The Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) had planned to lay track from the north end of the New Westminster Bridge and cross the Fraser at the 1931 location. However, when the CNoR opened the Lulu Island branch line in 1917, it connected with the British Columbia Electric Railway (BCER) Queensborough terminus. Since the original BCER Queensborough bridge was designed for trams, not heavy locomotives, the CNoR westward route 12.02 miles (19.34 km) to Stevestona was an isolated branch line. After the CNR absorption of the bankrupt CNoR, the money-losing branch, and damage to trestles from a 1918 muskeg fire at Mile 4, terminated all services.
In July 1930, work began on sinking piers for the 4,200-foot-long bridge with a 240-foot central span. On completion in November 1931, work trains carried the steel rails across the bridge to lay 14 miles (23 km) of track for the Lulu Island industrial branch line. This comprised two north–south lines from west of the new bridge to connect with the remnants of the original east–west line at the south arm, with a scheduled completion date for the $2m project before yearend.[1][2][3]
Owing to the proximity of several bridges on the Fraser, the unique signal for the opening of the Lulu Island Bridge was four long blasts on the vessel's horn.[4]
In 2013, CN removed the observer-operators from three movable span bridges in the Lower Mainland comprising the Second Narrows, New Westminster and Lulu Island bridges, and now monitors river traffic by camera from a central location.[5]
^a . The former BCER "Y" at today's Branscombe Court.[6]
^"BC Department of Railways 1911–1916". www.open.library.ubc.ca. p. D15.
April 13, 2024
bridge, other, uses, disambiguation, opened, 1931, canadian, national, railway, steel, truss, swing, span, railway, bridge, over, north, fraser, river, metro, vancouver, links, burnaby, with, richmond, south, vancouver, fraser, port, authority, facilities, lul. For other uses see CNR Bridge disambiguation Opened in 1931 the Canadian National Railway CNR steel truss swing span railway bridge over the north arm of the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver links Burnaby with Richmond and the south arm Vancouver Fraser Port Authority facilities on Lulu Island CNR BridgeCNR Bridge pictured in September 2017Coordinates49 10 58 N 122 59 17 W 49 182903 N 122 988113 W 49 182903 122 988113 CNR Bridge Carries1 railway trackCrossesFraser River north armLocaleBurnaby RichmondMaintained byCanadian National RailwayCharacteristicsDesignSwing bridgeRail characteristicsTrack gauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm standard gauge ElectrifiedNoLocationThe Canadian Northern Railway CNoR had planned to lay track from the north end of the New Westminster Bridge and cross the Fraser at the 1931 location However when the CNoR opened the Lulu Island branch line in 1917 it connected with the British Columbia Electric Railway BCER Queensborough terminus Since the original BCER Queensborough bridge was designed for trams not heavy locomotives the CNoR westward route 12 02 miles 19 34 km to Stevestona was an isolated branch line After the CNR absorption of the bankrupt CNoR the money losing branch and damage to trestles from a 1918 muskeg fire at Mile 4 terminated all services In July 1930 work began on sinking piers for the 4 200 foot long bridge with a 240 foot central span On completion in November 1931 work trains carried the steel rails across the bridge to lay 14 miles 23 km of track for the Lulu Island industrial branch line This comprised two north south lines from west of the new bridge to connect with the remnants of the original east west line at the south arm with a scheduled completion date for the 2m project before yearend 1 2 3 Owing to the proximity of several bridges on the Fraser the unique signal for the opening of the Lulu Island Bridge was four long blasts on the vessel s horn 4 In 2013 CN removed the observer operators from three movable span bridges in the Lower Mainland comprising the Second Narrows New Westminster and Lulu Island bridges and now monitors river traffic by camera from a central location 5 a The former BCER Y at today s Branscombe Court 6 See also editList of crossings of the Fraser River List of bridges in CanadaReferences edit The Daily Colonist 11 Jul 1930 www archive org The Daily Colonist 6 Nov 1931 www archive org Keen Mary Time and Tide The Settlement of Lulu Island s South Arm Shore PDF www richmond ca pp 35 37 The Daily Colonist 9 Dec 1934 www archive org North Shore News 17 Jul 2013 www nsnews com BC Department of Railways 1911 1916 www open library ubc ca p D15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title CNR Bridge amp oldid 1109607751, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
