“OLD NAN” UPDATE – OCTOBER 2005
In October, I had a chance to stop by “Old Nan”, the bascule bridge across the Niatic River in Connecticut still used by AMTRAK for its train service between Boston and New York City. It was built by the King Bridge Company in 1907 in collaboration with the Scherzer Lift Bridge Company and is one of the last remaining bascule bridges still in service, but scheduled for replacement in the near future. The pictures below were taken on October 7, 2005 and show some additional bracing attached to the lift span.
In 2001, we had taken pictures from the same locations showing the bridge without its additional bracing. Note that the bridge plate appears to have suffered the most during the time period between our two visits.
This bridge, while living on borrowed time, is still performing well, but for how long, we do not know.
Allan King Sloan – October, 2005
