Your Dungeness Fact: The fabrication and erection of the bridge took only 3-4 weeks in the summer of 1915. The lower timbers (stringers) were assembled first and set to grade on log cribbing to support their weight. Then the rails were laid. A train could then carry the heavy timbers for the vertical parts of the bridge, which were lifted and bolted into place directly from flat cars. Then the cribbing was removed. The bridge first carried trains in July, 1915.