Taunton/Fortner Bridge

There’s a huge number of abandoned railways in Canada, thousands and thousands of kilometres worth. Only upon looking at old maps does it become clear just how extensive the network was. These disused lines are particularly common in the grain growing regions of the west but can be found across the country. With few exceptions, it’s loss of traffic that forced their closure. On this happening the railway typically removed infrastructure, with only the old roadbed earthworks remaining, a final reminder of what was.

Here’s something pretty interesting, not accidentally forgotten when they pulled out, but left in place because it was simply too costly to remove. That’s one big hunk of metal! Here’s the Taunton/Fortner Train Bridge in the Alberta Foothills, along Canadian National Railway’s former Brazeau Subdivision.
They removed the deck to keep people off, but otherwise, it stands where built, as built and given its robust construction is likely to remain long after we’re gone. The railways seemed to always overbuild things like this.

If plans work out, and they’ve been at it for a time, the bridge will be re-decked and incorporated into the Nordegg to Rocky Mountain House Rail Trail. Some parts of this recreation route have already been set aside and are in use officially, where as others have not, but are still passable. The bridge is along the latter section. Further up and down the line in the area are a number of wood trestles removed when the salvage crews moved in. There’s many gaps to be filled.

The Taunton/Fortner Bridge was named for the creek that runs far below. It’s a rather insignificant little watercourse, but the gorge it made is quite deep (hard to tell with all the growth today). It’s had two names over the years, present Taunton and former Fortner. The origins of both monikers appears to be unknown and exactly when the change happened equally a mystery.

The Brazeau Subdivision dates from the 1910s and was built by the Canadian Northern Railway, under the Canadian Northern Western Lines charter (a paper railway). The Canadian Northern was a transcontinental that had track going every which way in the west and fingers in a lot of pies. Always on shaky ground financially, this firm and some competitors were folded into Canadian National Railways by the early 1920s. On the east end of the Brazeau line grain made up most of the business but once into the foothills, coal was king. Lots of it moved from mines in Nordegg, plus nearby Alexo and Saunders.

The bridge dates from the early 1930s and is of riveted steel construction. It replaced an earlier wooden structure dating from the line’s opening and simply massive in size (we’ve seen pics). Construction of this new span was approved before the great crash of 1929 and no doubt the money outlay was a sore spot for the CNR with the realities of the great depression setting in. By the time finished, traffic and income was way down. Later the investment would pay off and during World War Two freight moments on the line would be at an all time high.

To expedite a seamless transition, the old bridge remained in use till the present one was completed. This required a little bit of rerouting and today one can see remains of the original roadbed leading to the the first span, to the left. We looked for evidence of the wood trestle, but found nothing conclusive – just a steep drop off.

The coal mines lasted into the mid-1950s, when failing demand caused their closure. With that, traffic along this section of line fell off precipitously. For a time there was was only sporadic movements of “wood products” (logs headed to Rocky is suggested) lasting into the late 1950s/early 1960s period (some conflicting data). Afterwards, the line was “mothballed” and not officially abandoned, perhaps being held should coal markets rebound.

In the meantime, most of the the eastern section of this line remained in use and today serves a number of petroleum plants.

It’s believed the track along this western section was not removed on closing and maybe have remained in place into the 1980s. By the middle of that decade, the line was officially abandoned and a few years later removed completely (if not done already). By then, it had been eons since the train last passed. Interestingly, we saw remains of a fairly “modern” CN sign warning of hazards along the stretch of track by the bridge.

The forest has since grown in thick around the bridge. We’ve seen photos showing it being built and the area appears devoid of forests (a fire earlier?). Only then can you truly gauge the size of the current structure. It’s massive with big concrete piers supporting the steel work. The bridge is a mix of plate girder spans and sections with an under deck truss. It must be quite the view from the centre – and given there’s no “sides” to the bridge, quite unnerving for anyone no fan of heights. If they re-deck it, of course, there will be a protective fence put in place. Crazy as it seems, we’re heard of a couple people walking out of the structure while balancing on a support beam.

We clamber down to look at the piers. Sometimes the date is cast into them but not so on this end at least. Maybe on the (unreachable to us) west end? Still, we get to see how they built these huge masses of cement using a board by board form. The imprint of each plank is mirrored in the concrete.

Not that we’re bridge engineers in anyway (but play one on TV), everything below looked solid with no signs of shifting or movement. After the second pier, it’s steep drop down to the (unseen) creek. The trees in the gorge have grown so tall they’re tickling the underside of the structure. If they do succeed in making an official trail of this section (and it’s not as simple as it sounds), we suspect they’ll cut back the forest crowding the bridge.

There’s a wall of ties before the structure blocking vehicles from venturing any closer (which could be disastrous). “Zooming along…here, hold my coffee…what’s that over there….brakes….ahhhhhhh!” And they were seen again.

Our host this adventure is someone who for regular readers of this website needs little introduction, B&W film photographer Rob Pohl. He’s that fellow with that big view camera you see from time to time here. And to think he schlepped his heavy rig (must be 20-30kg easy) the five click round trip it took us to get here. In the stifling humidity, under a merciless sun. Hard core dude!

To see grain elevator remains that once stood along this same line, on the also abandoned far eastern (prairie) section, see: Prairie Sentinels – Oberlin Alberta

Till the next post, keep curious!

They’re saying…

”Love the stories, love the history and appreciate the effort to document both in words and pictures before it’s all gone – or maybe to help keep it alive!” Kathleen Raines.

More abandoned spans…
East Coulee’s Historic Wood Bridge – it carried trains and autos.
Bridge Hunting – Bullpound Alberta – a disused railway bridge in a remote valley.
Highway 524 Abandoned Road Bridge & Wet Dreams – originally built for a big water pipe.

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date of Adventure: August, 2019.
Location(s): Clearwater County, AB.
Article references and thanks: Glenbow Photo Archives/Glenbow Western Research Centre, Canadian National Railway Timetables, Alberta Energy Regulator Coal Mine Records.
Please show caution should you visit the bridge – it’s dangerous!

Sizing it up with Rob Pohl.

With the forest encroaching, it’s sort of hidden.

Many big concrete piers support it.

The top deck was removed to keep people off.

Behind those trees is a deep gorge.

It was in use for only a few decades.

Big girders & many rivets.