Oil City Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Oil City Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge is a truss bridge
that carries the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad
across the Allegheny River
between Cranberry Township
and Oil City, Pennsylvania
. The bridge was originally built to serve the Pennsylvania Railroad
as part of its Buffalo Line
. WNY&P is the fourth owner of the structure. After the breakup of the Pennsy, Conrail took ownership of the line. The breakup of these company saw Norfolk Southern assigned the rights; the WNY&P took ownership in 2006 as they extended their trackage from Meadville, Pennsylvania
to Oil City. Because the bridge once served as a major junction point for several Pennsylvania Railroad lines, it features a unique approach structure.
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
that carries the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad
Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad
The Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad is a short-line railroad that operates freight trains in Western New York and Northwest Pennsylvania, United States. The company is controlled by the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad, with which it does not connect...
across the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
between Cranberry Township
Cranberry Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania
Cranberry Township is a township in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,014 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
and Oil City, Pennsylvania
Oil City, Pennsylvania
Oil City is a city in Venango County, Pennsylvania that is known in the initial exploration and development of the petroleum industry. After the first oil wells were drilled nearby in the 1850s, Oil City became central in the petroleum industry while hosting headquarters for the Pennzoil, Quaker...
. The bridge was originally built to serve the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
as part of its Buffalo Line
Buffalo Line
The Buffalo Line is a railroad line owned and operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway in the U.S. states of New York and Pennsylvania. The line runs from Buffalo, New York southeast to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania along a former Pennsylvania Railroad line...
. WNY&P is the fourth owner of the structure. After the breakup of the Pennsy, Conrail took ownership of the line. The breakup of these company saw Norfolk Southern assigned the rights; the WNY&P took ownership in 2006 as they extended their trackage from Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
to Oil City. Because the bridge once served as a major junction point for several Pennsylvania Railroad lines, it features a unique approach structure.