Old Bridge Plans 4

[bridgebuster]

This site may be of interest to some. early to mid 20th Century bridge plans posted by the Arkansas Highway Department.
Link

Some interesting work by our ancestors. They plans are grouped by counties but you have to open them up to see the type of bridge.

 

[hokie66]

Thanks for that, bridgebuster. It always takes me back fondly when I see some great drafting...a lot more readable than modern CAD.

 

[bridgebuster]

You're welcome. Back in the late 70's where I was working a lot of OLD drawings got thrown out. They were ink on linen; really beautiful work. I still regret not salvaging some of them.

 

[KootK]

Treasure. Check out how much they got done on this one in 27 pages with no delegated connections and half a dozen sheets spent on site and architectural features: Link

I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

Thanks, bridgebuster! Just before I retired from the electric utility we had just finished working on a "Rails-To-Trails" project that involved an abandoned railway swing span designed and built in 1900 by Phoenix Bridge Co. Similar to your experience, we had the complete set of original ink on linen drawings. As an example of the attention to detail, each of the numerous railway cross ties shown had realistic wood grain depicted at the end of the tie. Each grain pattern was obviously different from all the others - just as it would be with real cross ties.

On my last day on the job, had a working set of drawings reproduced and sent the originals to the company's long-term archive.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[bridgebuster]

It's interesting how plan sets have evolved over the century. About 30 years ago I was working on the rehab of 5 bridges; all under 200'; we obtained the original drawings; perhaps 5 to 7 linens per bridge - but there were DOZENS of shop drawings. I have a project under construction - deck replacement & rehabilitation of a 1-mile long viaduct. The original plans are a little more than 300 sheets, which included highway plans at each end of the viaduct, reconstruction of the local streets below, building demolitions, etc. My plans are over 1100 sheets; more than 1/4 are work zone traffic control. On the other hand, if you're working on a rehab project things can get tough especially if shop drawings and working drawings are not available.

SRE - did that bridge have the cast iron Phoenix Columns? I've only seen two bridges with them. Oddly enough, one was the approach spans leading up to a swing bridge in NYC, which was demolished a replaced a few years ago. I've also seen some drawings of lamp poles and park benches with intricate detail. I have a ruling pen buth I never got the knack for using it.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

bridgebuster - No columns, this was a small, single span over an inland river. Just a central pier and two abutments. The bridge was opened and closed manually, with a removable "key" used as a capstan by two men. Because of its' remote location, never was opened much even when new. I never saw it operate.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[Lomarandil]

Some of those sets are amazingly well preserved and digitized... always warms my heart to see.

Just started working on a project for a major span where literally only 7 pages of the original design drawings had survived -- and partially illegible at that.

 

[Shz713]

I've been working on an old bridge for some time now, it's always challenging and that's what I like about it!

Shoot for the Moon, even if U miss, U still land among Stars!

 

[msquared48]

Saw a bunch of ink on linen drawings from the 20's and 30's I had to work with at a local electric power utility back in the 60's and 70's. The drawings were of two dams and their appurtenant structures, no bridges. Yes, it was beautiful ink work, very readable, and always copied well to read.

You brought back a lot of memories...

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[hokie66]

The only problem with ink on linen or mylar was the corrections. Scratch too hard, and you have a hole. Depending on the boss, you may have to start over. Speaking from experience...

 

[msquared48]

Yup...

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[msquared48]

Used an electric eraser with a mylar eraser tip and periodically dipped the end in water to control the heat,

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[RHTPE]

The only problem with ink on linen or mylar was the corrections. Scratch too hard, and you have a hole. Depending on the boss, you may have to start over. Speaking from experience...

Used an electric eraser with a mylar eraser tip and periodically dipped the end in water to control the heat.

I started as a drafter of shop drawings in 1969. Graduated from a string-type straight edge to an arm-type machine to a bar-type machine. I used to use ink (on vellum) for items that needed to stand out on a print and were unlikely to change - everything else was pencil. We typically shaded on the back side of the vellum when it helped to improve drawing readability (walls & concrete columns). Because of my use of ink, I got very good at Mike's technique. I also got very good at splicing in a clean piece of vellum when revisions got frequent or extensive - always had a razor blade and tape in my drawer.

Now I work and think via AutoCAD, BUT remember how important drawing readability is. Far too many of today's drafters do not grasp that concept. Almost none of my drawings will go out until I have put them on paper (or into .PDF form) so I can see how well they convey the information.

Now if we could only get adequate and sensible dimensions from Architects and many engineers ...


Ralph
Structures Consulting
Northeast USA

 

[oldestguy]

Any of the above ever actually make blue prints from those linens?
Even when first drafting in 1946 I didn't get exposed to it. Saw the rolling glass toppped tables at CE building of Cornell to roll out on the roof for timed exposure to the sun, but of no use then.

 

[hokie66]

oldestguy,
Made plenty of white prints (diazo), but no blue prints.

 

[ACtrafficengr]

When I was little, my father would take extra linen blueprints home, and my mother would bleach them and make napkins out of them. That's a rather different mindset than today's disposable society, innit?

 

[bridgebuster]

AC - that's the second time I've heard about making napkins from linens. I worked with a man who started back in the mid-30's. He told me the same thing.