Welcome to Sulphite Bridge. Better known as the Upside Down Bridge locally. Here you will find nice views of the Winnipesaukee River and have a great vantage point of all those crazy kayakers during the annual First Day Kayak Run. The bridge also connects the Winnipesaukee River Trail to a lesser traveled trail that will take you along an old mill road and rail that has been long abandoned.
Historical Remarks: (http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/bridges/p103.html)
The existing structure replaced a framed trestle bridge erected here in 1891 or 1892 by the Franklin and Tilton Railroad. This unusual bridge, built by the Bridge and Building Department of the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1896, appears to be the only deck-covered railroad bridge left in the United States. It was named Sulphite because of the large amounts of sulfur transported over the rail lines for use by the giant pulp and paper mills not far from the bridge. It is also known as the Upside Down Covered Bridge because the railroad track crosses over the top of the structure rather than running through its center. Service over the line was suspended in 1973. The bridge sides are boarded over with 7/8" siding and the ends are closed. There was a fire inside the bridge on October 27, 1980 that is believed to have been arson. Replacement costs could run as high as $500,000. The Sulphite Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Use caution when venturing out onto the bridge.
Congrats to #1Mattman for FTF! Any co FTFs? Say, Dlphndmsl? And congrats to 1784kasimar for "hanging" in there!