Photos: Destroyed Southern Pacific Railroad bridge near Tucson replaced in 1968
An elegant steel span 1903-vintage Southern Pacific Railroad bridge over the Cienega Wash was so badly damaged after a derailed freight crashed into it into in 1968 that Sundt construction crews demolished and replaced the bridge. Less elegant, but much safer.
Southern Pacific bridge demolition
The twisted remains of the Southern Pacific Railroad bridge over Cienega Wash after the suports were dynamited southeast of Tucson on March 12, 1968.
Southern Pacific bridge demolition
Sundt construction crews dismantle part of the Southern Pacific Railroad bridge over Cienega Wash southeast of Tucson on March 12, 1968, after it was heavily damaged by a derailed freight car.
Southern Pacific bridge demolition
The date stamp on the original 180-foot steel span Southern Pacific RR bridge over Cienega Wash prior to demolition and replacement on March 12, 1968.
Southern Pacific bridge demolition
Nearly 680 pounds of explosives from Apache Powder in Southern Arizona were used to bring down the original Southern Pacific Railroad bridge over Cienega Wash southeast of Tucson on March 12, 1968. The original bridge was built in 1903.
Southern Pacific bridge demolition
Remains of a piggy-back freight car that struck the Southern Pacific Railroad bridge over the Cienega Wash in March, 1968, forcing demolition and replacement of the bridge southeast of Tucson on March 12, 1968.
Southern Pacific bridge demolition
Engineers assess the collapsed Southern Pacific railroad bridge over Cienega Wash after explosives demolition in March, 1968. It was quickly replaced by Sundt Construction crews.
Southern Pacific bridge demolition
Sundt Construction crews work on replacement of the Southern Pacific Railroad bridge over Cienega Wash southeast of Tucson on March 12, 1968.
Southern Pacific bridge demolition
Two Southern Pacific F7 locomotives pulling freight are the first to cross over the newly completed bridge over the Cienega Wash in March, 1968. The original 1903 span bridge was replaced after a freight collided with it.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
An elegant steel span 1903-vintage Southern Pacific Railroad bridge over the Cienega Wash was so badly damaged after a derailed freight crashe…
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