Above: View showing the close proximity of the nearby Sugarcreek Bridge.
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Key Facts |
Bridge Name | Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
| Sugarcreek Railroad Bridge | Truss | Railroad (Norfolk Southern) | Venango County, PA | Sugarcreek | Sugar Creek |
This bridge is right next to the Sugarcreek Bridge.
This bridge sits right next to another truss bridge: to find two small single span truss bridges side by side is very rare. You can find multiple truss bridges next to each other on larger, urban areas like Pittsburgh, but not usually out in the county on smaller rivers and creeks. In most cases, the highway half of the bridge pair has been demolished. But the scene here at Sugarcreek is indeed just that, a two single-span Pratt through truss bridges side by side, one for the railroad and the other for the highway. It is a truly beautiful scene. It also represents a scene that would have been much more common in the past. As such, the preservation of both structures should be paramount here at Sugarcreek.
This bridge is a seven panel Pin connected Pratt through truss. It features a rather ornate (especially for a railroad bridge) portal bracing design. It was designed for and, carries a single railroad track. While no v-lacing is on the bridge, lattice is everywhere. Lattice can be found on the verticals, portal bracing, sway bracing and under the top chord / end post. There are unusual gizmos at the ends of some of the diagonals for adjusting tension. These are quite different than the standard turnbuckle.
