“Freight bypass track,” they called it. The West Philadelphia Elevated, also known as the High Line, stands before us. This railroad viaduct whispers tales of innovation and progress.
The West Philadelphia Elevated was erected in the early 1900s. The Pennsylvania Railroad built it to ease freight traffic around 30th Street Station. Imagine trains rumbling above the city. They bypassed rail yards, industrial sidings, and even a passenger station.
Think back to a time when railroads were king. At the turn of the century, the Pennsylvania Railroad upgraded routes. They aimed to separate passenger and freight lines. The area around Broad Street Station created a bottleneck. The West Philadelphia Elevated offered a solution.
Construction received city approval in 1902. By the end of 1904, the West Philadelphia Elevated was completed. It stretches 8,140 feet. That’s nearly a mile and a half. The West Philadelphia Elevated makes a gentle turn due to the layout around 30th Street Station.
Most of the West Philadelphia Elevated is steel. However, a 1,045-foot section is brick arches. It is north of the station. Some claim it to be the country’s longest brick bridge. Others call it the longest brick building.
Freight trains from New York City and Harrisburg used the West Philadelphia Elevated. They traveled south to Baltimore and Washington, DC without stopping. The West Philadelphia Elevated also connected to the Junction Railroad and the port.
The viaduct has two sections. The larger section is a steel structure with 136 sections. There are also the same number of columns. The section north of Spring Garden Street is an arched bridge. It has 30 brick arches that extend halfway up to 34th Street. The West Philadelphia Elevated was a double track design. It was probably electrified around 1930.
The arched bridge has 30 arches. Each arch has 30 feet of open space. Brick was chosen over natural stone for the masonry. This choice made it possibly the longest brick bridge in the United States.
The West Philadelphia Elevated has seen changes. With the Acela Express expansion, freight traffic shifted. The connections to the Northeast Corridor were dismantled. Today, the West Philadelphia Elevated with the Junction Railroad provide rail access to the port.
Now, look closely at the steel and brick. The West Philadelphia Elevated represents an era of ambition. The West Philadelphia Elevated reminds us how railroads shaped this city.