The original Victoria Tubular Bridge, was one of the greatest engineering achievements of the mid-nineteenth century. It spanned the turbulent waters of the St.Lawrence from the shore to the island of Montreal, a distance of 9,000 feet. It was designed to be high enough for ocean-going vessels to pass under it, yet strong enough to withstand the pressure of iceflows at its footings and the weight of heavy freight trains. It was opened for use in 1859, thus completing the rail connections between Sarnia, Ontario and Portland, Maine. The bridge was in constant use until it was replaced in 1898 by the double-tracked Victoria Jubilee Bridge.
Courtesy: Notman Photographic Archives, McCord Museum
