A Tale of Two Bridges

First Snow of the Season!

PRR HH-1 Loco lugging mineral train over the ravine

HISTORY: Originally, prototype single arch, two (2) track, "BIG VIADUCT was built in 1836' crossing the Conemaugh River at Staple Bend, near Mineral Point, PA, refer map. The beautiful Single Roman Arch design replaced a stone, wood & Iron design as part of the Pennsylvania Railroads ongoing infrastructure upgrades along the line keeping pace with booming freight & passenger traffic.

The single arch Big Viaduct was Massive! Built of blue granite stones averaging 25 - 30 cubic feet in size each, quarried locally, it appeared the viaduct would endure forever...

Unfortunately, the BIG VIADUCT experienced a SHORT LIFE!
The entire bridge was swept away, a causality of the terrible Johnstown flood of 1889. A massive wall of water and debris descended upon Johnstown, PA and surrounding communities in the Conemaugh river valley when the reservoir burst during a torrential rain storm. Some reports indicate the Wave, millions of gallons of water and hundreds of thousands of tons of debris, was over Ninety (90) feet high and was traveling in excess of fifteen (15) miles an hour.
Model BV-1-2-HO, replicates the original viaduct design pre flood...