DSO, Ernestine and I went on a day trip to Kinzua Bridge State Park, 4+ hours from home. The Kinzua Bridge (or viaduct) was a railroad trestle that spanned Kinzua Creek in McKean County, PA. When built in 1882, it was billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World. It was 301 feet tall and 2,052 feet long. In 1900, the bridge was dismantled and rebuilt out of steel to allow it to accommodate heavier trains. It stayed in commercial service until about 1959. Excursion train traffic was halted in 2002 due to the condition. The State hired a contractor to rehabilitate the bridge, but on July 21, 2003, an F-1 tornado with winds calculated at 94 mph, partially destroyed the viaduct. Eleven of the twenty towers still lay in the valley below.
This is what we went to see.
Oh well, oh hell. We were a week and a half too late, but it was still a good day.
A few miscellaneous pictures.
Looking out from the visitors' center.
The height of the viaduct in relation to the Statue of Liberty.
The bridge supports today. They never removed them from the valley floor.
My hooking accomplishment on the drive.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren
That sure was a very tall railroad bridge. Too bad you missed the Fall color. Thanks for sharing the history. Glad you had a nice time. Maybe next year you can get there for the color tour...but then it might be much busier. Wonder what you are hooking now? Janice
ReplyDeleteSorry you missed the colors. They really seemed to be so hit and miss this year. The "magical" tree Mia so loved last year is finally changing, but it is sparse and dull. All other leaves are currently in the pool. That bridge must have been phenomenal. But, wow...it wasn't very old when it was first redone. Are there any plans to restore it at this point? Great progress on your hooking. I could never hook (or do anything) on rides...I like gawking too much. Like I said, I need a driver....
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