It was dictated by commerce in the mid 1840's that a railroad bridge was needed to cross over the Genesee River to be a rail link between Buffalo and New York City. At the point of the necessary bridge for the rail line between Attica and Hornellsville, the Genesee Gorge was about 250 feet deep and 900 feet wide. Silas Seymour was put in charge of the final design that was devised from a large group of engineers. It took 2 years to acquire all 1,600,000 feet of timber needed to build this bridge. The construction began in 1850 and was completed in 1852 by Irish workmen, in which no one died during this dangerous job. The cost of the wooden trestle was $200,000. In August, 1852, the first train crossed the bridge carrying the governor and lieutenant governor as well as presidents from several railways as thousands of people watched. This bridge instantly became a draw for tourists as the highest and longest bridge in the world. As many as 20 trains crossed this wooden bridge a day in both directions. The genius design of this wooden bridge allowed for any timber to be removed and replaced without any interruptions of the rail service. The only weakness was the bridge was constructed out of wood during the time of stream engines. Coal sparks were discharged from the smokestacks of the locomotives. Water barrels were places at each end, hoses supplied by a spring, as well as a watchman to walk the entire bridge after a train a crossed to guard the bridge against a fire. Twenty-three years later, in May 1875, a fire began on the bridge surface. The water supply lines were unable to be used due to the rustiness of the wheel. The dry timbers of the bridge began to burn quickly and by morning, the entire bridge had fallen into the Genesee River just leaving the stone piers. This rail line was so important to the Erie Railroad; they made a contract with Watson Manufacturing Company to build a new iron bridge within 4 days after the fire. Widening of the old stone abutments and 1.3 million pounds of iron girders were raised by the design of George Morison, a Erie Railroad engineer. This new bridge was 20 feet taller than the wooden bridge, and only took 84 days to complete. It was finished in July, 1875 and cost $80,000. Business continued as normal, no big celebration at completion. Steel replaced 260 tons of iron in 1903, with the remodeling continuing throughout the 20 century. As this bridge aged, weight restrictions as well a speed reduction were introduced for safety. Norfolk Southern Railway announced plans to build a new bridge about 75 feet south of the 1875 steel bridge in late November 2011. The design for a steel arch bridge was approved late in 2014, at a cost of $72 million. This project is the largest Public-private development that Norfolk Southern has done for a single bridge. The New York State Department of Transportation and, the New State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation also contributed financially. In August 2015, the Nickel Plate 765 passed over the bridge as a part of a weekend excursions from Buffalo to Corning, New York, with the highlight of traveling over the bridge at Letchworth State Park. This was the last stream engine to cross over this old steel bridge. Construction started for the steel arch bridge in October, 2015. The surveying work for the new foundations started by late 2016 after the trees were cleared, and the construction of the main arch beginning in March 2017. The 1875 iron bridge had its last train across on December 10, 2017 and the first train crossed the new steel arch bridge on December 11, 2017. The last piece of the 1875 bridge was demolished in the morning of March 20, 2018. Most all the pieces of the 1875 bridge were reuse and recycled. You will find pieces from the 1875 iron bridge at a few local historical houses as well as here at the park. The new steel arch bridge was formally named "Genesee Arch Bridge" by Norfolk Southern on May 24, 2018. On June 13,2019, the arch for the entrance to the parking lot was lifted into place. This arch is made by the Genesee Valley Boces class in Mount Morris, entirely out of metal salvaged from the old 1875 Iron Trestle. These iron pieces that stood over the Genesee River for 142 years, will continue to stand and provide us we more memories as well as a piece of history.
LSP Permit #138
I wish to thank Park Manager Douglas Kelly for encouraging geocaching in Letchworth Park, and for reviewing and approving the placement of this cache!
You are looking for a well camo nano. It is place in a high muggle area. Please replace where you found it. Enjoy the history around you at this location,