June 2010 Update - Although it is always interesting to receive new information for the Covered Spans of Yesteryear project, it is particularly exciting to learn about an undocumented bridge right in my own back yard. I recently received an email from Larry Cote of Newport, NH, asking if I was familiar with a short railroad bridge in the Northville (now North Newport) section of town. He included this picture (cropped for this article) along with a post card showing a similar view.

The bridge, which is pictured at the extreme right edge of the photograph, was located next to the crossing of what is now Greenwood Road. The railroad crossing sign is visible on the right edge of the photo. This brings the number of known railroad covered bridges in Newport up to 14. Boston & Maine's right-of-way map of 1914 lists a deck plate girder structure at the location at that time. If you stand where the present rail-trail crosses Oak St. you can imagine this scene as it appeared here in the late 1800's.

Ray Reid, past president of the Newport Historical Society has researched the town's covered bridges and published an interesting article in the town's 1993 Annual Report. It included information about the 19 structures (13 railroad and 6 highway) that were known at the time. Copies are difficult to find, but well worth it if you are able to locate one. In 1871 & 1872, the Sugar River Railroad built a line through Newport to Claremont and constructed the 14 covered bridges we are now aware of. That line eventually came under the control of the Boston & Maine Railroad. One by one, all of those 1871-1872 structures were replaced. In the early 1900's, new Wright and Pier railroad bridges were built to handle the heavier loads of the day. These were the last wooden bridges built along this line. In later years, the others were replaced with iron and steel structures. Many of those replacement structures are still in place today carrying horses, pedestrians, ATV's and bicycles.

On September 25th and 26th, Jenn & I along with George & Tina Conn will be hosting the Pioneer Safari. During the two days we will be visiting many covered bridges on both sides of the Connecticut River between Saxton's River and North Hartland, VT. For more details, contact me at bill@lostbridges.org. During the safari, we are planning to visit the two covered railroad bridges in Newport, NH. They are the last two examples of what used to be quite a collection of covered railroad bridges along this section of track.