Oil City Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge
Bridge in Cranberry Township and Oil City, Pennsylvania
41°25′21″N 79°41′52″W / 41.42250°N 79.69778°W / 41.42250; -79.69778
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.
History and architectural features
This bridge was originally built to serve the Pennsylvania Railroad as part of its Buffalo Line. WNY&P is the fourth owner of the structure.
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
- List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Pennsylvania
- List of crossings of the Allegheny River
References
- ^ Gushard, Keith (December 22, 2005). "Meadville will be a railroad town again: Railroad companies expanding operations through Meadville". The Meadville Tribune.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oil City Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge.
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. PA-22, "Pennsylvania Railroad, Allegheny River Bridge"
Bridges of the Allegheny River | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
