Railroad bridge catches fire and collapses - GIF and photo

[Ralphxyz]

That had to be a planned demolition, to have the flames evenly spread across the whole expanse has to be a man made fire. Does seem a shame!

Ralph

[ranald]

That had to be a planned demolition, to have the flames evenly spread across the whole expanse has to be a man made fire. Does seem a shame!

Ralph

I thought that too! But why not salvage in this day & age? The colour of the smoke suggests creosote which had organic compounds but could be harmfull so some.
I really dont know about burning it: would depend on age, i suppose? old power poles, railway sleepers etc still have the smell even if colour is gone from exterior.

[desbromilow]

That had to be a planned demolition, to have the flames evenly spread across the whole expanse has to be a man made fire. Does seem a shame!

Ralph

maybe not planned, but rather the effect of a redhot bearing dropping molten steel droplets as the carriage traveled along the track. all it needed to do was contact the soaked timbers and start and it would proceed fairly evenly (seen it happen in the past with scrub fires along tracks started by a collapsed axle bearing.(hot box failure))