Port Royal 200

Bridge - Tuscarora Creek - Railroad

Tuscarora Valley Railroad

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This is the Tuscarora Valley Railroad Bridge during a flood. The Route 75 bridge can be seen to the right of the photo. Although it is almost totally covered by water, the bridge appears to be of wood construction and may have been a predecessor to the cement pillars that were used for most of the TVs existence.
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This is the Tuscarora Valley Railroad Bridge during a flood. The Route 75 bridge can be seen to the right of the photo. Although it is almost totally covered by water, the bridge appears to be of wood construction and may have been a predecessor to the cement pillars that were used for most of the TVs existence.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 11/18/09 - Image Year: 1900
The Tuscarora Valley Railroad crossed the Tuscarora Creek from Port Royal to Old Port (Turbett Township) about 75 yards south of the Route 75 bridge that spanned the same creek. The two bridges ran parallel to each other and each was clearly visible from the other. It may be that there were two different bridges at the same location. If so the first would have been a wooden structure and the second a concrete structure. This idea is based on a picture that shows what appears to be a wood structure during a flood.

The rails of the concrete bridge were supported by concrete piers that contained 30-pound rails as reinforcing rod.

The piers are still in place and can be easily seen from the recently completed Route 75 bridge. (2009)

The last bridge in this series served the PRR rather than the TVRR and sits downstream from the first bridge pictured in the series.

