NYC: (no Bridge Hunter;
Satellite)
B&O/BR&P: (
Archived Bridge Hunter;
Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges;
Satellite)
BR&P =
Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh
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History's Mirror posted
In 1916, the junction of the New York Central and the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad at Curwensville was a vital crossroads in Clearfield County’s coal-rich landscape. A train crossing the bridge at this junction captures the essence of a region defined by industry, timber, and the steady pulse of rail traffic. The NY Central and the BR&P both served as lifelines for northern Pennsylvania, hauling coal from nearby mines, lumber from local forests, and manufactured goods that kept small towns thriving. The bridge itself stood as a symbol of early 20th-century railroad engineering, carrying heavy steam locomotives across the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and linking two powerful systems in the state’s transportation network. In 1916, steam engines still ruled the rails, their exhaust hanging in the air as crews worked long, demanding runs through the rugged countryside. A scene like this—iron, timber, river, and smoke—perfectly reflects the character of the region during a time when railroads shaped nearly every aspect of life. It’s a timeless snapshot of Pennsylvania’s railroading heritage and the communities it sustained.
Kaleb Lippert: And you got the Pennsylvania Railroad line that ran right under them. Now, both Pennsylvania and the B&O-CSX line are abandoned; only the NYC line survives. |
This is the R. J. Corman/B&O/BR&P Bridge, looking North into town. In addition to a couple of truss spans over the creek, it has a trestle over the south end of the town.
The David S. Ammerman Trail on the left used to be the Pennsy RoW. So that truss is where the B&O used to cross the Pennsy.
NYC bridge, looking West
NYC bridge, looking East
I started looking at topo maps near the 1916 date of the photo. But the NYC was south of this town back then.
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| 1903 Curwensville and 1905 Houtzdale Quads @ 62,500 |
So I got more modern maps. This shows what Google Maps labels
CB Junction.
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| 1939/52 Curwensville Quad @ 62,500 and 1944/56 Glen Richey Quad@ 24,000 |
This town was on the BR&P branch to Clearfield. Note on the older map the short railroads that served mines and/or logging along the route.
I'm used to seeing B&O and Pennsy routes going through Pennsy towns, but not the NYC. So I researched its route. The NYC wound its way southwest until it got to
Cush Creek Junction. The main route went south to Barnesboro, today's
Northern Cambria. From Cush Creek Junction, there was a branch that went a little west of
Arcadia. From Barnesboro, NYC worked its way East to
Patton. Pennsy also served Patton with a north/south route through that town. How NYC got to Clearfield to join the BR&P trackage is a topic for another day.
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| 1953/53 Pittsburgh Quad @ 250,000 |
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