It also crosses Manayunk Canal, which went around Flat Rock Dam.
The high tension power lines indicate that Pennsy had electrified this route.
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| Street View, Jul 2021, looking southeast |
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| Street View, Jul 2019, looking southwest |
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| HAER PA,51-PHILA,723- 16. LOOKING SW, BRIDGE CROSSING CANAL AND RIVER - Pennsylvania Railroad, Manayunk Bridge, Spanning Schuylkill Expressway (I-76), Schuylkill River & Green Lane, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA Photos from Survey HAER PA-551 |
"Significance: The Manayunk Bridge's nine open-spandrel reinforced concrete arches follow an unusual reverse curvature, which earns it the nickname 'S-Bridge.' Towering over the town of Manayunk and the Schuylkill Expressway, the bridge is a prominent local landmark." [HAER_data]
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| Bridges Now and Then posted and ShopCityMerch "Aerial views of the Pennsylvania Railroad's Manayunk Bridge spanning the Schuylkill River at Green Lane in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, c. 1918. Today, the bridge also spans the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76). Bridge was built by Philadelphia contractor T. L. Eyre in 1918. View looks southeast towards Manayunk from Green Lane, with the Green Lane automobile bridge also visible. Beginning stages of construction projects are visible on the west bank of the river at Green Lane. Image taken by the Aero Service Corporation" (Library Company of Philadelphia) Scott Mercaldo: That's definitely not c.1918. The Green Lane automobile bridge seen there opened in 1928, replacing an older, narrower bridge. https://digital.library.temple.edu/.../p15037coll3/id/85741/ [Note the gasometer in the background.] |
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| Library Co. of Philadelphia View looks southeast towards Manayunk from Green Lane, with the Green Lane automobile bridge in foreground and Pencoyd Viaduct behind, ca. 1930. |
Robert Wanner posted three images with the comment: "That high bridge on the Pennslvania Railroad over the Schuylkill River at Manayunk, Pa 8 miles from Broad Street Station in Philadelphia. Early one views of original curved bridge from the east side. Photographed way before my time. Good mileage listing including many stops long gone. As is the entire Branch beyond SEPTA Cynwyd."
Robert Wanner shared
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| Robert Wanner posted OK, it's a SEPTA ex-RDG Blueliner special train. But it's crossing the Scuylkill River into Manayunk on the former Pennsylvania Railroad bridge. Now a walk and bike trail void of railroad tracks, at one time it was what may be considered the Gateway to the Schuylkill Valley for the PRR as it made it's way Westward from the Bala and 52nd Street areas. Up and over the hill by the huge cemetery. Slide taken in 1985 or 86 by Robert Wanner. |
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| Greg Murray commented on Robert's posting The PRR ran 4910 and 4913 over that bridge in 1950 taking a trainload of Boy Scouts to a Jamboree at Valley Forge. Photo from Don Ball’s PRR in the 1940’s and 1950’s. |
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| Street View |
The Pennsy route is now a trail. The Reading route along the east bank is now a commuter railroad whereas the Reading route along the west bank is now NS.
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The bridge reopened on Oct 30, 2015, as a trail bridge. The trail is expected to help with the continued gentrification of a former industrial aera. [whyy]
"The project is a part of the circuit trails which includes 300 miles of completed trails in the region with an additional 50 miles in development." [CBSnews]
This is part of a plan to develop 750 miles of trails in Greater Philadelphia. [trails]
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| apconstruction "The Manayunk Bridge Trail is a scenic and practical recreational trail connecting the Cynwyd Heritage Trail in Lower Merion to Manayunk and the nearby Schuylkill River Trail." |
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| patch, (City of Philadelphia) The trail proved to be busy enough that in 2022 they added lights so that it can be open 24-hours a day. |
The lighting project cost $1m. [phila]
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| Manayunk The trails and canal are considered an important amenity for the community. |
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| Richard Jahn posted East Penn RR #52 operating the last train on a short piece of former Reading RR track in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia. There was one customer, Connelley Container and when they decided to close obviously there was no more need for this unique piece of railroad built in the bank of the canal. Known as the Venice branch the light rail, weight restricted bridge and vertical curves necessitated small locomotives. Conrail and Norfolk South had both previously operated on this branch and frankly it was surprising it lasted as long as it did. Shane Scanlon: I was there that day documenting. I remember you riding along on your bike. |
I think this is the same bridge.
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| Hisjtoric Philly posted Philadelphia - Manayunk Canal & Bridge (1918) Bridges Now and Then shared |
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| Street View, Jul 2019 |
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| Dennis DeBruler commented on the above post and share I think it is this bridge over this canal, https://maps.app.goo.gl/4nVVwQydNuDkeHid6 |
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