RE: EN>FR. Bridges... "Galloping Gertie"...

[PRB]

-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Lynn Lempérière Sent: 4 août, 1999 05:55 To: INTERLANGUE Subject: EN>FR. Bridges... "Galloping Gertie"... Bonjour à tous,   Does anyone know about the nickname "Galloping Gertie" ?   Context : "Suspension-bridge design the world over had taken fright at the collapse of "Galloping Gertie," the nickname given to the first Tacoma Narrows bridge in Washington State, which began to twist, sway, and finally collapse under a moderate wind of 40 m.p.h."   (This accident happened on 7th November 1940) I understand *galloping* but *Gertie* does puzzle me...   - Is that the short for the name Gertrude ? In that case, what has it to do with the Tacoma Bridge ? or - Does the whole expression "galloping Gertie" has a special meaning or connotation ? (some sort of disease as we say for "phtisie galopante" ?... An image relating to the swift way the bridge did collapse ...   Every interpretation welcome !... Thanks in advance. Lynn O'Leum    Hi Lynn!   If you want to know more about "Galloping Gertie", check out this Web site. http://www.icaen.uiowa.edu/~hawkeng/spring_97/articles/gertie.html On en parle abondamment. Il y a même quelques photos pour illustrer le tout.   Hope this helps!   PRB