Bear River Bridge

Mile 12.86 on the Yarmouth Subdivision. Just east of the Bear River station.

Structure: The longest bridge on the DAR: 1640 feet long. In its final configuration, it included, from east to west - Seven Deck Plate Girder spans, three Deck Truss spans, one Swing span, one Deck Truss span and two more Deck Plate Girder spans.(1)

History: Built by the federal government in 1890 to close the expensive "missing link" between Annapolis Royal and Digby, it evolved over many versions starting as a wooden trestle structure and eventually ending up years later as steel spans.

A 32 foot "pepperpot" wooden lighthouse was built at the west end of the bridge in 1905.(2)

The Clark Brothers pulp mill was built on the east end of the bridge around World War I but quickly went out of business. It's ruined concrete structure remained beside the tracks until the 1980s.

Is this the Bear River Bridge?
Bear River Bridge and adjacent scenes circa 1890s.
The Bear River railway bridge in the background, circa 1900, with the old highway bridge on left and the new highway bridge on right.
Photograph of the Flying Bluenose, Train No. 124 crossing the Bear River Bridge, circa 1906.
Colourized postcard of the Flying Bluenose, Train No. 124 crossing the Bear River Bridge, circa 1906.
Colourized postcard from the Nova Scotia Museum of the eastern end of the Bear River railway bridge.
Train No. 98 led by No. 2617 on the Bear River Bridge on July 3, 1954.
Train No. 98 on July 3, 1954.
Train No. 98 on July 3, 1954.
Train No. 98 led by No. 2617 on the Bear River Bridge approaching Bear River station on July 3, 1954.
Train No. 98 led by No. 2617 on the Bear River Bridge approaching Bear River station on July 3, 1954.
The second highway bridge in 1956 showing the swing span open for the passage of ships.
Dayliner No. 9059 crossing the Bear River Bridge eastward in August 1959.
Swing bridge over the Bear River at Bear River, NS August 5, 1973.
Taken from east end looking west -Hwy. 101 on the left.