Visiting the Starrucca Viaduct – Lanesboro, PA.

As the crow flies it isn’t far from the town of Hancock, New York where I was staying, to the town of Lanesboro, Pennsylvania. That’s where the Starrucca Viaduct is.

In May of 2015 while I was doing the Mason-Dixon 2020 Rally, I missed my chance to visit the bridge as a bonus location because I ran out of daylight hours. Having the time to dillydally on a sunny afternoon was a better way to check it out than snapping a quick photo and then rushing away.

When it first comes in to view, the Viaduct is an arresting sight.

Starrucca Viaduct
Built in 1847-48 by the Erie Railroad, it is the oldest stone railroad bridge in the State in use today. Viaduct is 1040 feet long, 100 feet high, and 25 feet wide at top.”

The arches of the bridge tower over you making you feel ant-sized. Just look how tiny my motorcycle looks! Can you imagine what it’s like to have such an imposing structure looming over your yard? Houses sit in the shadow of the big stone bridge on both sides.

Lovely old thing, the Starrucca Viaduct. I’m glad to see it soldiering on through the centuries.

Photo Credit: ExplorePaHistory.com / The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Operated by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

Fuzzygalore

Rachael is the whimsical writer behind the 20+ year old Girlie Motorcycle Blog. As a freelance blogger, she is on a mission to inspire laughter, self-examination, curiosity, and human connection. Girlie Motorcycle Blog can be found on several Best Motorcycle Blog lists.

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11 Responses

  1. I really admire the workmanship on these old bridges. Knowing that it was all hand tools and hard work that made it happen makes me appreciate the hard work it took to construct these icons

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      It really is a work of art. The pictures don’t do justice to how massive and powerful it seems when you’re standing there.

      When i was walking around some of the arches, i noticed a name chiseled into one of the stones. It wasn’t haphazard, it was very neat, very tidy. I wonder if it was someone who worked on the bridge?

  2. husabob says:

    Impressive structure. Useless Bar Trivia: What was the old motto on PA license plates? Hint: This bridge might contain a few.

  3. husabob says:

    For a while, it was “You’ve Got a Friend in Pennsylvania”. Now it’s a URL.

  4. David Masse says:

    Looks almost exactly like the Roman aqueduct I saw somewhere between Lucca and Pisa on our last trip to Italy.

  5. Shybiker says:

    Wow. Amazing. This reminds me of one of my favorite TV shows which just ended last month, “Hell on Wheels.” It’s about the building of the transcontinental railway in the 19th Century.

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