Strangers tell me stories, I don't know why, but they do, and I listen.
There are a bunch of lift or drawbridges on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland. Several rail lines and streets cross the river in what was once a heavy industrial area.
As the tour boat was waiting for a train to cross the bridge and this bridge to go up for us to cross under, the guy with the white hair started to tell his tale. He grew up in the area, and the industrial flats were where he and his buddies would go to drink. Remember 50 years ago the legal drinking age was 18.
He said they were hanging out in the flats one night, sharing a bottle of something, and they saw an iron ore carrier coming down the river toward Lake Erie. His buddies said let's try something new, and started climbing the stairs on the side of the bridge, and out onto the beam along the side of the railroad tracks, right to the middle, where they sat down, with their feet dangling over the side. The sirens sounded and the bridge started to rattle, shake, squeel, and slowly rise. He was scared shitless, he looked over at his friends, who were smiling. He said to them, "you've done this before haven't you?" They laughed and said, "it is terrifying the first time." As the boat passed under the bridge the deck crew on the boat noticed the boys on the bridge, pointed and shouted, then laughed.
He said, "yes he went back several times."
Oh hell no.
ReplyDeleteNo trains when the bridge is up
DeleteThat would be wild.... but no thanks!
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree
DeleteThe river cruise is now on my list of things to do in CLE. What a great story...the things we did as teenagers and lived to tell about them. My son and daughter-in-law's rehearsal dinner was in the Flats.
ReplyDeleteI was such a good kid - let me think about that
DeleteWe had, well, they still have, a similar bridge in Sacramento called the Tower Bridge. Not for train crossings, but vehicle traffic. And it would rise when taller boats came down the river and my friends and I once sat on the railing--not at the very top, I might have died--when the bridge began to rise.
ReplyDeleteWe sat on the opposite end from the bridge operator because they tried chasing us after but we were able to get away. I'm not sure if the thrill was the bridge rising or running off into the night to avoid "capture."
I'd be more worried about being caught, then the bridge moving
DeleteCrazy, man, crazy!
ReplyDeleteYea, sounds like fun
DeleteOh gosh, what a great story. I'm glad he shared it with you.
ReplyDeleteWe all have stories to share, waiting for a willing ear.
DeleteSitting on the lift span would be great fun. Try and do that now!
ReplyDeleteI think the police would be there before the boat.
DeleteMy boat nerd father would love this so.
ReplyDeleteFreighter hopping in the great lakes could be fun
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