The G&O's first bridges were constructed quickly to get the railroad operational as soon as possible. The first bridge to span Bouey Canyon was the Golden Gate. It was designed to carry a double track O gauge line. (Bouey Canyon is named after John Bouey. John is a civil engineer and a former USN Seabee. John scratch built all the bridges spanning this canyon for the G&O.)
As the G&O's trains got heavier and traffic increased the railroad found that the original Golden Gate Bridge was not adequate. Therefore, management decided to replace the bridge.
Here is a photo of one the last trains to cross the old Golden Gate Bridge.
This a photo of G&O crew members Jeff Zolfarelli and Jim Stephens preparing to take out the bridge. It was raining heavily when this photo was taken. The crew is using the sun shade to keep the rain off.
Jeff Zolfarelli and Jacques Verdier are lifting out the old bridge. Who knew that G&O crew members could lift the Golden Gate Bridge? They are supermen.
A major goal is to build the new Golden Gate Bridge with a wider and stronger deck. The new bridge will also have lights.
G&O crew members Mark Boyd and Craig Matoza are test fitting the new deck and its strength in this photo taken a week after the old bridge was removed. This is as far as this project has progressed as of May 15, 2016.
The G&O will have the new bridge finished and in operation in time to host an open house for the National Garden Railroad Convention to be held in the San Francisco Bay Area during July 4 - 10, 2016.
