Avon River Bridge

Mile 32.25 on the Halifax Subdivision.

The original iron lattice bridge bridge was 1160 feet long as described by Alexander MacNab in 1873^[1] and the 1914 steel truss replacement bridge was 1146 feet long according to the 1969 Memorandum of General Information.^[2] Second longest bridge on the DAR (after the Bear River Bridge.)

The wide tidal estuary of the Avon River at Windsor was the first big engineering challenge when the DAR's predecessor, the Windsor & Annapolis Railway began construction and the only one identified as a major engineering investment by the line's early investors.^[3]

Two railway bridges and a causeway have spanned the Avon River at Windsor. In 1970 the Avon River Causeway replaced the railway and road bridges over the Avon River. The railway bridge was subsequently removed in January 1971^[4] as was the car bridge in 19??.

Howe Truss "Basket Bridge" 1869-1915

Bird's Eve View of Windsor Nova Scotia 1878 showing the town of Windsor with Windsor Station centre and the Avon River Bridge in the lower right, 1878.
An early photo of the first railway bridge across the Avon River, shown behind the covered road bridge.
Approaches to the old covered bridge in the foreground and the old "Basket Bridge" railway bridge in the background.
Avon River Bridge circa 1890s.
Avon River bridges circa 1905.
The basket bridge, looking towards Falmouth.
Hand-tinted postcard.
The Flying Bluenose, Train No. 124 crossing the Avon River Bridge near Windsor, circa 1910.
Avon River Bridge near Windsor.
Avon River Bridge near Windsor.
The last days of the Basket Bridge, shown behind the new steel bridge which has just replaced it.

Other Known Images

The Basket Bridge in 1906 - Canada Science and Technology Museum Image STR04092a.

Steel Truss Bridge 1915 - 1971-01-20

The second bridge under construction in 1914.
The first train across the new Steel Railway Bridge in 1915.
April 9 1935 - Ice buildup in the Avon River with the train bridge in the background.
April 9 1935 - Ice buildup in the Avon River with the train bridge in the background.
April 9 1935 - Ice buildup in the Avon River with the train bridge in the background.
DAR engine No. 1015 leads a freight train across the Avon River Bridge at Windsor, late 1940s, early 1950s.
Eastern approach tracks to the Avon River Bridge from downtown Windsor, in 1918, sharpest curve on the DAR.
Double-header gypsum train crossing the Avon River at Windsor, circa 1950. 2nd engine is no. 999.
Avon River Bridges
Train No. 98 crosses Avon River Bridge in August 1951.
Mixed Train No. 96 Kentville to Halifax crossing Avon River Bridge in August 1951.
DAR locomotive No. 1038 crossing the Avon River Bridge with the Kentville to Windsor freight train No. 94 arriving at Windsor, July 1956.
Avon River Bridges looking upstream towards Windsor N.S. on July 30, 1958.
The steel truss bridge and a close-up of the basket bridge piers, 1959.
Freight on the Avon River Bridge heading west in August 1959.
Freight on the Avon River Bridge heading west in August 1959.
Avon River railway bridge and highway bridge photographed at Windsor, 1960.
Plaster train crossing Avon River Bridge en route to quarries on July 20, 1967.
Plaster quarry train on the Avon River Bridge at Windsor, NS on July 20, 1967.
Plaster train crossing Avon River Bridge on July 20, 1967.
Tail end of plaster train crossing Avon River Bridge at Windsor on July 20, 1967.
Article mentions date of when the bridge came down. 20 January 1971