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Re: (erielack) Portage Bridge near Hornell (2)
No, the speed restriction came about in the 80's as the bridge aged.
Brian J Carlson P.E.
Cheektowaga NY
- ----- Original Message -----
From: <Dlw1el2_@_aol.com>
To: <erielack_@_lists.railfan.net>
Sent: Monday, August 18, 2008 10:26 PM
Subject: Re: (erielack) Portage Bridge near Hornell (2)
> 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/
> > > To Unsubscribe: http://Lists.Railfan.net/erielackunsub.html
> > >
> > >
> > > --
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8/15/2008
> > > 5:58 AM
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
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>
>
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>
>
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