Peering across the Hackensack River, we observe the HX Draw. This bridge is more than just steel and rivets. It’s a testament to engineering ingenuity and a vital artery for New Jersey transit.
The HX Draw is a bascule bridge. It carries the New Jersey Transit Bergen County Line and Pascack Valley Line. The bridge connects Secaucus and East Rutherford.
Locals sometimes call it “The Jack-Knife”. This refers to its unique opening method. The HX Draw lifts to allow boats to pass.
Joseph Strauss designed the HX Draw. Construction finished in 1911. Strauss is famous for being the chief engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge. The HX Draw is one of the first heel trunnion bascule bridges in the United States. It was originally part of the Erie Railroad’s main line.
The heel trunnion bascule design is interesting. The machinery is installed on the hip end of the truss. Struts are pinned to the counterweight bridge tower with brackets and collar bearings. Railings of stairways are on the truss span leading to the machinery.
In 2008, NJ Transit gave the HX Draw a fresh look. They repainted the span in a new coat of black paint.
Before 1958, Erie Railroad passenger trains used Pavonia Terminal on the Jersey City waterfront. Then, they shifted to Hoboken. This change foreshadowed the 1960 merger with the Lackawanna. This merger created the Erie Lackawanna Railroad.
On May 13, 1966, photographer Victor Hand captured an image of Erie Lackawanna locomotive No. 813. It was leading train No. 1169 across the HX Drawbridge. The locomotive was a former long-distance passenger engine. It became a commuter service engine. It ran from Hoboken to Suffern. Erie Lackawanna’s Croxton Yard was nearby. It was the main freight hub in the area.
The HX Draw continues to serve. It is a testament to early 20th-century engineering. Next time you cross a bridge, think of the HX Draw. Remember its history and design.