Tuesday, December 28, 2010

THAT Was Quite a Storm

It's well known among train buffs as the Rockville bridge, the world's longest stone arch bridge. It is north of Harrisburg, PA, on the old Pennsylvania RR mainline. Back in the early 80s I went there several times with another railfan friend for some photo time.


Rockville Bridge over the Susquehanna River
pmPilgrim picture, 1981

The Rockville Bridge, at the time of its completion in 1902, was, and still remains, the longest stone masonry arch railroad viaduct in the world.[1] Constructed between 1900 - 1902 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, it has forty-eight 70-foot spans, for a total length of 3,820 feet (1,164m).
(Wikipedia)

Conrail heading west over the Rockville Bridge
pmPilgrim picture, 1981 

The bridge crosses the Susquehanna River about 5 miles (8 km) north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The eastern end is in Rockville and the western end is just south of Marysville.
(Wikipedia)

Rockville Bridge north of Harrisburg, PA
pmPilgrim picture, 1981 


Well, on Monday, as the Big Blizzard of 2010 was winding down along the east coast, the winds were, well, blizzard strength. A Norfolk Southern freight was heading westbound to Chicago when it was derailed.



Two empty containers even ended up in the Susquehanna.

The blizzard part of the storm didn't hit that part of the state, but the power of the wind is obvious. The gust was probably at least 50 mph.

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