CNR Bridge

About

Opened in 1931, the Canadian National Railway (CNR) steel truss swing span railway bridge over the north arm of the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver links Burnaby with Richmond and the south arm Vancouver Fraser Port Authority facilities on Lulu Island. The Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) had planned to lay track from the north end of the New Westminster Bridge and cross the Fraser at the 1931 location. However, when the CNoR opened the Lulu Island branch line in 1917, it connected with the British Columbia Electric Railway (BCER) Queensborough terminus.

Since the original BCER Queensborough bridge was designed for trams, not heavy locomotives, the CNoR westward route 12.02 miles (19.34 km) to Stevestona was an isolated branch line. After the CNR absorption of the bankrupt CNoR, the money-losing branch, and damage to trestles from a 1918 muskeg fire at Mile 4, terminated all services. In July 1930, work began on sinking piers for the 4,200-foot-long bridge with a 240-foot central span.

On completion in November 1931, work trains carried the steel rails across the bridge to lay 14 miles (23 km) of track for the Lulu Island industrial branch line. This comprised two north–south lines...