Along the Ohio River

Authored by Sherman Cahal on March 28, 2009 at Bridges & Tunnels

 

With spring approaching, I thought it'd be best to upload some recent captures of various bridges along the Ohio River and Big Sandy River, from the Brent Spence Bridge in Cincinnati, to two aging but massive railroad spans. Enjoy these updates to Bridges & Tunnels for late March!

 

1 Midland Atlantic Bridge: The old bridge abutment is in the foreground, with the newer Midland Atlantic Bridge in the background.

 

2 Norfolk & Western Ohio River Bridge: This dual tracked span crosses the Ohio River at Kenova, West Virginia and South Point, Ohio. It sees a considerable amount of traffic on today's Norfolk Southern lines.

 

3 A CSX #515 waits on a CSX mainline through Kenova, West Virginia underneath the Norfolk & Western Ohio River Bridge approach.

 

4 Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Catlettsburg Bridge: This dual-track Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Bridge over the Big Sandy River connects Catlettsburg, Kentucky to Kenova, West Virginia. A CSX #515 waits.

 

5

 

6 Brent Spence Bridge: A view of the Brent Spence Bridge Kentucky approach.

 

7

 

8

 

9

 

10

 

11

 

Enjoy this small update to Bridges & Tunnels!

I LOVE the trains!!  Awesome and interesting thread.  How did you get on that bridge without getting kicked off by the crew of that CSX train?

The other track was empty, and the track in use (eastbound CSX 515) was waiting under the Norfolk & Western span (see photo 3). I love trains too... I'm getting into train spotting more and more...

They're all going to DIE!!!

 

Unless they go to Hoggy's in Crestview Hills.  Then, they'll be alright.

Good stuff. I'm fascinated by the massive intricacy of railroad bridges.

 

I'd bet the CSX crew were on the radio reporting a trespasser. You probably moved on before the railroad cop(s) arrived. I have yet to have an encounter with CSX police, but some of the NS guys can be particularly nasty (and some are just professional).

 

In July, 1979, Amtrak Catlettsburg was the origin/destination for Amtrak 66/67 The Hilltopper, which ran to/from Washington, DC. If I remember correctly, a bunch of trains were cancelled on October that year, and I think the Hilltopper was one of the casualties.

 

Eastbound the train acquired a sleeper and food service and  ran through to Boston as the Night Owl. I changed trains from the Cardinal to the Hilltopper in Catlettsburg, which involved a six-hour nighttime layover, and spent the night snoozing on a baggage cart on the platform with my duffle bag for a pillow, occasionally waking to the roar of a CSX coal train on the opposite side of the river. Great trip!

 

Hilltopper boarding for departure at 5:15 a.m.; F40 locomotive and two Amfleet coaches:

Oh no, this was pretty much public land. The bridge shots had a dirt road that climbed over the floodwall and went underneath the highway span depicted at the top, and it was adjacent to the tracks (and bridge) at the height of the wall. No conductor could have seen me, since the engines were at least 1/2 mile to the east. The others, with the engine shots, were taken from a street crossing.