CSX Transportation Historical Society

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Summer Vacation 2021 - Kinzua Bridge State Park

Rail Fan Adventure --

From Bradford it is only a short drive over to Mt. Jewett and the Kinzua Bridge State Park. I figured it to be a sleepy place, but I was surprised by how many people were there.

1. Kinzua Bridge State Park. Brochure cover.
Kinzua Bridge State Park. Brochure cover.

2. Kinzua Bridge SP. Map.
Kinzua Bridge SP. Map.

3. Kinzua Bridge SP. Brochure inside content page 1.
Kinzua Bridge SP. Brochure inside content page 1.

4. Kinzua Bridge SP. Brochure inside content page 2.
Kinzua Bridge SP. Brochure inside content page 2.

5. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA.

6. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 2.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 2.

7. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 3.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 3.

8. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 8.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 8.

9. Although it was June, it was very cool and windy on the bridge. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA.
Although it was June, it was very cool and windy on the bridge. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA.

10. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 9.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 9.

11. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 10.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 10.

12. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 11.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 11.

13. The tornado really made a mess of the bridge. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 12.
The tornado really made a mess of the bridge. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 12.

14. The Kinzua Creek Trail. Yes, a railroad once ran under this bridge – the Mt. Jewett, Kinzua & Ritterville RR circa 1889. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA.
The Kinzua Creek Trail. Yes, a railroad once ran under this bridge – the Mt. Jewett, Kinzua & Ritterville RR circa 1889. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA.

15. Rail rolled by Inland Steel in 1929. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA.
Rail rolled by Inland Steel in 1929. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA.

16. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 13.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 13.

17. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Commerce to Collapse plaque. Click here for a larger image.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Commerce to Collapse plaque.

18. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Forces of Nature plaque. Click here for a larger image.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Forces of Nature plaque.

19. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 14.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 14.

20. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 15.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 15.

21. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 16.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. View 16.

22. As tall as the Statue of Liberty! Kinzua Bridge State Park PA.
As tall as the Statue of Liberty! Kinzua Bridge State Park PA.

23. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Cowboys in the sky plaque.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Cowboys in the sky plaque.

24. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. The missing link plaque.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. The missing link plaque.

25. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. The Phoenix Rises plaque.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. The Phoenix Rises plaque.

26. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Thomas Kane plaque.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Thomas Kane plaque.

27. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Stronger with Steel plaque.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Stronger with Steel plaque.

28. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Fateful Day plaque.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Fateful Day plaque.

29. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Coupling display.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Coupling display.

30. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Roller Bearing display.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Roller Bearing display.

31. Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Phoenix Iron Co, Philada PA.
Kinzua Bridge State Park PA. Phoenix Iron Co, Philada PA.

For further reading:

Erie Railroad Bradford Branch 1863-1976 by Lawrence W. Kilmer, softcover, 209 pages (available on Ebay, etc.)

The Great Kinzua Bridge by Jim Gates, hardcover, 114 pages (I bought mine at the state park gift shop for $24.95)

Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway by Paul Pietrak, softcover, 239 pages (available on Ebay, etc.)

Next we will look at some historic photos and postcards of the bridge and then move on east to Port Allegheny and Coudersport on US 6.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young