Cleveland's Abandoned Railroad Bascule Bridges

Cleveland's abandoned railroad bascule bridges number 464 and 463 are considered icons by many people. Some people simply call them "bridges 1 and 2" or "jackknife bridges." They can be seen while driving along the shore-way, in advertisements, and, in the flats. They've always piqued my interest when I've been downtown, and I've always wanted to learn more about their history and why they were abandoned. Come join me as I cover these topics.

Image Sources:

Library of Congress - https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collecti...

Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Bowling Green State University - https://www.bgsu.edu/library/cac/coll...

Cleveland Public Library Photograph Collection
https://cpl.org/aboutthelibrary/subje...

Works Cited:

“Some New Scherzer Bascule Bridges.” Railroad Gazette, vol. 42, no. 11, 1907, p. 372. Google Books, www.google.com/books/edition/Railroad_Gazette/-I1MAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Scherzer+rolling+lift+bridge+at+cleveland+ohio+railroad+gazette&pg=PA372&printsec=frontcover.

“Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge at Cleveland, Ohio.” Railroad Gazette, vol. 44, no. 11, 1908, pp. 380–82. Google Books, www.google.com/books/edition/Railroad_Gazette/nCA2AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=End+view+230+ft.Scherzer+bridge+showing+method+of+construction+without+interference+with+traffic&pg=PA380&printsec=frontcover.

"B&O Won't Wait For New Viaduct Railroad Refuses to Defer Building of Roller." Plain Dealer, 25 June 1908, p. 12. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A122AFBBA107AC9E4%40EANX-NB-125F89E3D9743641%402418118-125C244E10F64A88%4011- 13845350F6F79C11%40B%2B%2BO%2BWon%2527t%2BWait%2BFor%2BNew%2BViaduct%2BRailroad%2BRefuses%2Bto%2BDefer%2BBuilding%2Bof%2BRoller. Accessed 5 Feb. 2022.

"Bridge Nearly Finished. Merwin-av Improvement Ready for traffic in Few Days." Plain Dealer, no. 63, 4 Mar. 1911, p. 4. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A122AFBBA107AC9E4%40EANX-NB-125DE88643CC4DCC%402419100-125AE1DE47C1A6BC%403- 138E73E6955F352A%40Bridge%2BNearly%2BFinished.%2BMerwin-av%2BImprovement%2BReady%2Bfor%2Btraffic%2Bin%2BFew%2BDays. Accessed 5 Feb. 2022.

"New B.&O. Bridge Finished. Huge 'Jack Knife' Structure Perfect on First Test." Plain Dealer, no. 71, 12 Mar. 1911, p. 6A. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A122AFBBA107AC9E4%40EANX-NB-125DE89CEF79AB5E%402419108-125AE1DEEB63DCA3%405- 138E467793594AFB%40New%2BB.%2B%2BO.%2BBridge%2BFinished.%2BHuge%2B%2522Jack%2BKnife%2522%2BStructure%2BPerfect%2Bon%2BFirst%2BTest. Accessed 9 Feb. 2022.

"Wants Change In New Bridge Plans City Engineer Asks That B.&O. Alter Specifications." Plain Dealer, 12 Nov. 1908, p. 12. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A122AFBBA107AC9E4%40EANX-NB-125D3B28D3DA7035%402418258-125C244545C6A8C2%4011- 138C3A0D72E2B2AF%40Wants%2BChange%2BIn%2BNew%2BBridge%2BPlans%2BCity%2BEngineer%2BAsks%2BThat%2BB.%2B%2BO.%2BAlter%2BSpecifications. Accessed 5 Feb. 2022.

"Workmen Toy With Death High On Jacknife Bridge." Plain Dealer, no. 34, 3 Feb. 1911, p. 4. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A122AFBBA107AC9E4%40EANX-NB-125DEB7020D7A0F9%402419071-125AE1DB82C8475D%403- 138E46E00333E943%40Workmen%2BToy%2BWith%2BDeath%2BHigh%2BOn%2BJacknife%2BBridge. Accessed 5 Feb. 2022.

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