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Caption: This is pretty well just an image to kindle the curiosity of those who enjoy history in Niagara. The image shows the two bridge structures over the Jordan Harbour/Twenty Mile Creek, part of the CN Grimsby sub.
It is my understanding that the first bridge, built around 1853, was wooden. But cannot verify this. (Great Western line between Hamilton and Niagara Falls opened in November 1853) The stone pillars you see on the left supported the railroad bridge built in 1867 and it remained in service until around 1900-1903; when the current bridge was built and opened for traffic. To this day it remains in use.
The structures are best viewed from down on the water, but failing that, I shot this from the east side support which is still in place, but now very difficult to access to this photo spot due to extreme foliage. There is not all that much information out there on these structures, which I find rather frustrating. Something worth looking into. The approaching train has CN 2511 and a couple of GP9s for power, heading to Fort Erie.
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Arnold, a great picture showing the two bridges, and very informative narrative. I believe the stone pillars of the original bridge are pretty well intact today, a testimonial to the stone masons who built it. Pre-covid, I always looked at this old bridge every time when time when riding a GO train or the Maple Leaf to/from the Falls. Thanks for posting, John
AW you always seem to bring out some of my most cherished memories. I have been across this bridge at Jordan more times than I can count. It was fun to blow the horn for the people fishing in water below the bridge. I had often wished that I could stop my train to get an image that you took here with the old abutments still standing. Thanks for the history lesson as well. Well done my friend!!
Thank you; both of you kind lads for commentary. I do wish I could find information on the first bridge; that from 1853-1867; but there seems to be nothing out there.