Brilliant Branch Railroad Bridge

The Brilliant Branch Railroad Bridge is a truss bridge that carries Allegheny Valley Railroad's Brilliant Branch across the Allegheny River between the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Highland Park and Aspinwall, Pennsylvania.

Brilliant Branch Railroad Bridge
The Brilliant Branch Railroad Bridge, as viewed from the Highland Park Bridge.
Coordinates40.4866°N 79.9053°W / 40.4866; -79.9053
CarriesBrilliant Branch
CrossesAllegheny River
LocalePittsburgh and Aspinwall
Characteristics
DesignTruss bridge
Longest span396 feet (121 m)
Clearance below56.5 feet (17.2 m)
History
Opened1904
Location

History
The bridge is seen in this photograph from the early 20th century.

The Brilliant Branch, along with the Port Perry Branch along the Monongahela River was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad as part of a bypass of the narrow tracks around Downtown Pittsburgh.[1] After the collapse of the Penn Central Transportation Company (the PRR's successor company) in 1976, the Brilliant Branch was abandoned. In 1995, they were purchased by the fledgling Allegheny Valley Railroad and in 2003, the Brilliant Branch Bridge was reopened. It generally served one train per day in each direction.

See also

References
  1. "Bridges & Tunnels of Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, PA - Brilliant Branch RR Bridge". April 2, 2003. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
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