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Niagara Cantilever Bridge

Bridges completed in 1883Bridges in Niagara Falls, New YorkBridges in Niagara Falls, OntarioBridges over the Niagara RiverCantilever bridges in Canada
Cantilever bridges in the United StatesInternational railway linesMichigan Central Railroad bridgesRailroad bridges in New York (state)Railway bridges in the Regional Municipality of NiagaraSteel bridges in CanadaSteel bridges in the United StatesTruss bridges in CanadaTruss bridges in the United States
NU RM30 Niagara Cantilever Bridge
NU RM30 Niagara Cantilever Bridge

The Niagara Cantilever Bridge or Michigan Central Railway Cantilever Bridge was a cantilever bridge across the Niagara Gorge. An international railway-only bridge between Canada and the United States, it connected Niagara Falls, New York, and Niagara Falls, Ontario, located just south of the Whirlpool Bridge, and opened to traffic in 1883, it was replaced by the Michigan Central Railway Steel Arch Bridge in 1925.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Niagara Cantilever Bridge (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Niagara Cantilever Bridge
Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, Niagara Falls

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Wikipedia: Niagara Cantilever BridgeContinue reading on Wikipedia

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 43.108135 ° E -79.058604 °
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Michigan Central Railway Bridge

Whirlpool Rapids Bridge
L2E 3M2 Niagara Falls
Ontario, Canada
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NU RM30 Niagara Cantilever Bridge
NU RM30 Niagara Cantilever Bridge
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Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge

The Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge stood from 1855 to 1877 across the Niagara River and was the world's first working railway suspension bridge. It spanned 825 feet (251 m) and stood 2.5 miles (4.0 km) downstream of Niagara Falls, where it connected Niagara Falls, Ontario to Niagara Falls, New York. Trains used the upper of its two decks, while pedestrians and carriages used the lower. The bridge was the idea of Canadian politicians, and it was built by an American company and a Canadian company. It was most commonly called the Suspension Bridge, although other names included Niagara Railway Suspension Bridge, Niagara Suspension Bridge, and its official American name of the International Suspension Bridge. The bridge was part of Canadian politician William Hamilton Merritt's vision to promote trade within his country and with its neighbor the United States. Many argued that a suspension bridge could not support the safe passage of trains, including bridge builders. Nonetheless, the bridge companies hired Charles Ellet Jr., who laid a line by a kite across the 800-foot (240 m) chasm and built a temporary suspension bridge in 1848. Ellet left the project after a financial dispute with the bridge companies, who hired John Augustus Roebling to complete the project. By 1854, his bridge was nearly complete, and the lower deck was opened for pedestrian and carriage travel. On March 18, 1855, a fully laden passenger train officially opened the completed bridge. The Suspension Bridge was a border crossing between Canada and the United States, and it played significant roles in the histories of the Niagara region and the two countries. Three railway lines crossed over the bridge, connecting cities on both sides of the border. The Great Western Railway, New York Central Railroad, and New York and Erie Rail Road differed in track gauge; the bridge used a triple gauge system to conserve space, overlapping two tracks on top of each other and using a rail of each to form the third track. The railroads brought a large influx of trade and tourists into the region around the Niagara Falls. In the time leading to the American Civil War, the Underground Railroad helped slaves in the United States escape across the Suspension Bridge to freedom in Canada. After the war, the bridge became a symbol of inspiration to Americans, encouraging them to rebuild their country and pushing them to quickly industrialize their nation. The bridge's success proved that a railway suspension bridge could be safe and operational. Its wooden structures began to decay and were replaced with stronger steel and iron versions by 1886. In 1897 the bridge was replaced by the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge and the suspension bridge was dismantled.