8th Wonder of the World
Sept 27, 2023 10:50:38 GMT
Post by SteveG on Sept 27, 2023 10:50:38 GMT
Fall of the Eighth Wonder: The Kinzua Bridge
By Laura Jeffery
Unlike most bridges, parts of the Kinzua Bridge in northern Pennsylvania’s McKean County are on the ground. Originally built in 1882, the bridge’s main purpose was to haul coal northward as a part of the Erie Railroad. Forty workers took a mere 94 days to build the 2,053 foot long bridge. The bridge was built to obviate the construction of an additional eight miles of track. Some people at the time thought its columns, constructed of tubular wrought-iron, were actually wood, because the iron columns looked similar to timbers. In addition to transporting coal, the bridge also moved logs and hemlock bark, used at the time in chemical extraction.
The introduction of larger and heavier locomotives made it necessary to strengthen the bridge. On May 24, 1900, reconstruction began. The bridge was rebuilt using steel, and reopened for use on September 25, 1900. After decades of use, the bridge would be uncrossed until from 1959 until 1987, when the Knox and Kane Railroad began running excursion trains for tourists. In 2003, the bridge was struck by a tornado. A large portion of it collapsed, rendering the bridge impassible.
Although the majority of this magnificent structure is no longer standing, many people still visit the area today. The bridge has become a part of history, particularly in the engineering field. Once thought of as the eighth wonder of the world, the Kinzua Bridge is no longer passable. Nonetheless, it is a part of history and a landmark of Pennsylvania.