Building the Grand Coulee Dam, part 2

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GALLERIES INDEX

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from Dan Bolyard at Big Bend Railroad History, 1-13-2013

FDR visits the Grand Coulee Dam construction site, October 2, 1937.

Grand Coulee Dam at the close of the MWAK Company contract. The construction trestle at Elevation 1024 tops concrete which had been poured to a maximum elevation of 1010 in the abutment sections and elevation 945 in the spillway section, with the exception of blocks 39 and 40 which were carried to elevation 1000. The power house foundations were completed to elevation 948.8 and the training wall to elevation 980. – March 8, 1938 photo

At the close of 1939, Consolidated Builders had completed 68.5% of the contract work for Grand Coulee Dam.

At the close of 1939, Consolidated Builders had completed 68.5% of the contract work for Grand Coulee Dam. With more than 9,000,000 cubic yards of concrete in the structure, the right and left abutment sections were within 100 feet of the top and ultimate height, elevation 1311.08 feet. The spillway section was still below the construction deck level, elevation 1180, but progressing on schedule. With the exception of the station service and control bays, the left powerhouse building was nearing completion. Upstream from the dam, the Columbia River Reservoir was beginning to take shape, and although ony a fraction of the ultimate storage of 10,000,000 acre feet of water was contained there, backwater effect were being observed 38.5 miles away.
[photo USBR; text from The Star (Grand Coulee)] 

1940 Dam View.  Easily seen on the far side of the downstream side of the dam are the railroad grades, including the line through the tunnel to the bridge on the far right of the image. This bridge was built for railroad use, but never actually was used for rail. Courtesy of the University of Idaho.