“Phoenix columns” were an inspired piece of nineteenth-century design, first in wrought iron and then in steel. They were built-up riveted columns, like nearly all ductile-metal columns at that time, but rather than using the plates, angles, channels, and zees that went into most such columns, they were made of circular arc segments with projecting …
That’s an overall picture of a riveted connection in a wrought-iron frame, with the central rib supporting a purlin on each side. The fun starts when you look at the sides, so you can see the rivets. First the left side: Those don’t look like most people’s mental image of rivet heads. That shape was …
First I wrote about the CRRNJ terminal and then it appeared it a comic book; now I wrote about the University Heights bridge a couple of months ago and last week found myself walking across it. The bridge is one of the group over the Harlem River, between upper Manhattan and the Bronx. This particular …
That’s the Turn-of-River Bridge in Stamford, Connecticut. (Photo courtesy of Magicpiano.) Putting aside anything I have to say about the structure, that’s a fantastic name for a bridge. It’s (obviously) quite small and has been converted from a road bridge to a footbridge on a trail, but it’s looking okay for a neglected 1893 bridge. …
That’s the 1871 Ponakin Road Bridge over the Nashua River near Lancaster, Massachusetts. It’s not unique but it’s close enough that I’ve never seen this particular form before. The HAER description calls it a “Post truss,” named after Simeon Post. Supposedly these were common in the 1860s and 70s, which means most of the bridges …
