Downstream Side, Buffalo Bayou Bascule Railroad Bridge, Houston, Texas 0316091447BW

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In the shadow of downtown Houston, and hidden under US Highway 59, where it crosses Buffalo Bayou, is a remnant of the days when the Port of Houston extended to downtown. It is a bascule railroad bridge, completed in 1912. The huge concrete counterweight that enabled raising the main span to let vessels pass has been removed and set nearby.

Strauss, this bridge's designer, also designed the Golden Gate Bridge.

Someone (almost certainly more than one) is burning our bridges. Most of the trestle type railroad bridges on disused railroad right-of-way in Houston appear to have fire damage to some degree or another. I've seen this on bridges over both Buffalo and White Oak Bayous.

This is disturbing, of course, from a criminal and safety standpoint, but it also destroys some of Houston's historic structures, something that Houston has had no trouble doing without arson. It is also disturbing because it is happening at a time when many of these structures are being incorporated or considered for incorporation in Houston's system of hike and bike trails.

"Houston, where 17 railroads meet the sea."

Taken in: United States / Texas / Houston (show map)

Taken on: March 16, 2009

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Sets appears in: • Urban Nature: Houston • A Dozen (or so) Bridges more » • Bridges, tunnels, culverts, underpasses & overpasses • HB&T Railway Strauss Bascule Bridge, Buffalo Bayou, Houston, Texas • Buffalo Bayou Bridges • Architectural & Engineering Heritage Documentation Project • My favorites • Buffalo Bayou • Trains « less

Groups appears in: • Bridging the Gap • Bridges more » • Things that Moved • beautiful decay. • water surface reflection -- wsr • Sony Cybershot Owners • Underneath the Bridge • Bridging • Swamps, Bayous and Rivers • Bridges of the World • Wet Reflections • Bridges - Brücken [Steel - Stahl] • Old steel constructions - Alte Stahlkonstruktionen • Bridges Across • Natures Light • Darkness and Light • Views: 300 • Bridge Photos - Only Best Quality - By Invitation Only • Bridgepixing • Historic Bridges • Abandoned Places and Things • derelictlight • Abandoned, Neglected, Weathered, or Rusty • [ steel and glass ] canyons • Houston: Historic Houston • Houston Metro • Houston Freeways • I Love Black and White! • Old Bridge long forgotten • The Bridge • Houston Photographers (all types of photography) • Digital Black And White • Available Light / Existing Light • Abandoned bridges • Drawbridges • Embrace the Flare • The Beauty of Neglect and Ruin • pieces of our world • Houston Chronicle • America's Bridges • Blown Out • We Really Love Bridges • Texas truss bridges • Time Passes...Listen...Time Passes... • Bridges, in Black and White • Houston, Texas in Black and White • IndustrialWorldWide « less

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