Columbia Railroad Bridge

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Is that a train I hear? Look! The Columbia Railroad Bridge stretches across the Schuylkill River. It’s a powerful symbol of Philadelphia’s industrial heritage. This isn’t the first bridge to grace this spot. The original, built in 1834, was a covered wooden bridge. It served the Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad, connecting Philadelphia to Columbia in Lancaster County. Imagine the sight of railway cars being pulled up Belmont Hill on an inclined plane. The second bridge, built in 1886, was made of iron. It was built to handle the increasingly heavy freight traffic of the time. Finally, in 1920, the current concrete arch bridge was completed. It originally had two tracks, with two more added in 1921. Today, only two tracks remain, but the bridge still stands as a testament to the city’s enduring connection to its industrial past.

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