Ontario's Historical Plaques 


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Smiths Falls Bascule Bridge

Smiths Falls Bascule Bridge

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2009

Photo from Google Street View ©2014 Google - Posted January, 2014

Photo by contributor Geoffrey Wyght

Plaque Location

The County of Lanark
The Town of Smiths Falls
On Abbot Street at the canal


Coordinates: N 44 53.830 W 76 01.626

Plaque Text

This Scherzer Rolling Lift bascule bridge is an outstanding early example of a novel concept in movable bridges, developed by William Scherzer, an American engineer. It combines the balanced counterweight of a conventional bascule bridge, with a unique rolling lift motion that all but eliminates friction. Erected in 1912-1913 to carry the Canadian Northern Railway main line across the Rideau Canal, a busy steamboat navigation system, the bridge was renowned for its ease and speed of operation, proving the efficiency of the concept.

Related Ontario plaques
Canadian Northern Railway Station
Rideau Canal 1826-1832

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Smiths Falls Plaques




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