iN PHOTOS: Creative captures of railway bridges in Kamloops, Okanagan

The trestle bridges, swing bridges and lift bridges along the rail lines in Kamloops and the Okanagan have interesting histories and can be unique subjects of photography.  The CN railroad bridge that spans the North Thompson River in Kamloops was built in 1914 and was the first vertical lift rail bridge in the country. https://infotel.ca/newsitem/why-a-cn-railroad-bridge-in-kamloops-has-two-tall-towers/it105080 The bridge has two towers sticking up from its centre, remnants of a pulley system that used to lift the centre of the bridge to allow for boats to pass. It’s a subject of photography, with snaps taken from all angles, including aerial shots. The CN railroad bridge that spans the South Thompson River by Riverside Park in Kamloops is also a beloved subject of photography with or without trains crossing. Built in 1927 by Coughlin Steel Ltd, it’s a steel girder bridge with a 208-feet swing span. The Trout Creek Trestle Bridge in Summerland was the highest trestle bridge on the historic Kettle Valley Railway system stretching 619 feet across and 238 feet above the canyon floor, according to Kettle Valley Rail https://www.kettlevalleyrail.org/about/ . Built between 1910 and 1915, the last freight train rode the rails in 1989. Today it is part of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail. The Myra Canyon Trestles on the Kettle Valley Railway were built at the turn of the century as part of a track that runs along a steep-walled canyon, according to BC Rail Trails https://www.kettlevalleyrail.org/about/ . Located in Kelowna, the stretch of rail trail offers stunning, scenic views and several opportunities to snap photos of the 19 wooden trestles along the route.  READ MORE: JONESIE: How Canadian news became victims in its own story https://infotel.ca/newsitem/jonesie-how-canadian-news-became-victims-in-its-own-story/it105120 Trestle bridges are made of short spans supported by trestle frames. Early trestle bridges used timber to support as a temporary solution to transportation on railroads, according to History of Bridges http://www.historyofbridges.com/facts-about-bridges/trestle-bridge/ . When spanning deep valleys the temporary timber trestles were built to keep the track stable while trains transported materials to create solid full under the tracks. Some timber trestles were used as permanent supports where water flow or flooding could make solid fills unsafe. READ MORE: iN PHOTOS: Gems along Kettle Valley Rail Trail from Myra Canyon to Chute Lake https://infotel.ca/newsitem/in-photos-gems-along-kettle-valley-rail-trail-from-myra-canyon-to-chute-lake/it104759 Most timber trestles were gradually replaced with steel and concrete ones, and by the end of the 1800s, completely new bridge constructions were using with iron and steel. Different types of trestle bridges include ones built with wood, stone, iron, steel and concrete. Did we miss any spectacular railroad bridges in Kamloops and the Okanagan? Let us know in the comments below. To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie mailto:sainslie@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .