Nice video!! I would say the 'notches' in the river piers were flood protection to prevent the beams from floating away. They could park a loaded train on top to further stabilize during flood events, too. Today, the beams (normally) simply sit atop a 'beam seat' attached to the top of the piers - and can float away during bad floods.
I think that bridge is ex-PRR because the ex-Reading is still active and in use by the Reading and Northern Railroad. They also own a 14 mile section of the ex-PRR from a connection with NS at Temple to South Hamburg where the Reading Railroad Museum is north of the Rt. 61 overpass. They have a lot of tourist trains now over their system.
Good morning Rob. While the PRR certainly came through Schuylkill Haven, it was just a bit east of this area. There were a few stone overpasses and a a bridge that have all been removed. Schuylkill Haven once had 4 railroads and a canal. Not to shabby if you ask me.
Thank you Stanton. You shouldn't have any problems in Ohio. You've got as much out there as we do here. Great state for railroad history Stanton!! Go get it👊✌
I’ve actually been wondering about the history of this bridge. The concrete appears to be from the 1920s but could have been rebuilt from an older bridge as you mentioned.
I completely agree with your 1920s concrete assessment. It's the stone work that holds the secret. I'm not certain yet but I'm thinking maybe Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven. This is the area of the southern terminus of the line.
Kevin: based on pictures in the Morning Sun book that I mentioned, I think that you may have found a bridge on the original Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven line that crossed the Reading on a diamond to get to the canal (that’s in the book). After the RDG integrated the Mine Hill line into their railroad the diamond was taken up and a proper junction was built and the line over the bridge became redundant. If it’s the same bridge as in the picture, they have cabooses parked on the lead to the bridge. Why they would have been doing any maintenance at all on it would be hard to understand. I don’t know when the poured concrete reinforcement would have been done. When DID the RDG finally purchase the Mine Hill line and fold it into their operations?
Good morning Bob. There is no doubt in my mind that this was original Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven. Obviously the bridge and concrete would have been the work of the Reading but I believe the stone abutments are Mine Hill. The Reading leased the Mine Hill starting in 1862. This area would have had a coal dump somewhere to get the coal from rail to canal. I think anything remaining from that is long gone now unfortunately.
Was there a coal breaker on one side of the river and a mine on the other side? Could the extra wide and thick tie plates have been for dual gauge? Maybe the mine hauled raw coal to the breaker? I think that there was this type of an arrangement on the CNJ branch to Lee Mine.
I think that originally the Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven crossed this point and delivered coal to a storage facility. From there it was loaded on to the Schuylkill canal and sent down river.
Very nice. Maybe scan the area with a metal detector? People should document what is around them now because it will be gone someday and future researchers will be able to find out what was once there.
Unfortunately I have no idea. With the condition of the concrete and ties it's possible this was in use up till the 80s. That is completely guessing though. If it was abandoned in the 60s or early 70s it would probably look a bit rougher. Again though I'm just guessing.
Hi John. I'm not sure of reason on the spike shape. Seems to have to do with the bridge construction. Definitely not a tie spike. I'll see what I can find out.
Kevin: based on pictures in the Morning Sun book that I mentioned, I think that you may have found a bridge on the original Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven line that crossed the Reading on a diamond to get to the canal (that’s in the book). After the RDG integrated the Mine Hill line into their railroad the diamond was taken up and a proper junction was built and the line over the bridge became redundant. If it’s the same bridge as in the picture, they have cabooses parked on the lead to the bridge. Why they would have been doing any maintenance at all on it would be hard to understand. I don’t know when the poured concrete reinforcement would have been done. When DID the RDG finally purchase the Mine Hill line and fold it into their operations?
Another awesome find! Kevin said hodge podge, that was cool.
Hey John 👋
Thanks for the video..always interesting to explore our rich past.
Thank you Darrell. I'm trying to figure out if this had direct contact with the canal or not. Always a mystery after the mystery.
Nice video!! I would say the 'notches' in the river piers were flood protection to prevent the beams from floating away. They could park a loaded train on top to further stabilize during flood events, too. Today, the beams (normally) simply sit atop a 'beam seat' attached to the top of the piers - and can float away during bad floods.
Thank you Dan. Your observation is really good. Flood damage prevention works for me. Good stuff!
Found the bridge on Gmaps. Very cool. You be careful on those old bridges.
Thank you Charles. This one was in pretty good shape. The next one I highlight will be a different story.
Thank you Kevin.
