Summer Vacation 2021 - Historic Kinzua Bridge, Port Allegheny, and Coudersport
Here are some historic views of the Kinzua that I found on the internet.
1. Construction of the original iron bridge in 1882. Erie Kinzua bridge. Click here for a larger image.
2. Erie Kinzua bridge. View 2.
3. Erie Kinzua bridge. With train. View 3.
4. This new steel bridge was built in 1900. Erie Kinzu bridge. Bradford PA. Click here for larger image.
5. Erie Kinzua bridge. With Train.Click here for larger image.
6. Postcard mailed in 1907. Erie Kinzua bridge. Click here for larger image.
7. Colorized version of the above postcard. Erie Kinzua bridge. Click here for larger image.
8. Erie Kinzua Bridge. Circa 1940s.
9. Erie Kinzua Bridge. 1940s with Train. Back of postcard with bridge data. Click here for larger image.
10. Looks like an Erie N-class 2-8-2. Erie Kinzua Bridge 1940s.
11. This is about the time that Erie started running their trains over the parallel B&O. Erie Kinzua Bridge. Circa 1959.
12. Aerial view circa 1965. Erie Kinzua Bridge. Color version. Click here for larger version.
13. Erie Kinzua Bridge Circa 1971 aerial. B&W version. Click here for larger image.
14. Circa 1989 when Knox & Kane was running excursions over the bridge. If they knew then what we know now!! Erie Kinzua Bridge.
15. Erie Bradford 1943 timetable 31 cover.
16. This 2-8-0 powered 2-car passenger train connected with the main line “Lake Cities” at Salamanca NY. It had a sleeper and a combine. Erie Bradford 1943 timetable page 11.
17. Note at the top of the right column that only certain K-class (Pacifics), N-class Mikes and C-class 0-8-0s could cross the spindly bridge at 15 m.p.h. R-class 2-10-2s and S-class Berkshires were prohibited. Erie Bradford 1943 timetable page 5.
18. Bradford quad 1944 showing the nearness of the Erie and B&O at the bridge. That’s the Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern RR on the lower right. Bradford, PA-NY, 1:62,500 quad, 1944, USGS. Click here for larger map image.
19. Mt. Jewett 62,500 scale quad for 1940. The railroad along Kinzua Creek is abandoned. B&O’s Northern Sub. goes southwest toward Kane from Mt. Jewett. The Buffalo Div. Main Line 2nd Subdivision goes south toward Hutchens and Brockway and north toward Bradford. Mt. Jewett, PA, 1:62,500 quad, 1940, USGS. Click here for larger map image.
20. Warren 1:250,000 scale for 1971. Warren, PA-NY, 1:250,000 quad, 1971, USGS. Click here for larger map image.
I’ve been confused over ownership of the lines between Bradford and Brockway. At first the BR&P predecessor used the Erie from Bradford to Mt. Jewett and on south (west on the Erie). Around 1892 BR&P’s predecessor built their own line which encountered a grade up from Bradford but avoided the Kinzua bridge which had become a bottleneck. BR&P continued to use the Erie between Mt. Jewett (J&B Jct.) and Johnsonburg (Clarion Jct.) and even paid for double track. Erie elected to use the BR&P to Brockway to reach their Toby Branch and its coal mines. My B&O Form 6, Officers, Agents, Stations, Sidings and Mileage of these Companies, issued Jan. 1, 1954 indicates J&B Jct. to Clarion Jct. was still Erie’s although B&O ran the most trains. After that employee timetables make no indication that Erie or E-L owns this segment, and that their trains must operate by B&O timetable and rules. At any rate the Buffalo & Pittsburgh now operates it.
21. Warren, PA-NY, 1:250,000 quad, 1957, USGS. Click here for larger map image.
22. Note on this 1957 Warren 1:250,000 scale (revised to 1964) that E-L is listed Mt. Jewett to Johnsonburg (Clarion Jct.) and B&O from Clarion Jct. to Brockway. Warren, PA-NY, 1:250,000 quad, 1957, USGS. Click here for larger map image.
If you like to view USGS topo maps as I do, just type “topoview” into your browser. It will blow your mind!
23. Western New York & Pennsylvania M-630s 631-637 on southbound DFT-2 (Olean NY - Driftwood PA) switch an industry at Port Allegheny PA, on 06-02-2009.
24. WNY&P DFT-2 has a clear signal at “Kean”.
25. The Montreal M-630s leave town in typical ALCo fashion. This is the former NS, P-C nee Pennsy Buffalo main line. WNY&P 631-637 DFT-2 sb.
26. WNY&P interchanges with NS and B&P at Driftwood. WNY&P 631-637. Port Allegheny PA.
27. First we went to McDonalds, the only “fast food” restaurant we had seen this day! Coudersport PA, ex-C&PA depot.
28.This C&PA “bobber” cab was rescued from benign neglect after the short line was abandoned in 1970. Tuesday, 06-22-2021. Coudersport PA.
29. The C&PA operated from 1882 to 1970. C&PA cab. Coudersport PA.
30. Coudersport PA. Ex-C&PA depot.
31. Coudersport PA. Ex-C&PA depot. View 2.
32. Coudersport PA. ex-C&PA depot plaque.
33. Local government has made an excellent use of a historic treasure. 06-22-2021. Coudersport PA. Ex-C&PA depot. View 3.
34. Makes you wanna go in there and pay a parking ticket!!! Coudersport PA. Ex-C&PA depot. View 4.
35. C&PA depot. Coudersport PA.
36. 1971 view before it was rescued! C&PA depot 1971. Coudersville PA.
Further reading: Erie Memories by Edward J. Crist, hardcover, 161 pages, Quadrant Press.
We headed back out to the west side of town to hit a junk store. That made Sue’s day! Then we proceeded east on US 6 for new horizons.
Train images used by permission of Everett N Young