In the present study, the fatigue life of the steel of an old bridge on the line from Beijing to
Shenyang, which was constructed in 1920s and replaced in 1980s, has been experimentally determined by
using specimens with the original rivet central holes and the key-hole CT specimens without the damaged
surface layer. Procedures are developed to predict the fatigue life of the specimens of the steel of an old
bridge under two levels loading. Test results show that the fatigue life determined at the same equivalent
stress amplitude follows the usual log-normal distribution, and can be better expressed as a function of
the equivalent stress amplitude, which shows the existence of the fatigue threshold. Furthermore, the
expressions of the fatigue life for a given survivability are presented. Using these expressions and the
procedures proposed in the present study, one can predict the fatigue life of the specimens of old bridge
steel under variable amplitude loading. The predicted results show that the fatigue life of old bridge steel
specimens follows the log-normal distribution under two-level loading, which is substantiated. Test results
and analysis also show that the fatigue performance of the old bridge steel was degenerated due to the
surface damage in its long-term operation.