Railroads, Truss Bridges and the Rise of the Civil Engineer

by Donald C. Jackson, (A.M.ASCE), Civ. Engr.; Historic American Engrg. Record, National Park Service, Washington, D.C.,


Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1977, Vol. 47, Issue 10, Pg. 97-101


Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

The huge growth of the railroads during the nineteenth century was the direct result of herculean efforts on the part of civil engineers. Likewise, the development of the civil engineering profession was also dependent upon the opportunities and responsibilities incumbent with the development of America's railroads. A particularly important duty of the civil engineer was the construction of truss bridges, structures built by the thousands on American railroads. This article briefly reviews a few significant aspects of nineteenth century truss bridge design, and relates the influence of bridge failures to the development of the civil engineering profession. Famed bridge designer J.A.L. Waddell was a key force behind the birth of the modern consulting engineering firm.

Subject Headings: Railroad bridges | Bridge design | Truss bridges | Rail transportation | Engineering profession | Bridge engineering | Trusses

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