Large Scale Central

Harper's Ferry West Virginia

Prototypes
#1

So I was watching Ariel America on the Smithsonian Channel and they were featuring small towns. They highlighted Harper’s Ferry. While several things caught my eye the RR related one was the two train bridges that cross the Potomac River and then enters a tunnel. It has three sets of tracks enterin and only two exit; must be a turnout in the tunnel. According to Google earth the north bridge is the B&O and the south bridge is the Winchester and Potomac RR. As you look at the pictures the W&P RR has some interesting trestle work in town as it is elevated. There is some interesting architecture of special note is John Brown’s fort.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3235,-77.72967,606m/data=!3m1!1e3

Just some random photos from the net

#2

That fort could make a great freight depot or something. Was a fire and guard house.

http://www.nps.gov/hafe/learn/historyculture/john-brown-fort.htm

#3

Interesting choice Devon. I have long considered the covered bridge of Harper’s Ferry W. Va. as a future build into the cliff face tunnel.

and I considered the center bridge span below as a project of the future. Note that the above covered bridge also shown as the lowest bridge below was constructed with a wye at it’s western end.

This view of the 1893 Winchester branch bridge shows some of the details of a Bollman bridge fairly well

#4

Very cool Dave. In my looking I never came across the covered bridge. That is neat. When was it removed? all the photos I saw were newer and only showed the other two.

#5

The piers span the river still, at least some of them. They show on Google earth views. My understanding is the covered bridge was burned out in the civil war, or right after.

#6

Very cool, especially that first pic. And the notion of a tunnel with two tracks in, three tracks out, definitely falls into the category of “there’s a prototype for everything”.

#7

And another copy of the plan…

John

#8

If you want some more pics Devon, I have been there many times. I have some pics of the bridges and the piers…

#9

Travis Dague said:

If you want some more pics Devon, I have been there many times. I have some pics of the bridges and the piers…

I am always interested in pictures of unique or scenic railroad stuff. So if you want to share I will look. I have no particular interest in this area for modeling purposes it just caught my eye on TV as having some interesting out of the ordinary features.

The one thing I would love to know and or see a picture of is what is going on inside that tunnel. The fact that three lines go in from the river and only tw come out is kinda cool. I would like to know how far in the turnout is.

#10

Devon look at the Plan, the switch begins at the portal. The dotted lines show the tunnel narrowing down to two tracks.

Many years ago one of the hobby magazines did a several part story on the evolution of Harper’s Ferry. This thread brought it all back… (more likely makes me think I still know it all (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-embarassed.gif)).

John

#11

While working on a renovation of Denbigh Hall at Bryn Mawr College in 1980, I came across a photograph taken of Harpers Ferry. The photographer must have been on top of the hill across from the tunnel entrance. The picture is quite large, about 36" x 30", and framed. It appears to have been shot in maybe the twenties or thirties by the looks of an automobile on the road across the river. All of the bridges are in the photo, so I suspect that would help date the picture. I hangs in my attic to this day. I’ll try and remember to take a picture of it and post it.

Interesting side note. When I found it, in the attic of the dormitory, I was thrilled. I asked if I could have it and to my good luck, I could. I wrapped it in brown paper and took it home that day. As I unwrapped it and was showing my wife, my two year old son walked up and let go of the metal camera tripod he was holding. Yes, Murphy was present at the moment as the tripod hit the glass and broke it. Fortunately the photo was unhurt. What my son was doing with my tripod I haven’t a clue!!

#12

That switch may at one time been at the head of that tunnel but this pictures of the tunnel portal shows there is still clear separation.

#13

I’d very much like to see that photo Dan. I just love how railroads just did what need to be done.

#14

The grey gleaner has been a gathering…

Maybe if you could get them to turn on the tunnel lights…

John

#15

PS: The concrete liner extends out and has vegetation on top, that explains the plan’s diff.

JC

#16

Those pictures show it well. I was kinda leaning on the idea they extended the tunnel with that portal.