Ken Lockwood Gorge Bridge | |
|---|---|
 View looking northwest | |
| Coordinates | 40°41′51.2″N74°52′20.5″W / 40.697556°N 74.872361°W /40.697556; -74.872361 (Ken Lockwood Gorge Bridge) |
| Carries | Columbia Trail |
| Crosses | South Branch Raritan River |
| Locale | Ken Lockwood Gorge Lebanon Township, New Jersey |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 250 feet (76 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1891 (1891) |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Ken Lockwood Gorge Bridge | |
TheKen Lockwood Gorge Bridge is a steelplate girder bridge built for theHigh Bridge Branch of theCentral Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) to cross theSouth Branch Raritan River inKen Lockwood Gorge ofHunterdon County, New Jersey.[1] It is now open for pedestrian traffic on theColumbia Trail, arail trail that starts inHigh Bridge.[2][3]
The first bridge constructed here was a woodenHowe truss bridge. On April 18, 1885, an iron ore train drawn by aBaldwin locomotive (#112), named Columbia, fell into the river when the center and southern spans collapsed. Temporary repairs were then made to the bridge.[4]
In 1891, the current 250-foot (76 m) long steel bridge was built to replace the previous wooden bridge. In 1931, it was strengthened to carry heavier loads.[4] The last passenger service on the railroad was in 1935 and the last freight service in 1976.[2]
Media related toKen Lockwood Gorge Bridge at Wikimedia Commons