Coal is a big part of PA's history, and where there is coal there are trains. Where trains cross rivers, there are bridges. Where rivers cut wide valleys between big hills, there are big viaducts to carry trains and impress tourists:
We saw three of these massive structures, including the oldest active railroad bridge in the state, historic Starrucca Viaduct in Lanesboro. Perhaps the most amazing this about these enormous structures is the nonchalance with which they are treated; Starrucca is 150 years old and a significant engineering feat because of it, but it's just a bridge in some guy's back yard - literally - in a rural town. It struck us as odd that this structure should be an annoyance for a property owner to mow around, but when history takes the shape of a 110' tall stone tower in your backyard I guess it is a hassle. It wasn't a hassle for us, as we made a day out of it with a rented telephoto lens and a great soup and salad dinner in Clark's Summit.
In other news, trains:coal::Michigan:bad-at-football. I watched part of this online and then caught the rest later on TV. It was sad. It's hard to watch a team struggle so much at the line of scrimmage, and I find myself not looking forward to what might happen after the Penn State game next Saturday or even what might happen tomorrow morning when I have to go to work.
Sunday, October 12, 2008