Large Scale Central

Wood Deck Road Bridge - Runk Rd. Orbisonia, PA

I was going through my EBT photos for a friend today and ran across this B&W study of the iron / wood deck Runk Road bridge across Blacklog Aughwick Creek just north of Orbisonia, PA. I though it was pretty cool…

Jon,

Is that an old railroad bridge converted to auto use or is that a purpose built road bridge?

Either way, great photo.

Rick

I think it was built as a road bridge, but don’t know for sure. The East Broad Top right-of-way is on the berm in the background.

Nice shot Jon.

Cool bridge, more info here:

http://www.historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=pennsylvania/runk/

It kooks like the Dingmans bridge by me. Its a cool looking bridge

Thanks for the link Geoff. And to correct my original post, the bridge crosses Aughwick Creek, not Blacklog creek. I was looking for the name on Google Maps because I couldn’t remember it (Yes Roster, I’m OLD) and the only part labeled was Blacklog.

It looks much better full screen on a 26" monitor. It became my wallpaper Sunday, replacing a winter scene.

Jon Radder said:

It became my wallpaper Sunday, replacing a winter scene.

What kind of glue did you use???

Jon,

We Had, until about 1971, an old cast, pin connected steel railroad bridge that was deeded to the county for a highway bridge. Pretty interesting seeing log trucks crossing it. I have some pictures around here somewhere if your interested in seeing them.

Rick

Jon Radder said:

(Yes Roster, I’m OLD)

What Roster?

Weight Limit 3 Tons??? Definitely not an old RR bridge. I couldn’t even put a load of gravel in my work truck and drive over that thing.

-Brian

Here’s an old rail bridge converted for vehicles.

(http://i.imgur.com/fh6xQrH.jpg)

Located at La Boca, CO. Part of the abandoned D&RGW narrow gauge line from Durango, CO to Chama, NM.

Although I did walk over it, I’d never drive over it. While the sign does say “Bridge Closed”, it also says “cross at your own risk”. And surprisingly many vehicles crossed while I was there taking photos of the bridge.

Sure is a pretty setting:

(http://i.imgur.com/UAs8ZYq.jpg)

Very cool Matt. Thanks!

Jon,

I drove across that bridge many years ago and it didn’t give me a real comfortable feeling the way the floor seemed to flex and creak as you passed over it. The last time I was there the bridge was closed to traffic. Whether for repairs or because it was deemed unsafe I have no idea.

It was a good location to take photos of the trains.

Here is SD, there is a similar bridge. It is a Truss Bridge that was converted from a railroad to a vehicle bridge. However the State went a above the simple planks, as the road is a highway, and built a deck on top and paved the road. Its been there since C&NW abandoned the line in the 60s (i think).

As far as what I can see on the bridges, the steel structure looks pretty solid. I’d have no problem there, but the wood planks might be a worry. Or the concrete/ block abutments.

Gary Buchanan said:

Jon,

I drove across that bridge many years ago and it didn’t give me a real comfortable feeling the way the floor seemed to flex and creak as you passed over it. The last time I was there the bridge was closed to traffic. Whether for repairs or because it was deemed unsafe I have no idea.

It was a good location to take photos of the trains.

It was still open to traffic when I took that shot. Several pickup trucks crossed while I was on the bridge. It moves A LOT. I’ve driven over it and it didn’t seem that bad to me in the car.