Alabama River Crossing - Bridge 783.7 - Sheppard, AL, MP 785.3 - Pensacola Subdivision The Alabama River Bridge, Bridge R 783.7, was unique on the Frisco because it is a "swing span" and was an engineering feat when constructed in 1915 by the American Bridge Co. Although I am aware of other swing spans on the Frisco, this was the only one that was operable as far as I know. On April 14, 1914 the Gulf, Florida and Alabama Railway Company (later to become a part of the Frisco) was authorized by the U.S. Secretary of War to construct the 584 foot steel bridge. The center swing span, weighting 870,000 pounds and 292 feet in length, pivots to open and allows river traffic to pass on either side and is so precisely balanced that a man standing on the end of the bridge opened will prevent proper closing. The total bridge length in the 1970s was 3,398 feet including the wood approach sections on each side of the steel bridge. First photograph shows bridge open. Second photograph shows a Northbound train crossing bridge. Sources - Company employee magazine All Aboard October-November, 1979, Frisco engineering data. Mike Lutzenberger 9/03/2001 Edit 2/1/2024: The center turn span was flanked by two 146'-0" through riveted trusses (TRT). These were also fabricated in 1915. The three steel sections of the bridge total length is 584'-0". The trestle approaches total 2,814'-0". In total the bridge measures just over 0.64 of a mile in length. Added additional bridge detail, station, mile post and subdivision. MKD
