Kinzua Bridge - once tallest and longest bridge in the world

Kinzua Bridge, located in Pennsylvania (McKean County), was considered to the one of the tallest and longest railway bridges in the world. Unfortunately it collapsed in 2003.

The following pictures show the bridge before and after it had collapsed.

It was officially ranked as the fourth tallest railroad bridge in the United States. One interesting thing about this bridge is that it was built in just 94 days by less than hundred workers. When it was built in 1882 it was the longest railroad bridge until another similar bridge was built in France in 1885.

It took 1500 tons of wrought Iron for its construction. But still the short duration for construction was due to the fact that scaffolding was not used in its construction. I really do not understand how such a tall bridge was constructed without the help of any scaffolding structures.

When it broke it was due to a tornado. A century after construction it couldn’t withstand any winds. The bolts at the base were rusted. The storm nearly shook the part of the bridge laterally. It was left as it is after collapse so as to show the tourists the power of nature.