Hi there Nick. You're welcome 😊
Very cool! 👍
I think that bridge is ex-PRR because the ex-Reading is still active and in use by the Reading and Northern Railroad. They also own a 14 mile section of the ex-PRR from a connection with NS at Temple to South Hamburg where the Reading Railroad Museum is north of the Rt. 61 overpass. They have a lot of tourist trains now over their system.
Good morning Rob. While the PRR certainly came through Schuylkill Haven, it was just a bit east of this area. There were a few stone overpasses and a a bridge that have all been removed. Schuylkill Haven once had 4 railroads and a canal. Not to shabby if you ask me.
Nice find and you got me looking for railroad history around ohio, much appreciated
Thank you Stanton. You shouldn't have any problems in Ohio. You've got as much out there as we do here. Great state for railroad history Stanton!! Go get it👊✌
Used to be alot around Akron😮where I am from
I love it out there…. Can’t spell “skoo-kill” though after all these years…. Schuylkill? Great county! Lots to see!
Hey there George. I'm the same way with the spelling. If it wasn't for auto correct I'd get it wrong everytime.
Guys, pretty sure it's pronounced sky-kill.
Lol I've heard pronounced like that more than once.
Great stuff ! Thanks to Todd as well
Thank you. Todd has been a blessing. He does a lot of behind the scenes work.
Yes, the canal passed there. Further south you can see the remnants of a lock.
Thank you Andy. I didn't know there was a lock just down river. Looks like I'm going to have to take another trip up there.
From that bridge you can see where the West & East branches of the Schuylkill river merge to for the river.
I saw that!! It's pretty cool.
I’ve actually been wondering about the history of this bridge. The concrete appears to be from the 1920s but could have been rebuilt from an older bridge as you mentioned.
I completely agree with your 1920s concrete assessment. It's the stone work that holds the secret. I'm not certain yet but I'm thinking maybe Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven. This is the area of the southern terminus of the line.
Kevin: based on pictures in the Morning Sun book that I mentioned, I think that you may have found a bridge on the original Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven line that crossed the Reading on a diamond to get to the canal (that’s in the book). After the RDG integrated the Mine Hill line into their railroad the diamond was taken up and a proper junction was built and the line over the bridge became redundant. If it’s the same bridge as in the picture, they have cabooses parked on the lead to the bridge. Why they would have been doing any maintenance at all on it would be hard to understand. I don’t know when the poured concrete reinforcement would have been done. When DID the RDG finally purchase the Mine Hill line and fold it into their operations?
Good morning Bob. There is no doubt in my mind that this was original Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven. Obviously the bridge and concrete would have been the work of the Reading but I believe the stone abutments are Mine Hill. The Reading leased the Mine Hill starting in 1862. This area would have had a coal dump somewhere to get the coal from rail to canal. I think anything remaining from that is long gone now unfortunately.
Was there a coal breaker on one side of the river and a mine on the other side? Could the extra wide and thick tie plates have been for dual gauge? Maybe the mine hauled raw coal to the breaker?
I think that there was this type of an arrangement on the CNJ branch to Lee Mine.
I think that originally the Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven crossed this point and delivered coal to a storage facility. From there it was loaded on to the Schuylkill canal and sent down river.
Very nice. Maybe scan the area with a metal detector? People should document what is around them now because it will be gone someday and future researchers will be able to find out what was once there.
Excellent idea!
Thanks Kevin
Any idea when this bridge was last used ?
Unfortunately I have no idea. With the condition of the concrete and ties it's possible this was in use up till the 80s. That is completely guessing though. If it was abandoned in the 60s or early 70s it would probably look a bit rougher. Again though I'm just guessing.
I would walk that as well, I’ve yet to see spikes like that, why the different head?
Hi John. I'm not sure of reason on the spike shape. Seems to have to do with the bridge construction. Definitely not a tie spike. I'll see what I can find out.
@ yessir, sounds like a plan
Kevin: based on pictures in the Morning Sun book that I mentioned, I think that you may have found a bridge on the original Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven line that crossed the Reading on a diamond to get to the canal (that’s in the book). After the RDG integrated the Mine Hill line into their railroad the diamond was taken up and a proper junction was built and the line over the bridge became redundant. If it’s the same bridge as in the picture, they have cabooses parked on the lead to the bridge. Why they would have been doing any maintenance at all on it would be hard to understand. I don’t know when the poured concrete reinforcement would have been done. When DID the RDG finally purchase the Mine Hill line and fold it into their operations?