Columbia Bridge

Columbia Bridge. . , Built in 1834, the first of three bridges to span the Schuylkill River at this crossing formed an important link in Philadelphia's effort to compete with the Erie Canal. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 created an all water route from the mouth of the Hudson River to Lake Superior and enabled New York City to dominate trade with the rapidly growing West. In 1825, Pennsylvania responded to this commercial threat to the Commonwealth and Philadelphia by establishing the "State Works". The State constructed over 700 miles of canals and railroads. The Main Line consisted of a railroad from Philadelphia to Columbia on the Susquehanna River, a canal from Columbia to Hollidaysburg, the 37-mile long Allegheny Portage Railroad which included a 900 feet long tunnel to traverse the mountains to Johnstown and a canal to complete the 394-mile route into Pittsburgh. The system used specifically designed canal boats that flatcars could haul over the railroad. The Main Line began operation in 1834., The State erected the original Columbia Bridge, a seven span, white pine, covered bridge for the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad in 1834. It measured 1,050 feet in length and carried a double track railroad and a cartway. A stationary engine pulled the trains by rope up an inclined plane to Belmont Plateau on the west side of the River. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad bought a portion of the State Works system, including this bridge, in 1851. When removed in 1886, the bridge remained in excellent condition. To accommodate increasingly heavy freight loads, the Reading built a Pratt truss and Phoenix column wrought iron bridge with two sets of tracks. This bridge remained in service until 1920., The current bridge consists of eight concrete arch spans supporting four railroad tracks and a pedestrian walk. It measures 755 feet in length and 56 feet in width. Two sets of tracks went into operation in 1920 followed by the other two in 1921. The Columbia Bridge carried the main line of the Reading Railroad from Philadelphia to Reading. It also served the industries along the Schuylkill and Delaware River and the passenger trains of the Reading and of the Baltimore and Ohio. It remains in use today.