A friend and I have been taking short trips to railfan the CSX Keystone Subdivision the last year or so.

On our first visit we marveled at the Salisbury and Keystone Viaducts. At that time, only the Salisbury Viaduct had been converted into a walkable bridge.

During our last visit, just a few days ago, we were coming into Keystone and noticed the Keystone Viaduct is getting the same treatment as the Salisbury Viaduct.

The work was not finished yet, but one of the piers on the girder portion was removed and a double length girder replaced two other sections. This allows the road benieth the bridge to go straight instead of curving around the piers. On top, there is a brand new concrete walk way with handrails.

We were surprised to see this being done. On our last visit just four months ago, nothing was being done. We havn't even heard anything about it on the internet.

altoona_east@railfanusa.com

> A friend and I have been taking short trips
> to railfan the CSX Keystone Subdivision the
> last year or so.

> Keystone Viaduct is getting the same
> treatment as the Salisbury Viaduct.

> The work was not finished yet, but one of
> the piers on the girder portion was removed

> We were surprised to see this being done. On
> our last visit just four months ago, nothing
> was being done. We havn't even heard
> anything about it on the internet.

What you saw was part of the coming Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. Trail. The trail is also intended to be on the same roadbed with the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.

At Keystone Viaduct, two piers have been removed and a new girder assembly replaces three spans, allowing a harsh "dog leg" in the road beneath to be straightened. The girders appear to have the same cross section as the ones they replaced, but the new girders won't support railroad track if some entity ever chooses to exercise the option in the Rails-to-Trails law and tries to put track on the former WM right of way.


bruceman@stargate.net