W&LE on two massive trestles. Belle Vernon, Banning, PA 6/03/2011
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- čas přidán 12. 02. 2016
- We are at several locations on the ex-P&WV Railroad. The old High and Dry it was called, because of its many tall trestle as it runs across the hilltops. We catch a Wheeling and Lake Erie loaded ore train heading east with mid-train helpers. There are speed restrictions on the old trestle. The first bridge spans the Monongahela River, and we are standing on the ex-Monesson Southwestern bridge on the Belle Vernon side of the river. The second shot is the huge trestle over the Youghiogheny River at Banning, PA. You will hear a couple of CSX hi-rail vehicles to our left. They are talking on the scanner, and mention something about never seeing a train on the tall trestle. The third clip is of the train dropping down grade in dynamic braking, and will be on CSX rails in Connellsville, PA. From there, the train will run to Baltimore on trackage rights.
Thanks for watching
Video was taken by myself 6/03/2011
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video by Jack D Kuiphoff © 2016 - Auta a dopravní prostředky
![[4K] Huge Bridges and Colorful Power on the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/MLc0G5jnQNk/mqdefault.jpg)
I grew up in Gibsonton, AKA The Alley, about an ⅛ of a mile from that first trestle across, from the mill, and I used to walk out that first track you shot from and go onto the bottom of the big trestle and go out and hang out on the concrete piers and watch barges flow by. Good memories.
I pass this bridge everyday when traveling to work, and I noticed that there was a lot of tie replacement on the bridge over the past few years.In about 1980, they started repainting from the east side of the river, but stopped before they got to the “K” truss part ; it’s still noticeable on a sunny day. In N&W days, I even remember piggy back trains crossing the bridge. Well, thanks for showing; it’s nice to see a heavy train in the sky! Of course I’m referring to the Speers bridge, thanks again for showing.
The main span crossing the Monongahela was designed for a train to run through the lower part of the structure and until the early 1980’s there was a switch on the Monessen and Southwestern and a short section of trestle ran up to the “k” truss section but stopped. Supposedly, the intent was for Pittsburgh Steel Co. to send steel from Monessen to it’s finishing plant in Allenport, but the Pennsylvania r.r. Wouldn’t allow a connection.
Wow, now those are two nail biters for train crews. Lol
Great videos Jack.
Thanks blue, glad you enjoyed them. They would have to blindfold my if I was a crew member. LOL
This goes right past where my friend grew up in Belle Vernon. Excellent video Jack. Thank you for uploading it.
Thanks for posting. I've been past that bridge many times and never seen a train on it. Thanks so much.
They do run a couple everyday Dan. But timing is everything...
Hauled a lot of supplies for W&LE when I had my ol 379 Pete.
Awe-inspiring picture and sound.
Very nice video. There are so many cool trestles on that line.
Awesome video!
Thank you for posting this. The tracks run through Fallowfield Township, where my mom grew up. The cemetery where my grandparents are buried sits right next to these tracks, about a mile from the trestle. I did not grow up in Charleroi, but for as many times as I have been there I had never seen a train on this trestle. Given the government's war on coal, it may someday soon close. I hope not. It would be spectacular to take an excursion train over those rails.
There is no coal traffic on this part of the line anyways. It’ll be open for quite a long time.
Great video, thanks for sharing.
I like heavy mine and ore trains. Thanks Jack.
I do as well Bob. This operation didn't last long. Glad a caught the few trains that they ran. Thanks for watching...
This is great thanks for sharing
Thanks for posting, really nice
Awesome!
That is a beautiful iron girder trestle. :)
Excellent video, sir!
Jack, They was a pretty good feat for the W&LE. I know the N&W use to have problems moving 100 car grain trains to Connellsville, they use to break them up into 50 car sections at Rook, then put them back together at Chaintown siding. What was the total car count on that train? Any idea where it came from and why was it moving to Baltimore? Export Taconite? Very nice video Jack, thanks for posting.
Do they even use the bridge your standing on in the first part??
Yes they do. They run across the top, and about a mile behind my back, there is a small yard. They drop down grade there cross the bridge I'm standing on, and run down the river a few miles to a coke plant. The us the bridge may 4 or 6 times a week I would say. Thanks for watching...
Wow.
I've driven past that trestle something like 5 or 6 times, and I've never seen hide nor hair of a Wheeling and Lake Erie train. At Speer's Ferry, whose tracks are you standing on? Are those also Wheeling and Lake Erie? I thought I saw a black early model (SW7 or 9) on that smaller bridge at one point.
+pittsburgh railfan That lower bridge use to be the Monessen Southwestern. It ran from the mill to a connection with the P&WV (now W&LE) at Monessen Jct, and then doubled back up and over the P&WV, to a slag dump. The Wheeling uses it now, just about every day to get to the coke works in Monesson. Usually runs late afternoon early evening. Thanks for watching...
I drove pass those,2 bridges for years in my big truck I wonder who ran on them they don't use them anymore i guess
Kelvin Torrence Wheeling Lake Erie RR still uses the trestle, I see them on there once or twice a week
Hi Jack! how does one access that river view of the Banning bridge? i have been wanting a W&LE over there for a while. thanks!
At least we now have steady coke traffic to keep this a reality now. Good stuff Jack
Ian H now we just need the CWR project finished and the trains back in the daylight
We walked across these tressels as teens. Definitely an experience. It doesn’t look that high from the ground. When you’re walking across them, different story for sure
Is it mostly coke traffic across this bridge? Do they still run a grain train to Hagerstown?
Is this date correct? Or have you been using the same camera for a REALLY long time?
+s0nnyburnett The date is correct. I shot this video with a Sony Digital 8 camera. It has been replaced with a Canon Vixia on 12/11/2012, and that's what I'm using now. Both my Sony Digital 8's have been in storage ever since.
jackmp294.5™
Amazing.
Is the bridge you are standing on see any use
Yes it does. Almost daily when the Wheeling goes down to the coke plant along the river at Monesson.
Passed the trestle at speers many times and have never seen a train. How many trains cross a day now?
Maybe two a day on both top and bottom levels. Thanks for watching...
jackmp294.5™ thanks Jack!
Sure thing, no problem.