Kinzua Viaduct

The Erie RR's Kinzua Viaduct at Kushequa PA

near Mt. Jewett and Mt. Alton PA

What makes the Kinzua Viaduct so much fun ( besides the cool aerial photos of its destruction by tornado ) are the small towns and railroads in the area. The closest village in the 1926 USGS map was Kushequa, which still shows on current maps. The bigger towns nearby are Mt. Jewett and Mt. Alton PA.

To better appreciate this stereopticon 1880 construction view, put your nose on your computer screen. :)

Amazing that an 1800's photographer conceived this photo.

Take note in the 1926 USGS map of the three railroads. The Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh RR still exists !

This current road map sums things up pretty well in the surrounding area. Note there is a Timbuck, too. :)

Thanks to whoever took this great shot ! ( not us ).

Here is the history of the Kinzua Viaduct courtesy of Wikipedia. www.wikipedia.org

On completion in 1882, it was the tallest and longest railroad bridge in the world and was advertised as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". Six of the bridge's 20 towers were taller than the Brooklyn Bridge. Excursion trains from as far away as Buffalo, New York, and Pittsburgh would come just to cross the Kinzua Bridge, which held the height record until the Garabit Viaduct, 401 feet (122 m) tall, was completed in France in 1884. Trains crossing the bridge were restricted to a speed of 5 miles per hour because the locomotive, and sometimes the wind, caused the bridge to vibrate. People sometimes visit the bridge in hopes of finding the loot of a bank robber, who supposedly hid $40,000 in gold and currency under or near it.

Reconstruction and use
In 1893 the NYLE&W went bankrupt and was merged with the Erie Railroad, which became the owner of the bridge. By the start of the 20th century locomotives were almost 85 percent heavier, and the iron bridge could no longer safely carry trains. The last traffic crossed the old bridge on May 14, 1900, and removal of the old iron began on May 24. Construction on the new steel bridge began on May 26, starting from both ends. Two Howe Truss "timber travelers", each 180 feet long and 16 feet deep, were used to build the new bridge. Each traveler was supported by two of the original towers on the opposite sides of a third original tower that was to be demolished. After the middle tower had been removed, construction of a new steel replacement tower and the spans adjoining it took one week. Then the traveler would move, and the next tower would be taken down and replaced.

The new bridge was designed by C.R. Grimm and was built by the Elmira Bridge Company out of 3,358 short tons (3,046 t) of steel. A crew of between 100 and 150 worked 10-hour days for four months to complete the steel frame by September 6, and the bridge reopened to traffic on September 25, 1900. Once rebuilt, the $275,000 bridge was able to safely accommodate one of the largest steam locomotives in the world, the 511-short-ton Big Boy. The bolts used to hold the towers to the anchor blocks were reused from the first bridge, a move which eventually played a major role in the bridge's demise. Some of the anchor bolts were also extended using tap bolts and threaded sleeves. Grimm later admitted that the bolts should have been replaced.

or from the State of PA : http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/kinzuabridgereport/kinzua.html