Columbia Railroad Bridge facts for kids
The Columbia Railroad Bridge, also known as the Columbia Bridge, is an important bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It helps trains carry goods across the Schuylkill River. This bridge is used by the CSX Transportation train company. It is located inside Fairmount Park, a large and beautiful park. The bridge is part of the Trenton Subdivision train route.
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Building the Columbia Bridge
The Columbia Railroad Bridge has been built three different times. Each time, a new bridge replaced the old one. This happened to make the bridge stronger or to fix damage.
The First Bridge (1834)
The very first Columbia Bridge was built in 1834. It was a special kind of bridge called a covered bridge. This meant it had walls and a roof, just like a house. The bridge was made from strong pine wood. The state government of Pennsylvania helped build it. The Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad company also worked on it. Later, in 1851, another company called the Reading Railroad bought this bridge.
The Second Bridge (1886)
The next bridge was built in 1886. The Reading Railroad company built this one too. This second bridge was much stronger than the first. It was made of iron, a very tough metal. Because it was so strong, very heavy trains could safely cross the river. This was important for moving lots of goods.
The Third Bridge (1920)
The bridge you see today is the third one built. It was finished in 1920. This modern bridge continues to carry trains and goods across the Schuylkill River.
Images for kids
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The first Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad Bridge in 1859.
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"View from the Inclined Plane" (1838). The first Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad Bridge is visible at the bottom of the hill.
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Schuylkill River map (1872).
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Second Columbia Railroad Bridge (circa 1917).
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From upstream.
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2010 Dad Vail Regatta.
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Schuylkill Grandstand.
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John B. Kelly statue.
