The east end of the Wheeling & Lake Erie is known for its many tunnels and high steel bridges. Probably the best known is Speer trestle over the Monongahela River.
Completed in 1929, Speer is a masterpiece of iron and steel and uniquely was built to house two different rail lines, including the former Pittsburgh & West Virginia on top and the Monessen Southwestern on the lower deck.
The Pennsylvania Railroad objected to this and the lower track was never completed but it makes for a unique design nonetheless. I have caught a coupe trains here over the last few weeks.
The first two pictures are of the Denver & Rio Grande Western pair heading back to Pittsburgh from Connellsville, Pennsylvania.
The last two photographs are of a train heading to Connellsville. The typical operation is a train running Pittsburgh to Connellsville one day and returning the next.
Article and Photographs by Todd Dillon
Tags: bridges, Monongahela River, Railroad bridges, Speer Trestle, Todd Dillon photography, W&LE east end, W&LE locomotives, W&LE motive power, Wheeling & Lake Erie, Wheeling & Lake Erie locomotive power, Wheeling & Lake Erie locomotives
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