Tuesday, June 20, 2017

1906 Trail/Conrail/Pennsy Pratt Truss and Trestle over Conestoga River near Safe Harbor Dam

(Bridge Hunter, Historic BridgesBirds-Eye View)

Jack Stoner posted
On a humid and steamy June day in 1986 Conrail train MTPI - Metutchen, NJ - Pittsburgh,PA crosses the iconic PRR Low Grade trestle, (local parlance) at Safe Harbor, PA. The actual Conrail nomenclature for this line was the Enola Branch. Taken out of service in favor of the Reading RR route to northern NJ and NY and Phila. this well engineered line was downgraded, then abandoned in 1989 and finally the last iron was removed in 1990 - 91.
[And a nice view of the Safe Harbor Dam.]

Collection of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society, Columbia, PA. from Conestogo River Bridge
[I didn't notice that all of the piers were cut stone until I saw this photo.]
HAER PA,36-SAHAR,1--9 from HAER PA,36-SAHAR,1-
Even though Conrail abandoned it, Norfolk Southern got it when Conrail was split up between NS and CSX.

Robert Wanner posted
Pennsylvania Railroad Atglen & Susquehanna Branch on overhead trestle along the river at Safe Harbor Dam and the PRR Port Road below in steam days prior to electrication. High trestle still stands as a hiking train in 2024. Hard to imagine the A&S once the double tracked freight bypass line for Philadelphia bound trains. Photo from Paul Hartline, not sure whether he took the photo.

Metrotrails posted
Safe Harbor Trestles over the mouth of the Conestoga River at the Susquehanna, Lancaster County Pa. 
The bridges were constructed in 1906. The lower line was originally the Columbia and Port Deposit Railroad, built in 1877, and became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The original lower Bridge washed out just about the same time, so the bridges are almost the same age.
The upper bridge is the Enola Low Grade Line, officially the Atglen and Susquehanna Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, a mostly freight bypass of Lancaster. The Port Deposit Branch is still active, but the A&S Branch was abandoned in 1988. It is now Enola Low Grade Trail. 
The Safe Harbor Dam across the Susquehanna River was completed in 1931.
Ron Baker: The guy who set fire to the then-newly installed wooden walking trail deck in 2018 (causing $3 million in damage), was just sentenced to 14 years of probation & ordered to pay $1 million. This according to today's LNP + LancasterOnline. Its great how our justice system works, huh?
M'ke Helbing shared
M'ke Helbing shared

Metrotrails posted
Safe Harbor Trestles over the mouth of the Conestoga River at the Susquehanna, Lancaster County Pa. 
The bridges were constructed in 1906. The lower line was originally the Columbia and Port Deposit Railroad, built in 1877, and became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. 
The upper bridge is the Enola Low Grade Line, officially the Atglen and Susquehanna Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, a mostly freight bypass of Lancaster. The Port Deposit Branch is still active, but the A&S Branch was abandoned in 1988. It is now Enola Low Grade Trail. 
The very bottom bridge carried spur tracks used for Safe Harbor Dam completed in 1931.

Metrotrails added
Safe Harbor Trestles over the mouth of the Conestoga River at the Susquehanna, Lancaster County Pa. 
The bridges were constructed in 1906. The lower line was originally the Columbia and Port Deposit Railroad, built in 1877, and became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. 
The upper bridge is the Enola Low Grade Line, officially the Atglen and Susquehanna Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, a mostly freight bypass of Lancaster. The Port Deposit Branch is still active, but the A&S Branch was abandoned in 1988. It is now Enola Low Grade Trail. 
The very bottom bridge carried spur tracks used for Safe Harbor Dam completed in 1931.

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