A Higher Experience.

Here's a poster I did back in 2011. Click to enlarge.

 Today was a scheduled walk with London Photo Walk, an informal group of members who meet at various locations according to an email message sent out monthly more or less. There are no dues or formal meetings and participation is entirely voluntary. Some I've attended in the past include Zubick's Scrap Yard, Brantford Brownfields, Woodstock Abandoned Underwear Factory, The Delaware Millpond, and the East London Photo Walk

I've missed quite a few of these walks recently but this one caught my eye. A walk over an abandoned railway bridge a hundred or so feet up in the air was too good to miss. The location - the town of St Thomas, about 15 miles south of London on Highway 4.

The Michigan Central Railway trains used to run over this bridge on their way from New York to Chicago.  The right of way runs through the middle of town but the rails have long since been removed.

Our guide today is a stakeholder in the not-for-profit company that bought the bridge, the approach and the land under the bridge. Their hope is to turn it into Canada's first elevated park. The city was offered the property but turned it down. Read more fascinating things about this old bridge, the third and final project built in 1929 CLICK HERE.

There is a quarter mile or so approach to the bridge. The walk crosses two small bridges over city roads before arriving at the main entrance to the main attraction.


The non-profit group has some work to do before they can welcome the public to the site. We were indeed luck to get a preview of the future park in its unspoiled beginnings.

The weather could have been better, (windy and cool with overcast) but  we were so glad we made the trip.

Our guide had a few cautions before we were allowed to explore. The bridge had two sets of rails, one set in each direction.

 Between the two right-of-ways there is an intentional 2-3 inch gap. This allows the bridge to flex if two trains passed at the same time. We were cautioned to step well clear of the crack as stones could be inadvertently kicked  into the gap and fall to the roadway below. This could cause damage or injury to the cars or pedestrians below.

Don't forget, you can click on any picture to enlarge it.

A view through the center of the bridge; through the crack between the two right-of-ways. I don't think the trampoline would help if you fell from this height

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