Historic Bridges of the U.S.

On this page: Photos · Facts · Categories · Update Log · Sources · Comments

Photos

All three

This color photo provided by the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department shows all three bridges; the Frisco Bridge is the middle one

< Previous (2 of 6) Next >

Main span

These black-and-white photos from the Historic American Engineering Record were taken August 1985 by Clayton Fraser

< Previous (3 of 6) Next >

East portal

< Previous (4 of 6) Next >

East end anchorage span

< Previous (5 of 6) Next >

Deck truss under west end

Facts

Overview: Cantilevered through truss railroad bridge over the Mississippi River at Memphis
Status: Open to railroad traffic
History: Completed May 12, 1892, under the direction of engineer George S. Morison
Builders: - A&P Roberts Co. of Pencoyd, Pennsylvania (Steel fabrication)
- Alfred Noble (Resident engineer)
- Baird Brothers (Truss erection)
- Carnegie, Phipps and Co. (Raw steel)
- Elmira Bridge Works (Steel fabrication)
- George S. Morison (Chief engineer)
- Keystone Bridge Co. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Steel fabrication)
- Lassig Bridge & Iron Works (Steel fabrication)
- Lewis Moss (Masonry piers)
- New Jersey Steel & Iron Co. (Expansion rollers)
- Pennsylvania Steel Co. (Western approach viaduct)
- Pittsburg Bridge Co. (Miscellaneous parts)
- Pittsburg Steel Casting Co. (Pier castings)
- Ralph Modjeski (Assistant engineer)
- Scaife Foundry & Machine Co. (Pier castings)
- Union Bridge Co. (Steel fabrication)
Design: From east to west:
Anchorage span: 225.9 ft. cantilevered through truss
Channel span: 790.5 ft. cantilevered through truss
Central span: 621.0 ft. cantilevered through truss
West span: 621.0 ft. cantilevered through truss
Deck span: 338.7 ft. Warren deck truss
West approach: 2290 ft. iron trestle viaduct
Dimensions: Length of largest span: 790.5 ft.
Total length: 4,887.0 ft.
Deck width: 30.0 ft.
Inventory number: BH 32697 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Update Log

February 13, 2005: Posted new photos

Sources

HAER TN-14 - Memphis Bridge
HAER NE-2 - (Behemoths: The Great River Bridges of George S. Morison)

Comments

Frisco Bridge

Posted August 22, 2007, by Gene McCluney (mccluney [at] sbcglobal [dot] net)

Regarding climbing the bridge. Operating Railroad bridges have always been private property, not built with public funds, and have always had "No Trespassing" signs. If you climb onto the bridge you are trespassing. Probably it is just the heightened security post 9/11 that results in you being arrested, though.

However you should be aware that you ARE trespassing on private railroad land and property.

Frisco Bridge

Posted September 16, 2006, by Liz Eubanks (eaeubanks [at] aol [dot] com)

My great-great grandfather, S. Robison supposedly was one of the engineers for this bridge and died after the celebration of the finishing of it - falling from the bridge and dying later at home from the injuries. I am seaching for more information about his death and who he worked for. email me at eaeubanks@aol.com if you have any info.

Frisco Bridge - Climbing the West Support Tower

Posted September 14, 2005, by Sam Teel (steel [at] midsouth [dot] rr [dot] com)

Before 9-11, we could climb the support collum on the West side. After that, we get arrested for tresspassing. Does anyone know how we might get permission to climb again?

Regards,

Sam Teel 901-921-4334