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  • Portageville Bridge Replacement, Future Tier Traffic

  • Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in New York State.
Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in New York State.

Moderator: Otto Vondrak

 #1474057  by Jeff Smith
 
Dedication: prnewswire.com
Norfolk Southern and New York State usher in a modern era for freight rail with dedication of new railroad bridge - the Genesee Arch Bridge

CASTILE, N.Y., May 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ushering in a modern era for freight rail in New York's Southern Tier, Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) and New York State officials, along with many supporters, today dedicated a new steel arch railroad bridge that spans the "Grand Canyon of the East."

Surrounded by scenic Letchworth State Park, the $75-million bridge expands freight rail capacity and economic opportunities for businesses and communities across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes. Constructed through a public-private partnership, the single-track arch structure replaced a 19th-century-era bridge that restricted train speeds and rail car weights and had become a major transportation bottleneck.

In recognition of a new beginning, Norfolk Southern CEO James A. Squires announced that the bridge, which spans the 235-foot-deep Genesee River Gorge, has been named the Genesee Arch Bridge. That name received the most votes during a bridge-naming campaign on social media.
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 #1475819  by thebigham
 
Two new John Kucko pics

The 2nd pic shows the area where the park road is being straightened and new parking lot will be built.

Scheduled completion is October.
Attachments:
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 #1475949  by Matt Langworthy
 
Strangely enough, that was not a choice on the NS page. lol

I voted for Genesee Arch Bridge, which was the choice of the majority who voted there... and now the name of the bridge. I like the idea of giving the new bridge a completely new name, since it is rather different in design from the old viaduct.
 #1477511  by thebigham
 
John Kucko Digital:

Portageville Progress: With the Genesee Arch Bridge all but complete, the focus has turned to the popular Portageville entrance the last several weeks. That entryway to Letchworth SP has been closed for more than two years. Fabulous restoration is taking place there and they appear to be ahead of schedule. Here is a key to better understand what is going on:

1-revamped park road (this view into park will be sensational)
2-parking lot (more spaces than before)
3-retention pond (slightly smaller than pond at Glen Iris Inn)
4-trail 2 (Mary Jemison trail access)
5-Genesee Arch Bridge

The earth restoration here has been impressive. Many trees and other plantings have been added, seeding recently took place and road paving should commence soon. They have taken America’s #1 ranked state park and made it even better. This entrance was supposed to re-open in the fall, my guess is that it could possibly be before that.
Attachments:
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 #1478224  by thebigham
 
John Kucko Digital:

Progress in Portageville: Work continues here at Letchworth SP getting the Portageville entrance ready for eventual re-opening. Since my last post on this, the paving process has begun. They have laid down base, binder will be next followed by asphalt next week. Here’s a key to better understand what’s going on:

1-Revamped roadway into park
2-Retention drainage basin
3-Enhanced parking lot (double the spaces from before)
4-Pathway to Trail 2 (Mary Jemison Trail)
5-Some of the many trees/shrubs planted here
6-Genesee Arch Bridge

This Portageville entrance to the park (closed for two and a half years) will be a sensational entryway to the park. It should be open by the fall, if not sooner.
Attachments:
letchworth260.jpg
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 #1478226  by thebigham
 
All done!

John Kucko Digital

All Done! The Genesee Arch Bridge is officially completed here at Letchworth SP. The painting is done, hatch covers and gusset plates are all painted. Some cleanup remains and earth restoration continues here, but the work pertaining to the bridge itself is finished. Consider the following:

-American Bridge began project in December, 2015
-130 workers (most all from WNY) were hired to build new arch, remove trestle
-5 different unions contributed to the bridge effort here (ironworkers, operator engineers, laborers, carpenters, painters)

The restoration of the Portageville entrance should be completed by fall. Can I say it one more time? History in the making here in WNY! #WNYProud
 #1482466  by sd80mac
 
D Alex wrote:
thebigham wrote:https://www.facebook.com/JohnKuckoDigital/
Wow, that looks like quite a special train. Any info on it?
just a visit to PAR... but it got cancelled as they got to Albany area and turned around to head back to home in Altoona last night. As of now, it's in Pa.

cancellation was due to washout on PAR line which prevent OCS to reach it's destination.
 #1483025  by XBNSFer
 
Have they completed the demo of the old concrete bridge piers? And is the "classic" view of the upper falls/bridge now open/accessible?
 #1483075  by johnpbarlow
 
sd80mac wrote:
just a visit to PAR... but it got cancelled as they got to Albany area and turned around to head back to home in Altoona last night. As of now, it's in Pa.

cancellation was due to washout on PAR line which prevent OCS to reach it's destination.
While it's true that PAS had a 2nd minor washout at Farley/Erving (but not a derailment fortunately!) on Wednesday evening, by Thursday, PAS trains were passing through the affected area. I'm wondering if Pan Am Southern's issue is that it's clogged with a back-up of trains for which they don't have enough crews (or terminal space at Ayer) to move. Even today, a week later, four 22K/28N trains are tied down on NS Southern Tier awaiting a plan to interchange with PAS at Mechanicville.
 #1483080  by sd80mac
 
johnpbarlow wrote:While it's true that PAS had a 2nd minor washout at Farley/Erving (but not a derailment fortunately!) on Wednesday evening, by Thursday, PAS trains were passing through the affected area. I'm wondering if Pan Am Southern's issue is that it's clogged with a back-up of trains for which they don't have enough crews (or terminal space at Ayer) to move. Even today, a week later, four 22K/28N trains are tied down on NS Southern Tier awaiting a plan to interchange with PAS at Mechanicville.
While they're sitting duck waiting for floodgate to be open, and as we know that many 28 are small trains. Any reasons why they cant combine them together to make one train. 3 of 28 would be still able to be make up into one train and still not meet the max length.
 #1483087  by thebigham
 
XBNSFer wrote:Have they completed the demo of the old concrete bridge piers? And is the "classic" view of the upper falls/bridge now open/accessible?
The concrete piers are gone.

The hiking trail to the upper falls is open. It was rehabbed last year.

The Portageville entrance should re-open any day now.
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