This page is the former Timber Howe Truss Bridge dedicated to those over 50 years to 6 December 1985 the Kootenay River near Bonners Ferry, Idaho in the north of the state, eccentric. As already mentioned, the following picture which shows a freight train of the Union Pacific with a heavy diesel locomotive SD 40-2, on the bridge, the ultimate inspiration for my railroad hobby!

The recording was obviously made before 1985. . ! UP locomotive still has the "old" label version of the 70s and 80s. The quality of this, and probably also in North America seldom massive wooden structure is hard to believe. For decades withstand the heavy trains reflects the best of engineering and quality of construction of the bridge on the principle of William Howe. (See page HOWE TRUSS BRIDGE, bottom TECHNIK).

An estimated 1904 or 1905, was a first wooden bridge, already created on the principle of William Howe. This time for the Spokane International Railroad. The rail line from Spokane to the Canadian border in Idaho state "high", was created with the purpose of a north-south link to the Canadian Pacific Railroad to receive. Even today, this railway line is used.

It should be noted in this picture that the first bridge consisted of only four bridge elements. Presumably, the required load limit was much lower than in the follow-bridge, so that four voltages sufficient.

An old picture of Bonners Ferry, probably as around 1910. In connection with the construction of my "old" website, I had several contacts with people of Bonners Ferry and the local Historical Society. So I've come over time to these old recordings. Time I received a letter from a lady who lives now in the eastern United States. She would have discovered my website and reminds her that her father was in his youth (around 1920) several times with his uncle in Bonners Ferry in the holidays. She would have just been found as one postcard from him.

Main Street Bonners Ferry in 1906 with the old road bridge in the background. Note the wooden sidewalks like in the old Western!

In 1932 the old wooden bridge was replaced by a new bridge with a total of five bridge elements. The old bridge was determined the increasingly heavy burden, not least, the much larger steam locomotives no longer cope.

In the picture with the site, the scaffolding seen in the background and a steam crane and a Piledriver on the support structure.

Main Street Bonners Ferry in 1930. The road is paved.

Recording of the "new" bridge from the road bridge upstream. Good to see the short Trestle on the south shore.

Also upstream from the right side of the bridge. All these pictures I received from an engineer of the Union Pacific Railroad. The contact for this engineer I could with the help of the Train Master of American Railroadfans in Switzerland.

The diesel locomotive on the bridge is a EMD GP 38, from which the masses are of course known. So I could with measurement on the photo and compare it with the locomotive ground, set the original mass of the bridge for my plan quite closely.

Very nice shot from the south shore of river up. Note that, at this time, beginning 80s already in a parlous state located bridge piers. The lining of the pillar is partially torn away by the floods.

Two images along the bridge on the tracks. In the background disappears grad the last car of a train, the Caboose.

The impressive wooden bridge carried for over 50 years, the increasingly heavy loads of freight trains. Finally, even modern diesels in multiple.

Bonners Ferry around 1960. The focus of the second line, which runs east-west: the Main Line of the Northern Pacific Railroad, east towards Marias Pass

In 1958 the Union Pacific Railroad overtake the Spokane International. This small railway company then fell quickly into oblivion.

View upriver from the highway bridge.

6th December 1985

A heavy UP-Train crossing the bridge. Perhaps the engineer had to brake hard or the weight of the car was too big. . . the end of the wooden bridge. They broke in and fell along with the Hoppers in the flow.

Submitted three more impressive images of the crash.

Oddly enough, the Union Pacific planned at the same time, the replacement of the wooden bridge with a modern steel-box bridge, called a plate girder bridge on concrete piers. In this picture the half-finished plate girder bridge upstream of the collapsed bridge can be seen well.

The "naked" Chaos! The cleanup will probably have lasted a long time!

Plate Girder Bridge.

That third bridge over the Kootenay River, yet the following is noted: the eight elements are used bridge elements! They come from dismantled bridges of disused railway lines from the UP rail network. Hence the different spans and heights of box bridge sections. In the model H0 1:87, which I have built in previous years, we have taken account of these different parts of the bridge also. See page "HOWE TRUSS BRIDGE", "MODEL H0 1:87".

A beautiful recording of the river plain of the Kootenay River, downstream towards the north-west view. Well the line on the left bank of today's Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad is visible. Almost in the center is Bonners Ferry

Finally, a new recording of the bridge. Typical of the "Joint Line" to the UP with the Canadian Pacific Railroad freight train of a CP-engine is cited.

Train Watching a visit to Bonners Ferry is worthwhile in all cases. Both on the UP and on the BNSF route is a brisk traffic. Moreover, is regularly on the BNSF line through the Amtrak Empire Builder passenger train.

About one feed back on this web site, I'm always happy! Every mail will be answered: themountaineer@bluewin.ch

Respect. . ! This site is under construction. It may take until the summer of 2010, until all sides are decorated ready. Please have a look again!