Providence, RI-Seekonk River Lift Bridge

[farecoal]

For those who don't know much about this urban relic: http://www.artinruins.com/arch/?id=decay&pr=seekonkbridge

I sure do love this bridge, as well as the East Side Railroad Tunnel. I hope they never eliminate either, as they are such interesting artifacts of Providence rail history, and the bridge is a nice enhancement to the cityscape. What do you think though? Will service ever be restored to the line that the tunnel and bridge once carried? I've heard about plans to possibly reopen the line and use it for some sort of light rail connector service from East Providence to the rest of the city. Possible?

 

[magickmaker]

Unfortunately, if the Coast Guard declares it to be a navigation hazard, then no matter how historic it is, the bridge will be torn down. We've lost many historic draw bridges and regular bridges due to this fact.

 

[pfx]

Come cracking pics on that link though. Urban dereliction being one of my favourite things, I can't help myself...

 

[farecoal]

Come cracking pics on that link though. Urban dereliction being one of my favourite things, I can't help myself...

Yeah, it's so awesome, isn't it? For us enthusiasts at least, not for city governments.

 

[scratchy]

@Pfx and farecoal,

Might want to check this site out then, by far one of the most interesting i've come across about urban decay and abandoned industries
Theres some good ones on the stations in Buffalo and Michigan as well as a load of mines and steelworks...

http://www.opacity.us/

 

[pfx]

@ scratchy, cheers for that. Top link.

 

[JCitron]

For those who don't know much about this urban relic: http://www.artinruins.com/arch/?id=decay&pr=seekonkbridge

<pic removed for quote>

I sure do love this bridge, as well as the East Side Railroad Tunnel. I hope they never eliminate either, as they are such interesting artifacts of Providence rail history, and the bridge is a nice enhancement to the cityscape. What do you think though? Will service ever be restored to the line that the tunnel and bridge once carried? I've heard about plans to possibly reopen the line and use it for some sort of light rail connector service from East Providence to the rest of the city. Possible?

I don't think the line will be used again, at least for regular trains. This was once an interurban run by the New Haven Railroad. The old Drawbridge I think still has catenary posts on it. In Seekonk, there's the bike path, which was once the rail line to the bridge.

I've seen the urban decay website before it's sad to see some of the closed train stations and derelict factories. For me it's sad because it showed what a great industrial nation we once were, and now we're only a shadow of what we once were because of the off-shoring and destruction of industrial jobs in the US.

John

 

[farecoal]

I don't think the line will be used again, at least for regular trains. This was once an interurban run by the New Haven Railroad. The old Drawbridge I think still has catenary posts on it. In Seekonk, there's the bike path, which was once the rail line to the bridge.

I've seen the urban decay website before it's sad to see some of the closed train stations and derelict factories. For me it's sad because it showed what a great industrial nation we once were, and now we're only a shadow of what we once were because of the off-shoring and destruction of industrial jobs in the US.

John

Yeah, I doubt so too. My grandmother, a long-time Providence resident, lacks hope as well. It does seem that whole area is in industrial decline. The least I wish they could do is reopen the bridge for recreational use, such as extending the bike path over it (although what good would a giant lift bridge like that, designed for rail, do for a path haha?). Who knows.

 

[JCitron]

Yeah, I doubt so too. My grandmother, a long-time Providence resident, lacks hope as well. It does seem that whole area is in industrial decline. The least I wish they could do is reopen the bridge for recreational use, such as extending the bike path over it (although what good would a giant lift bridge like that, designed for rail, do for a path haha?). Who knows.

Exactly who knows...

Check this forum thread out at www.railroad.net

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=179&t=83056

Things are looking up. I'd like to see the Plymouth to Newport line rebuilt too. It's a shame that the old drawbridge was removed recently and never replaced, but that might happen too, eventually.

John