Under the Portage Trestle Bridge
The railroad trestle bridge in New York State’s Letchworth Park is known as the Portage Bridge.
The Erie Railroad Company built a wooden trestle bridge over the Genesee River just above the Upper Falls. Construction started on July 1, 1851 and opened August 16, 1852. At the time, it was the longest and tallest wooden bridge in the world.
In the early morning hours of Thursday, May 6, 1875, the great wooden railroad bridge was destroyed in a tremendous fire. The bridge was a total loss, leaving only the concrete bridge abutments.
Immediately after the Portage Bridge fire, officials of the Erie Railroad Company moved quickly to replace the wooden bridge with an iron and steel design. Construction began June 8, 1875 and opened for traffic July 31, 1875. The bridge is 820 feet (250 m) long and 240 feet (73 m) high It is still in use today. This bridge lost its title as the highest trestle railroad bridge in the world to the High Level Bridge in Lethbridge located in Alberta, Canada.
On a sad note this 139 year old trestle bridge is to be demolished after a new bridge is constructed south of this location and out of Letchworth Park.
Under the Portage Trestle Bridge
The railroad trestle bridge in New York State’s Letchworth Park is known as the Portage Bridge.
The Erie Railroad Company built a wooden trestle bridge over the Genesee River just above the Upper Falls. Construction started on July 1, 1851 and opened August 16, 1852. At the time, it was the longest and tallest wooden bridge in the world.
In the early morning hours of Thursday, May 6, 1875, the great wooden railroad bridge was destroyed in a tremendous fire. The bridge was a total loss, leaving only the concrete bridge abutments.
Immediately after the Portage Bridge fire, officials of the Erie Railroad Company moved quickly to replace the wooden bridge with an iron and steel design. Construction began June 8, 1875 and opened for traffic July 31, 1875. The bridge is 820 feet (250 m) long and 240 feet (73 m) high It is still in use today. This bridge lost its title as the highest trestle railroad bridge in the world to the High Level Bridge in Lethbridge located in Alberta, Canada.
On a sad note this 139 year old trestle bridge is to be demolished after a new bridge is constructed south of this location and out of Letchworth Park.