Dominion Atlantic Railway
Bear River Bridge

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge
19 January 2012   1:44pm

Swing span at low tide.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge
19 January 2012   1:49pm

Stumps of old wood piles, visible at low tide.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge
19 January 2012   1:58pm

At low tide, remnants of the first railway bridge,
built more than a hundred years ago, become visible.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    13 December 2011

The west approach span has been removed.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    13 December 2011

A close view of the swing span mechanism.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    5 December 2011

The east abutment with the 1912 construction date cast in the concrete.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    22 November 2011   9:53am

General view looking eastward.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    22 November 2011   10:21am

The approach spans have been removed at both ends.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    22 November 2011   10:24am

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    22 November 2011   10:27am

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    22 November 2011   10:33am

View of the swing span.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    22 November 2011   10:36am

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    22 November 2011   10:39am

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    22 November 2011   10:44am

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    18 October 2011   9:41am

Today, the three piers 14, 13 and 12 at the east end of the bridge are to
be demolished, by exploding  dynamite  in holes drilled in the concrete.
At the time of  this photograph,  pier 13  had already  been demolished
and an aerial bucket is being used to load dynamite in a hole in pier 12.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    18 October 2011   9:44am

Today, the three piers 14, 13 and 12 at the east end of the bridge are to
be demolished, by exploding  dynamite  in holes drilled in the concrete.
At the time of  this photograph,  pier 13  had already  been demolished
and an aerial bucket is being used to load dynamite in a hole in pier 12.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    18 October 2011   10:24am

Placing a blast mat over the side of pier 12 facing
the highway bridge, to protect the highway bridge from
flying chunks of concrete when pier 12 is blown apart.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    18 October 2011   10:47am

The work area is moved to pier 14.
Preparations for blasting pier 12 have been completed.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    18 October 2011   11:46am

Placing a blast mat on top of pier 14 to protect the highway bridge
from flying chunks of concrete when pier 14 is blown apart.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    18 October 2011   12:04pm

Watching from a safe distance as pier 14 is blown apart.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    18 October 2011   12:26pm

Piers 14 and 13 have been been demolished.  Spectators are waiting,
at a safe distance, for the imminent demolition of pier 12.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    18 October 2011   12:28pm

Photographed a few seconds after the demolition of pier 12.
The dust has not yet dispersed.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    18 October 2011   12:37pm

Looking westward from the east abutment
a few minutes after the demolition of pier 12.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    18 October 2011   12:39pm

At the east abutment looking westward at three piles of debris,
all that  remains  after the  demolition  of three  bridge  piers.
Remnants of a  bridge  span  that supported the once-busy
railway can be seen in the shadow of the highway bridge.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    12 November 2010

In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    12 November 2010

In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    12 November 2010

In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    12 November 2010

In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    12 November 2010

In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    12 November 2010

In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    12 November 2010

In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    12 November 2010

In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    12 November 2010

In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    12 November 2010

In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    12 November 2010

In November 2010 the bridge structure was still complete.
It appears here the same as it had for the last hundred years
(only the rails and the telegraph wires are missing).

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    12 November 2010

This trench, about ten feet deep, was dug across the right-of-way at the east abutment
several years ago, to prevent access to anyone wanting to go out on the bridge.
Similar trenches were dug at both ends of all three bridges.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridges    7 June 1912

There were two versions of the railway bridge across the Bear River in Nova Scotia:
the first  wooden  bridge  built in 1890 and its  steel  replacement  built a few metres
downstream,  completed  in  1913.  Both  included  a  large  swing  span  at  the far
west end of the bridge to allow ships passage to the  busy  timber  wharves  in the
village of Bear River several miles upriver.  In this view, the new (1912) bridge is
in the early stages of construction beside the existing bridge built in 1890.
The swing span is out of sight, behind the camera.

Dominion Atlantic Railway    Bear River Bridge    26 November 2011

Notice to Mariners
Halifax Chronicle-Herald, 26 November 2011

Thanks to G. Clarke and H. Bradford.