Comments on: An Eagle River Trestle http://www.coppercountryexplorer.com/2009/07/an-eagle-river-trestle/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:54:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Paul H. Meier http://www.coppercountryexplorer.com/2009/07/an-eagle-river-trestle/comment-page-1/#comment-6179 Paul H. Meier Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:41:38 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/?p=3536#comment-6179 These were footings for the railroad trestle that connected the Phoenix' new Ashbed shaft west of M-26 with the last mill on the east side of M-26 and the river. A large portion of this rail line was supported by poor rock fill. The fill and part of the trestle were still in place during the 1950's. The poor rock was recycled for fill elsewhere during the late '50's early '60's. The railroad was standard gauge since it was built during the KC period. Both the Phoenix and the Arnold tried to develop mines on the Ashbed lode during the c. 1900 -1918. Neither found it to be profitable. The little rail line was only about a half mile long and connected with the KC at Crestview. They had a small 0-4-0 tank loco and a few captive cars. The 1913 strike was the death blow to any serious mining there but Keweenaw Copper followed by C&H did do explorations in the area up until the 1940's. According to C&H pay records, one of my cousins from Eagle River was employed as a fireman at the Phoenix mine in 1942. The clearings at Crestview have a maze of old railroad beds, both narrow and standard. These were footings for the railroad trestle that connected the Phoenix’ new Ashbed shaft west of M-26 with the last mill on the east side of M-26 and the river. A large portion of this rail line was supported by poor rock fill. The fill and part of the trestle were still in place during the 1950′s. The poor rock was recycled for fill elsewhere during the late ’50′s early ’60′s. The railroad was standard gauge since it was built during the KC period. Both the Phoenix and the Arnold tried to develop mines on the Ashbed lode during the c. 1900 -1918. Neither found it to be profitable. The little rail line was only about a half mile long and connected with the KC at Crestview. They had a small 0-4-0 tank loco and a few captive cars. The 1913 strike was the death blow to any serious mining there but Keweenaw Copper followed by C&H did do explorations in the area up until the 1940′s. According to C&H pay records, one of my cousins from Eagle River was employed as a fireman at the Phoenix mine in 1942. The clearings at Crestview have a maze of old railroad beds, both narrow and standard.

]]> By: explorer http://www.coppercountryexplorer.com/2009/07/an-eagle-river-trestle/comment-page-1/#comment-2443 explorer Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:49:03 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/?p=3536#comment-2443 Gordy.. That trestle might just be it. If you look at the map I just posted in Monday's post, you can see a line of poor rock moving west from where the trestle remains our. This could be what's lefts of those poor rock filled sections of the trestle. Allen... Those are small bolts to be sure, but not any smaller then those we've found along other trestle remains in the past. If this was a trestle for the Phoenix RR it would only have to support a narrow gauge system, so perhaps that makes up the difference. If you visit Kevin Musser's Copper Range site you can find a map of this area that notes a rail line at the same location I found these trestle remains, which seem to collaborate my hypothesis on these guys. The page is <a href="http://www.pasty.com/copperrange/depot.htm#baggage" rel="nofollow">HERE</a>, but you have to scroll down to find it. Gordy..

That trestle might just be it. If you look at the map I just posted in Monday’s post, you can see a line of poor rock moving west from where the trestle remains our. This could be what’s lefts of those poor rock filled sections of the trestle.

Allen…

Those are small bolts to be sure, but not any smaller then those we’ve found along other trestle remains in the past. If this was a trestle for the Phoenix RR it would only have to support a narrow gauge system, so perhaps that makes up the difference.

If you visit Kevin Musser’s Copper Range site you can find a map of this area that notes a rail line at the same location I found these trestle remains, which seem to collaborate my hypothesis on these guys. The page is HERE, but you have to scroll down to find it.

]]> By: Allen http://www.coppercountryexplorer.com/2009/07/an-eagle-river-trestle/comment-page-1/#comment-2442 Allen Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:04:25 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/?p=3536#comment-2442 The bolts appear small for bridge or trestle. Will await your ruins map as I can not orientate myself. The bolts appear small for bridge or trestle. Will await your ruins map as I can not orientate myself.

