include (grade) crossing protection between both the Wabash and the D&TSL with the Michigan Central and the interconnection between the Wabash and the Pennsylvania. This change involves the addition of a 19-lever section in the existing Type F electric interlocking machine; a track model (board) for the complete layout; 17 Model M switch layouts, 16 T signals, and six position-light signals, together with necessary relays, housings, etc. The railroad company will carry out the field work with regular signal forces. [RSG-1926-07]
1941. August. Flames still leaped high last night from the crumpled hulk of the Canadian tanker Transiter as federal and local agencies pressed inquiries into the blast that ripped the vessel open Friday night with a cost of two lives. The explosion set ablaze the 600,000 gallon cargo of gasoline. There was no official indication of sabotage as a cause of the blast. The bodies of two crew members were recovered by harbormaster's police from the river. They drowned when they and all others aboard the tanker leaped into the water following the blast. [BCE-1941-0810]
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