I rode the K&K tourist RR up to the Kinzua Bridge in late summer 2002, after the bridge was closed, and the year before it blew down. IIRC some pieces of the bridge had already fallen. Its too bad they did not save at least the last few miles of rail from Mt. Jewett to the bridge.
Firelock76Bad shape? I don't know, the Knox and Kane tourist railroad was running trains over the viaduct (it was the main attraction) until the tornado wrecked it.
It was being repaired/ partially rebuilt by a contractor when the windstorm hit. I never did get to see it before the partial collapse. You can now walk out on what's left, as part of the state park:
http://visitanf.com/kinzua-state-park-sky-walk/
"A partial glass-bottomed observation deck enables visitors to look down at the remaining towers supporting the historic structure."
- PDN.
zugmann Firelock76 Fair enough! You were there and I never was. At least the steam locomotive's still alive and in a good home. Yeah, in a lot better hands I would say.
Firelock76 Fair enough! You were there and I never was. At least the steam locomotive's still alive and in a good home.
Yeah, in a lot better hands I would say.
You bet! Dave Conrad's the man!
Firelock76Fair enough! You were there and I never was. At least the steam locomotive's still alive and in a good home.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
Fair enough! You were there and I never was. At least the steam locomotive's still alive and in a good home.
No, it was closed off to the trains before the tornado. Then closed to pedestrians. It was in the process of being rebuilt when the storm hit.
Luckily I was over it on a train a few years before it closed. It was cool. HAven't been back since it fell.
Bad shape? I don't know, the Knox and Kane tourist railroad was running trains over the viaduct (it was the main attraction) until the tornado wrecked it.
There were plans to rebuild it but they never came to fruition. The line's abandoned now, but the steam locomotive's active up in Connecticutt. It's been rebuilt to resemble a New Haven Mike.
Firelock76Midland Mike, the Kinzua Viaduct didn't collapse of it's own accord, it was flattened by a tornado. Considering the power of a tornado it probably wouldn't have mattered how well the viaduct was or wasn't built.
It was in pretty bad shape, though. Hard to tell what would have happened if it was in decent shape.
Tree68, that's good to know!
Midland Mike, the Kinzua Viaduct didn't collapse of it's own accord, it was flattened by a tornado. Considering the power of a tornado it probably wouldn't have mattered how well the viaduct was or wasn't built.
Man and his works are just a pimple on the butt of the world compared to the powers of nature.
Firelock76Still, it's a shame the old bridge couldn't have been preserved as a monument to those 19th Century iron workers who built it, but what are you going to do? New York State didn't want it.
Apparently, there were a number of castings in the structure with the year of construction molded into them. Some number of them were saved and given to local historical associations, etc.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
When I think of preserving the old bridge, I think of the Kinzua Bridge and its collapse.
The new bridge crosses the Genesee Gorge ("the Grand Canyon of the East") and the surrounding state park. The new bridge does seem less esthetically intrusive than the old trestle, and I am glad they cleaned up the site.
The look of the new bridge is a lot more confidence-building than the old one, that's for certain! And it does have a classic "railroady" look to it.
Still, it's a shame the old bridge couldn't have been preserved as a monument to those 19th Century iron workers who built it, but what are you going to do? New York State didn't want it.
Old bridge lookd "SPINDLY" and somewhat intrusive. New one looks much more gracefull and stronger. I like it. Nice to see cooperation from politicians. Did NS remove the old piers from the river?
The new bridge looks a lot nicer than the one it replaced.
https://www.railwayage.com/mw/norfolk-southern-dedicates-key-southern-tier-bridge/?RAchannel=intermodal
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