[oliver1850]

Nice thread Matt. I've posted several markers in the past, there are lots of them around here. If you look closely near the top of the columns at the corners of the bridge you can see the stacks of cast iron counterweights. The chains are attached to the deck of the bridge at each corner, go over the pulleys and are hooked to the stacks of counterweights. Bridge was lifted with a hand crank via the rack and pinion on each column. This bridge is one of the few original bridges on the 100 mile canal that can still be crossed in a car. I remember wood decked girder bridges crossing the canal nearly every mile, but I don't think any of them are still open to traffic and most are long gone - replaced by big culverts. Colorado II courtesy of bicycletricycle, wheels from LouDeeter.