Parkersburg Bridge (CSX) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parkersburg Bridge |
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The Parkersburg-Belpre Bridge (foreground), the CSX Bridge (middle ground), and the Memorial Bridge (background), crossing the Ohio River, as viewed from Point Park in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
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| Coordinates | 39°16′15.5″N 81°33′56.5″W / 39.270972°N 81.565694°W |
| Carries | CSX Transportation |
| Crosses | Ohio River |
| Locale | Parkersburg, West Virginia |
| Official name | Parkersburg Bridge |
| Maintained by | CSX Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | truss bridge |
| Total length | 7,140 feet (2,180 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1871 |
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Sixth Street Railroad Bridge
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Sixth Street Railroad Bridge, 1973
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 Location in West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 6th Street, Parkersburg, West Virginia |
| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | May 18, 1869 – January 7, 1871 |
| Architect | Porter, W. E. |
| MPS | Downtown Parkersburg MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001785 |
| Added to NRHP | December 10, 1982 |
The Parkersburg Bridge is a very old and important railroad bridge. It crosses the Ohio River, connecting Parkersburg, West Virginia, and Belpre, Ohio. This bridge was built a long time ago, between May 1869 and January 1871.
When it was finished, the Parkersburg Bridge was said to be the longest bridge in the world! It stretched for 7,140 feet (2,180 m), which is more than 2 kilometers.
Building the Bridge
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A man named Jacob Linville designed this amazing bridge. To build it, workers used a lot of stone, about 50,000 cubic yards (38,000 m3), for the 53 strong supports called piers.
The bridge has many different sections, called spans. There are 46 spans in total, including different types like deck plate girder and through truss sections. These different designs help the bridge be very strong.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built the bridge. They needed it to move things like coal and other materials across the Ohio River. This helped them transport goods to the east coast.
Bridge Changes Over Time
Even though the bridge was built very well, some parts needed to be updated over the years.
- Between 1898 and 1900, the sections leading up to the main river crossing were replaced.
- Then, from 1904 to 1905, the parts of the bridge that go over the river were replaced. The original stone piers stayed in place.
- Around 1914 to 1917, the steel structure on top of the piers was rebuilt again.
- In 1972, one part of the bridge over the river had to be replaced after an accident. A barge carrying an empty gasoline tanker exploded underneath it.
Today, the bridge is still used by trains. It carries traffic for CSX Transportation on their Marietta Subdivision line.
A Historic Landmark
The Parkersburg Bridge is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it's a special place recognized for its history. On the list, it's known as the Sixth Street Railroad Bridge. When it was added, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad still owned it.
Images for kids
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The bridge in 1973
