Harper’s Ferry Rail Trestle

Harper's Ferry Railroad Bridges have not always fared well. In the 19th century two wooden bridges collapsed, an iron bridge was blown up nine times during the civil war, three were destroyed by floods, and in 1942 one caught fire, but survived. The railroad bridge standing today has managed to remain standing since 1894. Part of major B&O improvements in the area, the Harper's Ferry rail trestle reflects the changes in bridge engineering taking place at the end of the 19th century. Unlike its wooden and iron predecessors, the 1894 bridge was made of steel. The Bollman truss had been the most common type of rail bridge through most of the B&O history. With the use of steel, however, taller trusses, with inclined ends beams, became more prevalent. The 1894 bridge uses three Pratt trusses and 6 deck plate girders to carry its load. Today there is a footbridge, part of the Appalachian Trail, alongside the rails allowing pedestrians to cross from Harper's Ferry to the C&O canal.

 

Facts and Figures

Directions
Length of deck girder: 7 feet, 10 inches

Length of Pratt truss: 30 feet

Total Length of bridge: 137 feet
  • Take I-70 to Frederick and exit onto Route 340 south.
  • Cross the Potomac and then the Shenandoah and continue to the well-marked parking lot at the top of the mountain.
  • Take the shuttle into town, and follow Shenandoah St. to Potomac St.
  • The Trestle crosses the Potomac back into Maryland. A footbridge leads to the C&O canal towpath.

Map

 

 

References:

A History of Road Building; Hiking, Cycling, and Canoeing in MD; Bridges over Time, www.nps.gov/hafe