Photos & Comments

The TVRR bridge across the Tuscarora Creek, taken by the late Richard Steinmetz on June 6, 1933, looking south toward Old Port, PA. This bridge was almost certainly not the original TVRR bridge – because of the flood picture, it appears that there was an earlier wooden structure. The later bridge in this photo rested on concrete piers, which still stand today. (Photo submitted by Professor George N. Pierson.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 11/18/09 - Image Year: 1933
The TVRR bridge across the Tuscarora Creek, taken by the late Richard Steinmetz on June 6, 1933, looking south toward Old Port, PA. This bridge was almost certainly not the original TVRR bridge – because of the flood picture, it appears that there was an earlier wooden structure. The later bridge in this photo rested on concrete piers, which still stand today. (Photo submitted by Professor George N. Pierson.)
A train crosses the bridge headed for Port Royal. The engine is TVRR's last #3, a 4-4-0, and although the photograph is undated, it could be a scrap train in 1934. The photographer is standing on the Old Port side of the creek, possibly on the Route 75 Bridge. (Photo submitted by George N. Pierson.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 11/18/09 - Image Year: 1934
A train crosses the bridge headed for Port Royal. The engine is TVRR's last #3, a 4-4-0, and although the photograph is undated, it could be a scrap train in 1934. The photographer is standing on the Old Port side of the creek, possibly on the Route 75 Bridge. (Photo submitted by George N. Pierson.)
This is a survey of the property of Darwin and Margaret Kohler when Route 75 was redesigned in 1970. The Kohlers owned the plot south of Evard Meloy and west of Edith Kepner. In addition they owned the right-of-way of the former Tuscarora Valley Railroad that led to the railroad bridge across the Tuscarora Creek. Prior to the purchase of this property, it had contained a "Pin-Mill" which made the pins that held glass insulators for electric and telephone poles.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 11/18/09 - Image Year: 1970
This is a survey of the property of Darwin and Margaret Kohler when Route 75 was redesigned in 1970. The Kohlers owned the plot south of Evard Meloy and west of Edith Kepner. In addition they owned the right-of-way of the former Tuscarora Valley Railroad that led to the railroad bridge across the Tuscarora Creek. Prior to the purchase of this property, it had contained a "Pin-Mill" which made the pins that held glass insulators for electric and telephone poles.
This is a view of the piers, absent the rails, that was taken from approximately the same location as the previous photo. This photo was taken by George Pierson in 1985. (Photo submitted by Professor George N. Pierson.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 11/18/09 - Image Year: 1985
This is a view of the piers, absent the rails, that was taken from approximately the same location as the previous photo. This photo was taken by George Pierson in 1985. (Photo submitted by Professor George N. Pierson.)
A closer view of one of the concrete piers that were reinforced with old rail as rebar. (Photo submitted by George N. Pierson)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 11/18/09 - Image Year: 1985
A closer view of one of the concrete piers that were reinforced with old rail as rebar. (Photo submitted by George N. Pierson)
A view of the piers, absent the rails, that was taken from near the Route 75 Tuscarora Creek Bridge. (Photo submitted by Jonathan M. Wert, Jr.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/1/11 - Image Year: 2011
A view of the piers, absent the rails, that was taken from near the Route 75 Tuscarora Creek Bridge. (Photo submitted by Jonathan M. Wert, Jr.)
This photograph was taken by George Pierson on April 12, 1985 from the Rt. 75 bridge at Old Port and shows the TVRR bridge piers still standing intact 51 years after trains ceased running. (Photo submitted by George Pierson.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 11/18/09 - Image Year: 1985
This photograph was taken by George Pierson on April 12, 1985 from the Rt. 75 bridge at Old Port and shows the TVRR bridge piers still standing intact 51 years after trains ceased running. (Photo submitted by George Pierson.)
This photo was taken on April 12, 1985, by George Pierson. It looks east from Old Port toward Port Royal and shows the concrete retaining walls that supported the TVRR approaches to the Tuscarora Creek bridge (center). Since the TVRR’s abandonment, buildings have been constructed on parts of the TVRR right of way in Old Port (left).
Contributed by rkohler3 on 11/18/09 - Image Year: 1985
This photo was taken on April 12, 1985, by George Pierson. It looks east from Old Port toward Port Royal and shows the concrete retaining walls that supported the TVRR approaches to the Tuscarora Creek bridge (center). Since the TVRR’s abandonment, buildings have been constructed on parts of the TVRR right of way in Old Port (left).
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD BRIDGE across the Tuscarora Creek near the Juniata River. This bridge served the PRR unlike the other bridge that served the TVRR.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/27/10 - Image Year: 1925
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD BRIDGE across the Tuscarora Creek near the Juniata River. This bridge served the PRR unlike the other bridge that served the TVRR.
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD STONE ARCH BRIDGE across the Tuscarora Creek near the Juniata River.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/24/19 - Image Year: 1890
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD STONE ARCH BRIDGE across the Tuscarora Creek near the Juniata River.
COAL TRAIN CROSSES BRIDGE: A steam drawn coal train crosses the PRR Bridge at the Tuscarora Creek near the intersection with the Juniata River.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 12/27/16 - Image Year: 1940
COAL TRAIN CROSSES BRIDGE: A steam drawn coal train crosses the PRR Bridge at the Tuscarora Creek near the intersection with the Juniata River.
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD BRIDGE across the Tuscarora Creek near the Juniata River. Looking East toward Point where the Tuscarora Creek enters the Juniata River. (Photo contributed by Jonathan Wert)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 10/30/13 - Image Year: 2013
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD BRIDGE across the Tuscarora Creek near the Juniata River. Looking East toward Point where the Tuscarora Creek enters the Juniata River. (Photo contributed by Jonathan Wert)
LOOKING THROUGH AN ARCH of the PRR Stone Arch Bridge across the Tuscarora Creek.
Contributed by ray on 8/24/19 - Image Year: 1920
LOOKING THROUGH AN ARCH of the PRR Stone Arch Bridge across the Tuscarora Creek.
INSIDE AN ARCH - Note the two types of masonry on the bridge. The masonry on the left is the original structure of the bridge. The masonry on the right represents the addition to the bridge that was needed when the railroad expanded from two yo four rail lines.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/24/19 - Image Year: 1920
INSIDE AN ARCH - Note the two types of masonry on the bridge. The masonry on the left is the original structure of the bridge. The masonry on the right represents the addition to the bridge that was needed when the railroad expanded from two yo four rail lines.