Ever wonder what the park looks like 20 feet back from every photo you’ve ever seen at the park? Here’s an NS train going over the Upper Falls over the Letchworth Trestle.
Someone mentioned to me - get this pic while you can as the bridge is due for replacement. Is there any truth to this statement - with only 5 trains or so per day, it would seem unlikely the bridge would be replaced.
/Mitch
What a beautiful shot of a westbound! And, yes, the bridge is earmarked for possible replacement. I say possible because while it has been talked about since before the end of the EL, and some have said that NS has even staked out the path for the replacement bridge, nothing really has been done. The cost is high so alternative are reportedly being looked at including going west from Hornell to Olean and north on former PRR to Buffalo or go north from Corning on former NYC to Lyons and from there west via CSX. BUT NOTHING OFFICIAL HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED. The former Erie line has several summits between Hornell and Buffalo plus the high maintenance bridge. Today’s power could handle the grades, but the bridge cost is the question. So, west to Olean with I believe at least lesser if not fewer grades, might be the economical alternative. The single track might be the detrimental although most of the current line is single tracked.
…Wow, what a beautiful rendition of that scene…!
Edit: With the high costs of building a new one, one would wonder if these modern times might suggest a renovation of what’s already there. Strengthen it, etc…Modern materials and processes.
The Southern Tier is my former home district and I have run countless trains over the trestle, which is known to railroaders as the “Portageville Trestle” or more commonly “Portage Bridge”.
The following is unofficial, but comes from talking with various sources over the last 12 years or so. Reconstruction of the existing structure is not a serious consideration as it is not just the structure itself, but the fact that the structure is moving in relation to the gorge itself and has been known to shift an inch or more in a few hours resulting in traffic shut downs and reroutes on occasion. There have been grants made by NYS for engineering studies and I believe some federal as well, which NS has matched, but no current word on money for replacement.
Portage bridge has had a 10mph speed restriction for as long as I can remember. Running over it in a widebody is quite an experience and the view is awesome.
LC