The Oil City Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge is an American out of service truss bridge that carries the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad (WNY&P) across the Allegheny River between Cranberry Township and Oil City, Pennsylvania.
Oil City Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 41°25′21″N 79°41′52″W / 41.42250°N 79.69778°W |
| Carries | Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad |
| Crosses | Allegheny River |
| Locale | Cranberry Township and Oil City, Pennsylvania |
| Other name(s) | Pennsylvania Railroad, Allegheny River Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss bridge |
| History | |
| Opened | 1932 |
| Location | |
 | |
History and architectural features
editThis bridge was originally built to serve the Pennsylvania Railroad as part of its Salamanca and Chautauqua Branches.
After the breakup of the Pennsy, Conrail took ownership of the line. The breakup of these companies resulted in the reassignment of operational rights to Norfolk Southern; the WNY&P took ownership in 2006 as it extended its trackage from Meadville, Pennsylvania to Oil City.[1]
Because the bridge once served as a major junction point for several Pennsylvania Railroad lines, it features a unique approach structure. One section ran from Oil City through Tidioute, Pennsylvania and then on to Warren, Pennsylvania. This line was operated until 1976. It was removed during the early 1980s.
In early 2024, the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad ran the last train over the bridge.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Gushard, Keith (December 22, 2005). "Meadville will be a railroad town again: Railroad companies expanding operations through Meadville". The Meadville Tribune.
External links
edit
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. PA-22, "Pennsylvania Railroad, Allegheny River Bridge"