Christiana Borough Bridge

Photos

Photocopy Of Photograph, 1893 (Moore Memorial Library) Christiana Borough Bridge Construction Crew

Photo taken for the Historic American Engineering Record

View photos at Library of Congress

BH Photo #314093

Map

Maps and Databases

Description

The Christiana Borough Bridge is a rare survivor of the Whipple truss bridge structure with wrought iron Phoenix columns. Built in 1893-95 by the Pennsylvania Railroad during a period of railroad expansion, it replaced a timber pony truss bridge. As originally designed, the truss was intended to carry heavy railway loads. In this instance, however, because the bridge was built to carry highway traffic over the railroad, the design was modified to carry a lighter load.

-- Historic American Engineering Record

The cast portal bracing pattern was normally used prior to 1888. This bridge was likely originally built in the early 1880s and was repurposed and relocated as a grade separation project in 1893-1895. It's original build location is presently unknown -- Art S.

Facts

Overview: Lost Whipple Through truss bridge over Amtrak on Bridge Street (Sr 2025)
Location: Christiana, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Status: Replaced by new bridge
History: Built 1893-1895; modifications in 1907 to accommodate trolley lines; catenary attachments for electric lines and traffic and pedestrian protection screens added in 1937 when railroad electrified;1952 repairs made to structural steel; Replaced 1985
Builder: - Phoenix Bridge Co. of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania (original fabricator)
Railroads: - Amtrak (AMTK)
- Penn Central Railroad (PC)
- Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)
Design: Whipple through truss with Phoenix Columns.
Approximate latitude, longitude: +39.95675, -75.99751 (decimal degrees)
39°57'24" N, 75°59'51" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 18/414798/4423433 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:: Parkesburg
Inventory number: BH 65587 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Update Log

October 2, 2021: Updated by Art Suckewer: added builder and that it was relocated from another location.
January 19, 2015: Updated by Alexander D. Mitchell IV: Added category "Pennsylvania Railroad"
January 19, 2015: Added by Dave King

Sources

Dave King - DKinghawkfan [at] hotmail [dot] com
HAER PA-88 - Christiana Borough Bridge, Bridge Street over Pennsylvania Railroad, Christiana, Lancaster County, PA
Art Suckewer - Asuckewer [at] knite [dot] com