RDG - Chillisquaque Creek Bridge
Photos
Reading RR Chillisquaque Creek Bridge
Taken from Creek Road looking northeast
Photo taken by Alexander D. Mitchell IV in December 2010
BH Photo #241566
Description
Two-span girder bridge spanning creek, with ten-span concrete culvert over flood plain on east side. Very close to Montour County line, but in Northumberland County. Rail line and predecessor bridge(s) built 1853-1854 by Catawissa, Williamsport & Erie RR, later merged into Reading RR; current bridge abandoned 1976 along with rail line upon formation of Conrail.Facts
- Overview
- Abandoned deck plate girder bridge over Chillisquaque Creek on former Reading Railroad Catawissa Branch
- Location
- Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
- Status
- Abandoned
- History
- Built 1911 as per date cast on bridge; abandoned ca. 1976 around formation of Conrail
- Railroads
- - Catawissa Railroad Co. (CRC)
- Catawissa, Williamsport & Erie Railroad (CRR)
- Reading Railroad (RDG)
- Design
- Two-span deck plate girder over creek with ten concrete arches over flood plain on east side as approach
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +40.99410, -76.77876 (decimal degrees)
40°59'39" N, 76°46'44" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 18/350386/4539626 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Northumberland
- Inventory number
- BH 53954 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- July 21, 2016: Photo imported by Alexander D. Mitchell IV
- July 20, 2016: Updated by Alexander D. Mitchell IV: added build date and details
- January 31, 2014: Updated by Luke Harden: Mapped
- October 16, 2012: Updated by Luke Harden: Added categories "Railroad", "Philadelphia & Reading Railway"
- October 16, 2012: Added by Alexander D. Mitchell IV
Comments
It is still there. Correct spelling is Chillisquaque. Its name most likely comes from the Shawnee word chilisuagi, meaning "place of the snow-birds". There was a push for removal several years ago, so at to avoid a lengthy detour for over-size machinery. A local state representative pursued money to remove it, but to no avail. I will have to go over some day and check the date, I believe about 1910 this bridge and viaduct were constructed. It replaced a covered bridge and wooden viaduct. I have some pictures of the old bridge and construction of the current one. There currently are no plans for a Rails to Trails, as the Reading sold most of their right-of-ways and they are mostly privately owned. There is a section of this line close to Danville, Pa, which is a trail and includes a bridge which is open for fishing.
thanks luke for the info.i see the same thing you do.i was just wondering what might become of this bridge like preservation or removal.let me know if you find out anything.thanks.
does anyone know the status of this bridge if it will be removed or be part of a possible trail?please let me know.thanks.
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/pa/northumberland/bh53954/
Thanks anonymous for the reply and information concerning this bridge.This looks like a bridge that would be hard to remove according to the pictures.I didn't know the reading railroad did what you did meaning the right of ways being sold.I do have a question concerning the right of ways.Does whoever buys the right of way own any rail,bridges and or equipment on that right of way?I read a lot about people owning the right of ways as private properties.Let me know if this bridge and or rail line is sold privately.Thanks.