High Bridge (Coatesville, Pennsylvania)
High Bridge | |
---|---|
View of the bridge from the southeast side. | |
Coordinates | 39°59′2″N 75°49′39″W / 39.98389°N 75.82750°W |
Crosses | West Branch Brandywine Creek and Pennsylvania Route 82 |
Locale | Chester, Pennsylvania, United States |
Maintained by | Amtrak |
Characteristics | |
Total length | 934 ft (285 m)[1] |
Width | 52 ft (16 m)[1] |
Height | 78 ft (24 m) |
History | |
Constructed by | Pennsylvania Railroad |
Built | September 1, 1904 |
NRHP reference No. | 76001623[2] |
Added to NRHP | March 26, 1976 |
Location | |
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The Coatesville High Bridge is a
The Pennsylvania Railroad's
Precursors
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Coatesville_Bridge%2C_by_Purviance%2C_W._T._%28William_T.%29.jpg/150px-Coatesville_Bridge%2C_by_Purviance%2C_W._T._%28William_T.%29.jpg)
The first bridge at the site was built by the
Construction and history
While the PRR had been using steel bridges since the 1880s,[5] and was constructing others nearby at the time, such as the High Bridge at Downingtown,[6] President A. J. Cassatt decided in favor of a stone bridge at this location and elsewhere. This reflected the influence of PRR Chief Engineer William H. Brown,[5] who rebuilt many of the railroad's bridges in masonry during his tenure.[7] While more expensive than steel, Brown felt that stone bridges were stronger and more durable,[8] and less expensive to maintain in the long term.[5]
Work on the bridge began in November 1902, locating it slightly to the south of the double-track bridge.[5] The bridge was completed on 1 September 1904[9] and the main line was realigned to cross it, abandoning the old bridge. The realignment reduced the curvature in the area and completed the PRR's four-track main line from Philadelphia to the Conestoga River bridge near Lancaster.[1]
In later years, a
Notes
References
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Messer, David W (1999). Triumph II. Barnard, Roberts and Co. ISBN 0-934118-24-8.
- "Pennsylvania Railroad: Brick Viaduct (HAER PA-38)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- Ball Jr., Don (1986). The Pennsylvania Railroad 1940s–1950s. Elm Tree Books. ISBN 0-393-02357-5.