The New Yankee Workshop (1989)

Episode Overview

Norm embarks on an exciting journey to Utah to observe the deconstruction of a historic twelve-mile railway trestle, constructed in the early 1900s. By the 1950s, advancements in engineering rendered this structure obsolete, leaving the impressive wooden pilings, once vital for the Southern Pacific's crossing over the Great Salt Lake, nearly forgotten. Years of neglect allowed the trestle wood, made from Douglas fir and redwood, to become richly colored due to lake brine exposure. Norm collects some of this unique wood to craft his own outdoor chaise lounge, discovering fascinating details about modern efforts to utilize this distinctive material.