As early as 1865, the Jersey Central spanned Newark bay with a drawbridge connecting Elizabethport with the Bayonne Peninsula. Here we see the early 20th Century bascule drawbridge. This was replaced by a four-track "lift bridge," section of which could be raised vertically to let freighters pass through. And yes, a train did go through the open bridge once, in 1957, drowning about 60 commuters.