Manhasset Viaduct

The Manhasset Viaduct (also known as the Manhasset Valley Bridge) is a railroad bridge located between the Village of Thomaston and the Hamlet of Manhasset, on Long Island, in the State of New York. It carries the Port Washington Branch of the Long Island Rail Road.[1]

Manhasset Viaduct
The Manhasset Viaduct, as seen from the Thomaston side, looking northeast.
CarriesThe Port Washington Branch of the Long Island Rail Road
CrossesManhasset Bay
LocaleVillage of Thomaston and Hamlet of Manhasset
OwnerMetropolitan Transportation Authority
Maintained byMetropolitan Transportation Authority
Characteristics
DesignSteel stringer bridge
MaterialSteel
Total length679 feet
Height81 feet
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks1
Track gauge4 feet, 8 1/2 inches (Standard gauge)
ElectrifiedOctober 21, 1913
History
Constructed byKing Bridge Co.
Carnegie Steel Company
OpenedJune 23, 1898

Description

The bridge was completed in 1898, and opened on June 23 of that year, as part of the Port Washington Branch's extension from Great Neck to Port Washington.[2][3] At an average height of 81 feet above the water and measuring 679 feet in length, the bridge is the highest on the entire LIRR network.[2][1] In 1913, the remainder of the Port Washington Branch east of the former split with the former Whitestone Branch was electrified, and thus including the portion over this bridge.[4]

An old photo of the Manhasset Viaduct, looking east towards Manhasset.

The bridge, which is of a steel stringer design, was built by the Cincinnati, Ohio-based King Bridge Company, as well as the Carnegie Steel Company.[3][5]

The Manhasset Viaduct is a significant and vital component of the Port Washington Branch's infrastructure, as it is what enables the line to traverse the Manhasset Valley; the extension to Port Washington required the construction of this crossing.[3]

In addition to crossing Manhasset Bay, the bridge also goes over East Shore Road (on its west end) and Bayview Avenue (on its east end).[5]

See also

References
  1. Keller, David; Lynch, Steven (2005). Revisiting the Long Island Rail Road: 1925-1975. Images of Rail. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738538297.
  2. Seyfried, Vincent F. (1975). "Part Six The Golden Age 1881-1900". The Long Island Rail Road: A Comprehensive History. Long Island: Vincent F. Seyfried. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015.
  3. "LIRR". Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  4. "LIRR Branch Notes". www.trainsarefun.com. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  5. "LIRR - Manhasset Viaduct". Bridgehunter.com. Retrieved 2020-08-13.

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