Description : The Portage High Bridge is being removed . July 31st 1875 The New Iron Erie Railroad Bridge started to Move trains over the Genesee River in Western N.Y . The Bridge was Reinforced and rehabilitated several times Adding Steel to the bridge . It was replaced with a New Arch Bridge opening Dec 11 2017 . The Towers Today are wrought iron with steel reinforcement (what is left of it ) . Norfolk Southern Railway and Canadian Pacific needed an New Bridge and now have a Nice one . ...... I Drove for 2 hours to get down there on some snowy Back roads on Friday Feb 9 2018 To see what was left . It was 19 degrees Fahrenheit when I tried to make a Video With the Pocket Camera . The longer I was there the more I started shaking and using the zoom made the image worse . The camera is small and A Tripod most likely would not help . I did my best with what I had to use . The middle 3 towers is what is left of the Bridge almost 350 feet . The Bridge was 820 feet long , both ends are missing now . I put up some videos in 2017 to show you photos and Video of what used to exist there . 2009 -2015 photos and 2017 videos . On Friday I took photos of The men removing part of the East end of the Bridge . The crane had a Man Lift lowering 2 people in a Basket , with a 3rd person up on the Top With the Oxy- Acetylene tanks . The Crane would lower the Basket to each corner of the Tower . The Work men would cut a Tension rod with a Torch and it would swing down with a loud clang to where it was still attached . Cut 3 or 4 at a time and then move the basket . The Crane on the West side is even bigger . The snow was not heavy but it came down pretty steady , Cold hands got worse . Footage got shakier so I left to drive home . The roads had a good coating and I lost traction driving up a couple hills . The back roads I drove after leaving the park were slippery . I am Glad I made the effort to go down to see what was left of the Bridge even though the images are shakey . I hope I have a chance to drive south again while some the bridge is still up . Location is Letchworth State Park
Description :Farewell Old friend it looks like this is the end ! On Monday 12-11 2017 train traffic will move to the new Arch bridge . After a Deer hunt was over I went across the River to see the Old Portageville High Bridge alive fro the last time. At About 4:35 pm ? I pulled into Glen Iris upper falls parking lot . I jumped out of Vehicle and pulled pocket camera out just in time to See The Engines pull onto the Bridge . I don't know if any Day light trains will cross this old Bridge on Monday ? This is my last time seeing the old Portageville High Bridge Alive . This is Low rez video of My last Daylight Train crossing the bridge . Some will run after Dark ,but I cant make a video of those trains . Mike had info that there was another train an hour behind this one . Glenn ,John K. , Mike and Ken Wallace ( Paleoman52 ) were there . John K. had been there since 7:00a.m to watch and photograph the last Trains . Mike was there with me the Day before on Saturday ( He is a good man ). The Portageville High bridge will be removed very soon. Get down there fast to see the bridge for the last time ! 1875- 12-11-2017 is a long life for a very active Bridge. The American Bridge Company built a nice arch Bridge ! Thank you . I will miss the old Bridge . Please go to paleoman52 channel to see great videos of the Bridge and Letchworth park. Temp was 26 degrees F Camera is a pocket model Kodak m1063 The videos are not that great , the still photos are good . I am happy to have the Kodak , it is handy and always around outdoors with me . The result is Timely videos because I am there at the right moment , Videos get fuzzy in low light conditions . If I had a bigger camera it most likely would not be in my pocket and handy when I needed it . I like the Kodak !