Is the spectacular curved stone arch bridge in east Pittsburgh, Pa, still present? Still in use?

[Robert Gift]

As a child I remember father driving through a park under it. Looked high andangerous.
Heading westbound on the track paralleling the south bank of the Allegheny River, the track gained elevation and
then curved south on the bridge.

Thank you.

 

[Bob]

There are several nice stone bridges on that line. Here's a smaller one, which is by Highland Park.

 

[Bob]

But I suspect you mean this one!

With TWO intersecting stone arch bridges, I always thought this would make for a great model railroad subject.

State Hwy 8 · Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh, PA

maps.app.goo.gl

Down to single track, but still in service.

 

[Robert Gift]

Thank you, Bob. (Nice photo, but needs engineer's cap.)
I remember it being spectacularly high and narrow for a single track with no railings.
Buthat was a young boy's impression and possiblexaggerated memory.
To save the tremendous co$ts, I would have made it single-track with double-track leading up to it.

 

[Bob]

To save the tremendous co$ts, I would have made it single-track with double-track leading up to it.

Well, this will blow your mind then... It was originally FOUR tracks wide.

I suspect part of the reason for going wide, along with operating flexibility, was for greater stability.

 

[bnsf971]

Well, this will blow your mind then... It was originally FOUR tracks wide.

I suspect part of the reason for going wide, along with operating flexibility, was for greater stability.

Back in the time it was built, bridge engineers thought the only thing better than stone was more stone. I remember that was proven when the PRR took a step back from accepted modern practices of the day, and built the Rockville Bridge over the Susquehanna River. They got tired of floods taking out the newer iron and steel bridges, and decided to build a bridge "that would last forever". So far, it has.

 

[Robert Gift]

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The U-Haul truck conveys the great height of the bridge. I just do not remember it being more than one track wide.
(Why no image?) (Must click on what appears.)

 

[Bob]

State Hwy 8 · Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh, PA

maps.app.goo.gl

Yes, the truck conveys the height of the bridge. I just do not remember it being this wide.

If you continued down the main road, rather than going under the bridge, like we always did, the width wasn’t as obvious.

 

[Robert Gift]

Thank you.
Makesense. Father would have been driving on State Highway 8 (Route 8) to get north to our home in McCandless Township.
On that same trip, I believe, we saw the Union Switch and Signal Factory! (Now I would love to tour the facility.) I have a US&S target signal and FN-16A mee-mool light (o)T(o) relay and other glass-encased relays.