Black Point Railroad Bridge, Railroad swing bridge in Black Point-Green Point, California.
The Black Point Railroad Bridge is a steel truss swing bridge that crosses the Petaluma River. Its rotating center section allows river traffic to pass through while connecting asymmetrical approach spans on both sides.
The San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad first built a bridge at this location before the Northwestern Pacific Railroad constructed the current structure in 1911. This transition reflected the consolidation of railroad operations in the region.
The bridge and the Black Point area became a stopping point where drawbridge tenders and other railroaders lived, and where prospective riders could buy tickets. The backup engine for the swing span, an old Ford Model T engine, still sits in the operator's house.
The bridge is not open to visitors: it carries freight trains and has no public access or viewing platform. It can be seen from the Petaluma River and from the Black Point-Green Point shoreline. Trains from Schellville cross it mainly to haul grain to Petaluma feed mills, so covered hoppers are the usual cars.
Remote control systems installed in 2011 replaced the century-old manual operation that required operators to staff a control house on the bridge. This upgrade allowed the historic span to stay in service while simplifying daily operations.
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