Moodna Viaduct

Moodna Viaduct
File:Moodna Viaduct 2.jpg A Metro-North Port Jervis Line train crossing the Moodna.
Coordinates
Carries	1 track of Norfolk Southern's Southern Tier Line
Crosses	Moodna Creek
Locale	Salisbury Mills, NY
Maintained by	Metro-North Railroad (owned by Norfolk Southern)
Characteristics
Design	Trestle
Total length	3,200 feet (980 m)
Clearance below	193 feet (59 m)
History
Opened	January 1909

The Moodna Viaduct is an iron railroad trestle spanning Moodna Creek and its valley at the north end of Schunemunk Mountain in Cornwall, New York, near the village of Salisbury Mills.

Significance

The bridge was constructed between 1904 and 1908 by the Erie Railroad as part of the Graham Line and was opened for service in January 1909. The trestle spans the valley for 3,200 feet (975 m) and is 193 feet (59 m) high at its highest point, making it the highest and longest railroad trestle east of the Mississippi River. The open design of the trestle was used to reduce wind resistance and is a major reason why the trestle is still in service today. The viaduct crosses Orrs Mills Road north of the creek and Otter Kill Road south of the creek.

Current use

The viaduct carries Metro-North's Port Jervis commuter line and Norfolk Southern freight trains. The Metro-North Salisbury Mills-Cornwall station sits near the north end of the viaduct. In summer 2007, timber replacement on the viaduct caused delays on the line due to slow orders placed on it, and required that service be halted during weekend days. As of October, 2009, repairs were underway to several of the concrete piers; traffic remains uninterrupted.

It is also a tourist attraction for the small town of Salisbury Mills. Two major roads cross under it, the major one is Orange County Route 20. The viaduct creates a spectacular landscape when viewed from the corner of Orrs Mills Road and Jackson Avenue outside of town, frequently photographed during fall foliage season.

The Moodna Viaduct appears as a prominent feature in the 2007 film Michael Clayton.

File:Moodna Viaduct.jpg

Gallery

• Moodna viaduct across.jpg

  View point across the length of the Moodna Viaduct from one of the ends.

• View from Moodna Viaduct.jpg

  View from Moodna Viaduct looking east.

See also

• List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in New York
• List of Erie Railroad structures documented by the Historic American Engineering Record

External links

• Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. NY-62, "Erie Railway, Moodna Creek Viaduct"
• NJT MNRR Moodna Viaduct on YouTube. Video taken from a train crossing the viaduct.
• Happy 100th Birthday Moodna Viaduct on YouTube. Video taken August 2007 showing the span.
• Moodna Viaduct Filmed with a UAV on YouTube. Drone footage of the Moodna Viaduct.