Norfolk Southern Cape Fear River Bridge

This three-span Warren truss bridge is notable for being the uppermost crossing of the Cape Fear River. It is one of two Norfolk Southern crossings of this river, the other located at Lillington in the same region. This bridge once carried the main line of the original Norfolk Southern Railway, a distinct railroad from the corporate entity of today. The original Norfolk Southern ran from Norfolk to to Raleigh Charlotte, through the heart of North Carolina, providing rail service to the more rural parts of the state. It was acquired by the Southern Railway in 1974 and came under the ownership of the current Norfolk Southern in the 1980s. More information about the original Norfolk Southern can be found here: https://www.american-rails.com/original.html.

The bridge is situated on a remote section of the river, though located near a decommissioned coal power plant and several industrial facilities. It is best accessed from the water, unless one chooses to trespass along at least a mile of railroad right-of-way. The structure consists of three Warren truss spans and approximately a quarter of a mile of trestle approaches. The main spans are typical of railroad bridges built prior to World War II, with large riveted gusset plates connecting the various members. Heavy latticed and laced members make this a robust and enduring structure, able to bear the weight of yesteryear's steam locomotives and today's diesel ones. Despite receiving minimal maintenance over the years, with small signs of deterioration on some underside connections, it will still probably be around for another century.

Due to the closing of the Cape Fear Power Plant on the east side of the river and the availability of other nearby routes such as CSX's S-Line, this bridge sees little, if any, rail traffic. However, it is easy to imagine a steam locomotive or one of the original NS's red Baldwin diesel locomotives rumbling across its ties.

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