The crane is positioned and ready to lift the bridge out of its home for the last 101 years.
Good friend Greg C. stopped by the Talbot Ave site yesterday to see what was going on. Well, the bridge was being hooked up to the crane for removal and wow, the site looks different. It’s a bit heart wrenching to see this landmark being removed, but nice to know it’s not being sliced up and destroyed altogether. Unfortunately the actual removal was not captured (it likely happened later in the day) but this will give you a very good idea of what the scene looked like.
I expect there will be more of these, but in the interest of keeping everyone informed, Greg forwarded an email this morning with updates on the status of the historic Bridge:
From: talbot-avenue-bridge-events@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 5, 2019 1:12 AM
Subject: Talbot Avenue Bridge demolition begins
Today, a little after 7am, Talbot Avenue Bridge closed. By midday clamps had been attached to the girders and steel extensions, in preparation for later removal by crane. By the end of the day, the wood edging along either side of the Bridge had begun to be removed.
If you would like to view the demolition process, best viewing is on the 4th Avenue side of the Bridge (North Woodside).
The removal of the girders could happen soon, i.e within the next week and as soon as the end of this week. Purple Line continues, however, to wait for flaggers from CSX, without which this aspect of the demolition cannot proceed.
This video of a folk song being performed at a recent celebration of the Talbot Ave bridge (slated for demolition tomorrow) has a neat shot of a CSX loco sitting on the Georgetown Branch lead, which I would wager is a rare sight.
A CSX loco on the Georgetown Branch siding. Still from video, credit to: Brigitte Yuille.
A Candlelight Vigil will be held on the Bridge the evening before (Monday, June 3).
UPDATE: This has been postponed until further notice, due to a delay in the demolition schedule. Demolition is slated to begin this Friday, May 17, 2019. There is a candle light vigil planned for tomorrow night. Here are the details:
As many of you know, the Bridge will close for demolition this Friday, May 17 at 7am. The evening before neighbors and friends of the Bridge are invited to an informal gathering on the Bridge to mark this transition. As the sun sets and the candle lights brighten enjoy a final moment in this historic space with other members of our community.
What: Talbot Avenue Bridge Candlelight VigilWhen: Thursday, May 16 7:30-8:00 pm – Gathering time, informal meet & greet, group photos 8:00-8:30 pm – Sharing of reflections and stories related to the Bridge Bring: Lantern (optional) Note: It has not yet been confirmed when the Bridge’s demolition will begin, but supposedly community members will be informed in advance. A lot of the demolition is likely to take place late at night, when MARC trains are not running. A large crane will be brought in to hoist the girders which weigh 11,000 lbs each. Interesting factoid: The girders were fabricated from an overturned recycled B&O railroad train turntable.
Looks like we have a date for the demolition of the historic Talbot Avenue bridge. If you would like to experience this historic structure, time is of the essence. It will survive for only a few more weeks. Thankfully the main beams of the bridge (perhaps the only part of it original to the 1918 structure) are slated to be preserved and placed along the Capital Crescent Trail.
The Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail near Ray's Meadow Local Park and Jones Mill Road will experience intermittent closures Monday, April 15, through Thursday, May 2, while the Purple Line Project completes demolition of the train trestle and bridge. pic.twitter.com/FbDKYst2XE
Greg C. visited the Rock Creek site this past Tuesday morning and witnessed the missing wooden trestle. It’s gone! :'( This marks the end of an era, the bridge having stood since 1892 has finally gone down. A new pair of bridges will replace this one, carrying the Purple Line rapid transit and the Capital Crescent Trail across the valley at about half the height of the original trestle. RIP.
4/9/19 – the wooden trestle is no more. The steel 1972 rebuilt section of the west end still stands, for now. Photo courtesy Greg C.
A photo from the Friends of Forest Glen Facebook group shows the demolition in progress. If only I could have gotten up there to measure those timbers. :'(
April 23, 1982. The Georgetown Local is heading down the Branch toward Georgetown and has just crossed River Road in Bethesda. B&O EMD GP38 3848 (blt 1967) is on point. From an eBay auction I recently won, photographer unknown. Note the graffiti on the nose which I assume reads “RADIO EQUIPPED.”
I was unable to find anything Georgetown Branch related at this time, but I will be checking back and will update this post when I do. Could you find anything interesting on there? I hope so! The collection really is fantastic.
UPDATE: It’s Jan 14th, 2020 and I revisited the National Archives collection to see if there are any new images. I found two:
Valuation Section 24.1, Sheet 1 Published June 30, 1918. This covers Georgetown Jct. to Connecticut Ave. There is a ton of new info on this map! No sidings at the junction, sidings at Rock Creek Bridge (at each end) and a lot of detail at Chevy Chase! Wow!
Valuation Section 24.1 Published May, 1938. Also covers the area around Georgetown Jct. Not sure about this map. It shows a much wider perspective and has some markings near Silver Spring, probably regarding land ownership.
Here’s hoping they publish more in the future. Let me know if you see any!
Here is a list of the valuation maps that pertain to the GB.
