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John Kucko writes:
What's Next?: Have heard from many of you regarding the historical events of Monday at Letchworth SP and the first ever train passing over the new arch, marking the end of the 1875 trestle. I will try and answer some of the questions I've received here:
--Why so slow? For a while at least, trains will cross the arch at 10 MPH , like they had been with the old. They'll be increasing those speeds to 25 at some point soon but, for now, will take it slow for precautionary reasons.
--What happens to the trestle? It will soon be brought down, piece by piece. Cranes are in place to do the removal of the iron. Should be all removed by February, including the concrete base (anchored to the riverbed since the days of the wooden bridge).
--Why no walkway? Simply put, it's a liability nobody wants to deal with. Not Norfolk Southern, nor New York State Parks. It's just not feasible to keep it standing.
--Will arch be painted? From what I understand, yes. The gray rivet plates, as well as the railing will be painted in the spring to match the steel for one, conformed look.
--How many trains cross in a day? Generally, in a 24 hour day, 4-7 trains pass through. Some days more, some less. Expect Norfolk Southern traffic to increase heading into 2018 for a variety of reasons.
--Where does the old iron go? The iron from the 1875 High Bridge has great value. It will be repurposed and used for other projects. A very small portion will go to the park for historical purposes.
--What was reaction of the crew? Conductors and engineers on the first trains coming through on Monday were fully aware of the historical significance. One conductor told me "It was satisfying, exciting and breathtaking--I was speechless."
--Why no grand ceremony? This was very quietly done by design--a "soft launch." There will be a formal ribbon cutting type of ceremony in the spring with politicians and VIP's.
I hope this "fills in the blanks" a bit. I have to admit, am a bit overwhelmed by the reaction I received all week from so many of you out there. Have enjoyed capturing various content of "Old Shaky" for years. I'll keep documenting the project and will continue my weekly Sunday morning "Honoring an Icon" series until the last structure of the old trestle has been removed. Thank you for all the support!
