Talk:BNSF Railway Bridge 5.1

Portland & Seattle Railway

@SJ Morg: I find the sentences at the beginning of the history section a bit convoluted: "The original, swing-span bridge was built in 1906–08 by the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway (SP&S), as part of construction of a new line between Vancouver, Washington and Portland. SP&S was formed jointly by the Northern Pacific Railway and Great Northern Railway, originally as the Portland & Seattle Railway, to build and ultimately operate new railroad lines from Portland to Seattle and Portland to Spokane, but was renamed Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway—in early 1908, before opening any track sections—after construction of the Portland–Spokane line got under way before the Seattle line." I think it's misleading to say that the bridge was built by SP&S given that the majority of construction took place before the railway was renamed. Also, do you think it's necessary to tell readers about how the Portland & Seattle Railway was created? Mentioning that "Northern Pacific Railway" and "Great Northern Railway" were the names of the companies that created the railroad seems only tangentially relevant to the history of the bridge. I think the following would be clearer: "The original, swing-span bridge was built in 1906–08 by the Portland & Seattle Railway as part of construction of a new line between Vancouver, Washington and Portland. The Portland & Seattle Railway was created in 1905 with the goal of building new railroad lines from Portland to Seattle and from Portland to Spokane. The company was renamed Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway (SP&S) in early 1908—before opening any track sections—after construction of the Portland–Spokane line got under way before the Seattle line." What are your thoughts? Lord Bolingbroke (talk) 20:05, 19 December 2018 (UTC)

That's a good suggestion. Your recommended wording seems fine to me. SJ Morg (talk) 09:24, 20 December 2018 (UTC)

Sources

• "East Can Show No Big Bridge Draws: Port of Portland Committee Returns with Stacks of Data but No Decision". The Morning Oregonian. February 16, 1906. p. 14.
• "'Greater Portland' Is an Assured Fact". The Sunday Oregonian. February 25, 1906. p. 30.
• "Bridge Question Still Undecided: Railroad and Port of Portland Fail to Agree on Upper-Deck Provision". The Morning Oregonian. March 20, 1906. p. 10.
• "Will Run Under Streets". The Morning Oregonian. July 28, 1906. p. 14.

– Lord Bolingbroke (talk) 02:17, 23 May 2019 (UTC)

Richard Serra 16mm film

This bridge is the subject of a 16mm film by artist Richard Serra from 1976. Perhaps that can be added to the article? I wasn't sure if it was relevant or which section it would go in. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/gallery/2013/sep/28/the-10-best-bridges?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other Feelfreetoblameme (talk) 14:44, 5 July 2023 (UTC)

Stop Calling it The Burlington Northern Bridge.

Who is the current owner? Is it the BNSF Railway? If so, then make the change. The BN is now a Fallen Flag of the railroads.

Eric Erie Ericerie (talk) 14:21, 23 November 2023 (UTC)

A move to BNSF Railway Bridge 5.1 seems reasonable since "BNSF Railway" is the official name of the company. Any comment @SJ Morg:? – Lord Bolingbroke (talk) 19:56, 23 November 2023 (UTC)

At the time I made the major expansion of this article (2011), the railroad that owns and uses this bridge had been Burlington Northern for 41 years, of the bridge's then 103-year existence, whereas it had been BNSF Railway for only 16 years – and there was no way to know how long it might remain BNSF before another reorganization. However, now that it has remained BNSF for 28 years (and counting), it seems very reasonable to rename this article, so I have no objection. – SJ Morg (talk) 05:35, 28 November 2023 (UTC)

Sounds good, I'll go ahead and move the page. – Lord Bolingbroke (talk) 23:01, 28 November 2023 (UTC)