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Roadster crossing a bridge


Dosmo

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I found this to be an interesting photo, mostly because of the bridge.  This is a Bailey Bridge, a portable type of structure that was widely used many years ago.  There was one still in use in my home state until about 30 years ago.

 

I haven't really attempted to determine the ID of the car.

Vintage car on Bailey Bridge 1.jpg

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  • 2 months later...

At the time the photo was probably taken (license plate anyone?) it was likely a Bailey Bridge. The Mabey Logistic Support Bridge (LSB) was developed from the Bailey, using modern steel grades and deeper and heavier transoms. Many LSBs have been built since WW II and many national armies use them.

 

The bridge looks to be 12 panels long = 120 feet. There are two rows of panels in the upper layer and maybe two, three or even four on the bottom. If two, it would be called a double-double Bailey bridge. It could also be a triple-double (three on bottom) for greater load capacity. It looks to be four transoms per bay (two pairs back to back). (An LSB would only require two transoms per bay for the same load capacity.) It doesn't look to be chord reinforced - i.e. no extra row of chords or longitudinal members on top of the upper panels.

 

The bridge configuration is based on the required load capacity and the span. Shortest and least capacity is a single with two transoms per bay. Then single chord reinforced, then double, double chord reinforced, double-single, then d-s chord reinforced and so on.

 

These things were designed to be built with only basic hand tools with each part liftable by no more than four men. A student colleague told me his Army Engineers unit had to build a Bailey Bridge in the dark (no moon) close to the CO's tent without waking him, to pass their bridge building test.

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