The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1917-01-02
IMPORTANT ENGINEERING
FEAT ACHIEVED BY THE
UNION PACIFIC AT OMAHA

spans was ABOUT one nouT. Ihe
power used in moving the old bridge
TO the falsework and the new struc-
ture to the permanent concrete piers
consisted Of FIVE hosting engines
governed by signals SO that the
movement was uniformly carried out
from end to end. The terms OF the
erection contract provided that the
erection forces operations should
interfere as little as possible with
traffic over the structures.
The construction of the falsework
erection OF the new steel, the remov-
al of the old, and the placing of
the new spans in the new position.
within the comparatively short time
mentioned above, without serious in
terruption to an almost constant
stream OF passenger and freight
traffic, was an undertaking Of con-
siderable importance. the train
movement over this bridge at times
having reached the total Of 800
trains per "a hours. or an average
of one train every four and one-half
minutes.
There were employed on the re-
construction Of this bridge about zoo
men.
The excellence of the design, and
substantial nature Of the construc-
ton Of the bridge now being replac-
ed, after thirty years Of service. are
a testimonial to the engineering alb
ility of the original builders. The
bridge being replaced was designed
and built under the direction OF
Geo. s. Morrison, we'll known struc-
tural engineer, and by reason OF the
care which has been exercised in its
maintenance, 1t would without doubt
continue to serve its purpose for an
indefinite number of years in the
future. the necessity for its present
reconstruction being due to the un-
precedented increase in axle load
ings of railroad locomotives and
rolling stock during the past several
years.
I The new superstructure is the
third steel railroad bridge In this
location since the opening Of the
Union Pacific line. Prior to the
construction Of the railroad bridge
over the Missouri river at Omaha
a ferry service was maintained from
Council Bluffs to Omaha by thu
Union Pacific Transfer company
which was organized and commenc
ed operations in 1866. this ferry ser
vice being maintained until the com
pletion Of the original bridge. which
was started in 1869 and completed
in 1872.
, In addition to the Union Pacific
own business handled over the brid
. ge between Council Bluffs and tn
| west, the VI iubt 10 uStu ny OLA oth'
railroads, the Burlington, c. & N
w. Rock Island, C. M. & st. P.
Wabash and C. G. w.
In the foregoing figures 1t appear
that the old bridge cost more 70
construction than the new one. Thi
is due to the fact that the cost o
piers is included in the old bridg
=. and these same piers will be use,
. for the new one. The estimated cos
OF building the original piers an,
in which Is included the material
was approximately 100000.
1t is a notable fact that all thre
. Of the Union Pacific bridges tina
, have been built across the Missouri
. river occupied identically the sam
location. The bridge completed Fl
1872 was the first bridge to spa
the Missouri at any point and 1t
>. location marks the crossing used b
lexplorers. travellers and seekers tina
have gone west over the Overlan
route for almost so years.-Desere
News.