Re: (erielack) Portage Bridge near Hornell (2)

[Dlw1el2_@_aol.com]

To all
Did the Erie and EL have this 10 MPH speed restriction?
 
Bob
 
 
In a message dated 8/18/2008 10:01:07 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
schuyler.larrabee_@_verizon.net writes:

Several  points:

This bridge was discussed by someone, AKA, me, a few months  ago, discussing 
how the alignment at the
west end involves a sharp curve to  the north, followed by some zig-zagging 
before it returns to a
straight  line, and that there is, in Google Earth, a visible alignment which 
is a broad  curve from
that straight alignment into the bridge.  The reason for  the line change 
(the broad curve was
original) was to reduce what was  apparently a pretty tough grade in exchange 
for curvature to create
a   longer line at a lesser grade.

This is not the replacement bridge  someone else mentioned built after the 
fire destroyed the wooden
bridge;  there was an earlier Very Spidery Bridge, mostly cast iron, which 
was  incrementally replace
with a stronger steel structure.  That was many  years ago, and bridges do 
have a service life, that
is, they don't last  forever.  This bridge is tired.

The 10 mph limit is due to the  curves at the west end.  It's also a good 
idea because the bridge  has
a walkway on which vacationers (and Henry, for his sad chore) go out  onto 
the middle of the bridge.
There is no feasible way to keep them off,  and the walkway is wide so that 
they can stand there (if
they're brave) and  not be pushed off into the river below (aka, to their 
death).

Conrail  had begun plans for a replacement bridge to be built to the south.  
It  was/is an arch bridge
design, and would straighten out the curve and  eliminate the speed 
restriction.  I believe that NS
will likely begin  construction of this bridge soon, especially now that the 
rest of their  railroad
is getting stressed to capacity.  They need this line, as  someone else noted 
with the trains every
45-60 minutes.  I would also  guess that there will be manifold fences to 
keep nitwits off  that
bridge.

I would guess that the existing bridge will remain as a  platform for 
photographers who won't have to
worry about those pesky trains  interrupting them all the time.

SGL

> -----Original  Message-----
> From: Rich Behrendt  [mailto:rbehrendt_@_columbus.rr.com]
> Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 9:10  PM
> To: EL Mail List
> Subject: Re: (erielack) Portage Bridge  near Hornell (2)
> 
> The Portage Bridge has slowly been  deteriorating ever since the EL used it,
> and although some remedial  repairs have been done since then under CR and
> NS, the bridge  structure and substructure continue to deteriorate, and at
> some point  minor repairs and band-aids won't help...
> 
> There has been a  10mph speed restriction for as long as I can recall, and 
my
>  understanding is that NS is working on plans for a new span  The last  
that I
> heard they were working through the environmental issues, but  the price tag
> will be substantial for not just building a new span,  but for acquiring ROW
> as well, plus add in the fact that the span is  within Letchworth State
> park...
> 
> Rich Behrendt
>  ELHS #384
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From:  "Don" <donaldliotta_@_gmail.com>
> To: "'EL Mail List'"  <erielack_@_lists.railfan.net>
> Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 9:39  AM
> Subject: (erielack) Portage Bridge near Hornell
> 
>  
> >I was just reading the August Railpace and there's a blurb in the  middle 
of
> > page 47 claiming that a bridge on the north of Hornell  on the old Erie
> > line
> > to Buffalo, referred to as the  Portage Bridge, is in bad shape and the
> > viability of the NS line  from Binghamton to Buffalo is in jeopardy.
> >
> > Does  anyone else know the story behind this? I doubt the line is in
> >  "jeopardy". I would think the state of New York and NS would work  
together
> > to get it fixed; the state is the main reason the line  survives to this
> > day.
> >
> > Does anyone have  a picture and/or stats on this Portage Bridge?
> >
>  >
> > The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List
> >  http://EL-List.railfan.net/
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> >
> >
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>  
> 
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