Pinkerton's Landing Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pinkerton's Landing Bridge |
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Looking upriver with Munhall at right. Carrie Furnace visible at left and Carrie Furnace Hot Metal Bridge further upriver
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| Coordinates | 40°24′53″N 79°53′48″W / 40.4147°N 79.8968°W |
| Carries | CSX Pittsburgh Subdivision |
| Crosses | Monongahela River |
| Locale | Munhall, Pennsylvania and Rankin, Pennsylvania |
| Other name(s) | Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny (Pemickey) Railroad Bridge P&LE Railroad Bridge at Munhall |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss bridge |
| Longest span | 250 feet (76 m) |
| Clearance below | 51.6 feet (15.7 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1883 |
The Pinkerton's Landing Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a truss bridge. It carries a railway line, the CSX Transportation's Pittsburgh Subdivision, over the Monongahela River. This bridge connects the towns of Munhall, Pennsylvania and Rankin, Pennsylvania in the United States.
The bridge has an official name, which is the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Bridge at Munhall. However, many people know it by its nickname, Pinkerton's Landing Bridge. This name comes from an important event in history, the 1892 Homestead strike.
What is a Truss Bridge?
A truss bridge is built using a framework of connected triangles. These triangles help to spread out the weight and make the bridge very strong. This design is often used for railway bridges because trains are very heavy.
Other Names for the Bridge
The Pinkerton's Landing Bridge is also known as the Pemickey Bridge. This nickname comes from an old railroad company called the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny Railroad. People used to shorten its name to "P. McK. & Y.", which sounded like "Pemickey". This railroad line used to run trains across the bridge.
Bridge History
The Pinkerton's Landing Bridge was opened in 1883. This means it has been standing for over 140 years! It has seen many trains cross the Monongahela River over the decades.