]]> By: Gordy Schmitt http://www.coppercountryexplorer.com/2009/07/an-eagle-river-trestle/comment-page-1/#comment-2441 Gordy Schmitt Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:14:13 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/?p=3536#comment-2441 Maybe valley floor was the wrong description, lower elevation would be better. But I can't tell if there a place where the river runs below it. Maybe valley floor was the wrong description, lower elevation would be better. But I can’t tell if there a place where the river runs below it.

]]> By: Gordy Schmitt http://www.coppercountryexplorer.com/2009/07/an-eagle-river-trestle/comment-page-1/#comment-2440 Gordy Schmitt Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:10:35 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/?p=3536#comment-2440 I was looking through Clarence Monettes book Phoenix, Mi History. On page 67, there is an interesting photo of a very long trestle. The one end looks to come off a hillside or level ground and goes out across a valley floor. Parts of it are filled in with mine rock. The best part is, the support bents are 3 legged just like the foundations in your photos. I just can't place where this thing would have been and its pretty impressive for a mine track. The description lists it as the Phoenix mine I was looking through Clarence Monettes book Phoenix, Mi History.
On page 67, there is an interesting photo of a very long trestle. The one end looks to come off a hillside or level ground and goes out across a valley floor. Parts of it are filled in with mine rock. The best part is, the support bents are 3 legged just like the foundations in your photos.
I just can’t place where this thing would have been and its pretty impressive for a mine track. The description lists it as the Phoenix mine

]]> By: Gordy Schmitt http://www.coppercountryexplorer.com/2009/07/an-eagle-river-trestle/comment-page-1/#comment-2439 Gordy Schmitt Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:41:17 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/?p=3536#comment-2439 So I take it, this ruin would be closer towards M26 and US41? I'm trying to get an idea of location. I do remember reading somewhere of a trestle over M26, if this was over the river, would it have crossed over the highway also? So I take it, this ruin would be closer towards M26 and US41? I’m trying to get an idea of location. I do remember reading somewhere of a trestle over M26, if this was over the river, would it have crossed over the highway also?

]]> By: explorer http://www.coppercountryexplorer.com/2009/07/an-eagle-river-trestle/comment-page-1/#comment-2438 explorer Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:57:37 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/?p=3536#comment-2438 Good idea Gordy, but wrong location. I'm pretty confident that the ruins we found down there were to that mill in the photo, which puts the trestle well to the southeast. (to the left in the photo - the road seen in that photo is M26). When I draw up a ruin map to the area later it will be clear. Good idea Gordy, but wrong location. I’m pretty confident that the ruins we found down there were to that mill in the photo, which puts the trestle well to the southeast. (to the left in the photo – the road seen in that photo is M26). When I draw up a ruin map to the area later it will be clear.

]]> By: Gordy Schmitt http://www.coppercountryexplorer.com/2009/07/an-eagle-river-trestle/comment-page-1/#comment-2437 Gordy Schmitt Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:51:49 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/?p=3536#comment-2437 http://digarch.lib.mtu.edu/showbib.aspx?bib_id=607449# Well this photo shows a tram between the mine and mill on the Ashbed Mine, wonder if it could have been the foundations, looking at it, looks like there is a gorge that crosses underneath http://digarch.lib.mtu.edu/showbib.aspx?bib_id=607449#
Well this photo shows a tram between the mine and mill on the Ashbed Mine, wonder if it could have been the foundations, looking at it, looks like there is a gorge that crosses underneath

]]> By: SMG http://www.coppercountryexplorer.com/2009/07/an-eagle-river-trestle/comment-page-1/#comment-2436 SMG Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:28:27 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/?p=3536#comment-2436 In the documents C&H has on the Phoenix there are all sorts of maps of this area and for the life of me I don't remember finding anything that closes the door on the case of this trestle. I've been there and it does seem like it would have to be a pretty large bridge. What if it was simply a smaller bridge to access Crestview nearby? In the documents C&H has on the Phoenix there are all sorts of maps of this area and for the life of me I don’t remember finding anything that closes the door on the case of this trestle. I’ve been there and it does seem like it would have to be a pretty large bridge. What if it was simply a smaller bridge to access Crestview nearby?

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