Picture Of The Day – Harlan’s History: THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD FIRST TRAIN CROSSING OF TOWNSEND’S INLET

Picture Of The Day – Harlan’s History: THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD FIRST TRAIN CROSSING OF TOWNSEND’S INLET

THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD FIRST TRAIN CROSSING OF TOWNSEND’S INLET
This early undated photograph shows the Pennsylvania Railroad’s crossing of Townsend’s Inlet, with a steam locomotive traveling across the wooden trestle bridge that once connected Sea Isle City to Seven Mile Island. In the foreground, several small coastal homes and the “Inlet Hotel Stables” stand on sandy ground in the fishing village of Townsend’s Inlet. The bridge seen here was one of several replacements built after earlier versions washed out due to storms and strong tidal currents. The Pennsylvania Railroad ultimately rebuilt the line with a long horseshoe-shaped curve supported by wooden pilings and steel draw spans to better withstand the inlet’s powerful waters.

This very early but undated photo features Pennsylvania Railroad’s crossing of Townsend’s Inlet. This particular railroad crossing was plagued right from the outset by tidal currents and frail bridge construction. The line departed from a little fishing village called Townsend’s Inlet at the southern end of Sea Isle City.

The first rail bridge to Seven Mile Island, serving both Avalon and Stone Harbor, was built in 1889 and actually washed out during a storm in the first year of service. The railroad replaced that original bridge and it washed out yet again.

The Pennsylvania Railroad Company rebuilt the bridge into Avalon once more by constructing a long horseshoe sweeping curve that first stretched west and then east in order to minimize the effect of the destructive tidal water currents. Wooden pilings were used to support the track and steel construction was employed at the draw spans at each end of the bridge to accommodate boat traffic.

Can you imagine making that first crossing?! Would you have trusted the tracks?