References to the
Whipple
Truss Bridge Structure
(used on the 1883 Blair
Crossing Railroad Bridge built by
George S. Morison)
"Comprised of three 330-foot
Whipple trusses supported 50 feet above the high water by massive stone piers,
the Blair Bridge took a year to build and cost almost $1.3 million:
$400,000 of which was spent on shore rectification. -- completed Oct 1883
"Morison's Whipple trusses at
Blair had been replaced in 1924 with Parker trusses fabricated by the American
Bridge Company in New York." ALMBridge page 24
About Squire Whipple & his
Bridge Design
[source]
The Whipple truss was developed
by Squire Whipple as stronger version of the Pratt truss. Patented in
1847, it was also known as the "Double-intersection Pratt"
because the diagonal tension members cross two panels, while those on the
Pratt cross one. The Indiana Historical Bureau notes one bridge as being a
"Triple Whipple" -- possibly the only one -- built with the
thought that if two are better than one, three must be stronger yet.
The Whipple truss was most commonly
used in the trapezoidal form -- straight top and bottom chords -- although
bowstring Whipple trusses were also built.
The Whipple truss gained immediate
popularity with the railroads as it was stronger and more rigid than the
Pratt. It was less common for highway use, but a few wrought iron examples
survive. They were usually built where the span required was longer than
was practical with a Pratt truss.
Further developments of the
subdivided variations of the Pratt, including the Pennsylvania and
Baltimore trusses, led to the decline of the Whipple truss.
Related Links:
- Whipple Bridge at Sugar River north
of Boonville, New York. [link]
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