X for X-Braces of the Lyman Viaduct

“X” Braces of the Lyman Viaduct

In the years 1872-1873, a viaduct was built by Phoenix Iron Works over Dickinson Creek in Colchester, Connecticut for the Boston and New York Air Line Railroad. It was named after David Lyman, the man who built the New Haven, Middletown & Willimantic section of the Air Line Railroad. The viaduct was a major link in a railroad line that was billed as the fastest route between Boston and New York City, by way of Middletown, Connecticut. The viaduct was 1,112 feet long and 137 feet tall (a height of almost 14 stories). The structure consisted of cross frames formed out of three quarter-round rolled wrought iron posts.

Why was it was called the Air Line Railroad? It was because the railroad followed a route that was considered to be “as straight as the crow flies”. It was as though you could travel the distance as if “flying”, without detours around mountains and rivers, and would be a (presumably) quicker route.

Why was it called a viaduct? Many small railroad bridges are called trestles which have a number of short spans supported by closely spaced frames. A viaduct has a much longer span and a higher elevation. Because of this, it needs extra towers to provide more support. 

Flanges were designed to make it easier to rivet the viaduct together. There were four 30-foot columns where it crossed Dickinson Creek. Each tier or level of the trestle was joined horizontally and sideways to posts and frames that were next to them creating the “X” look that is seen in this picture of the viaduct.

In 1912-1913, the Boston and New York Airline Railroad was bought out by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. The viaduct was then filled as a comparatively inexpensive means of strengthening the structure for use by heavier equipment in the early 20th century. The line remained in operation into the 1960s, and has since been adapted as the multi-use Air Line Trail by the state.

 

“X for X-braces of the Lyman Viaduct" Extra Documentation