Railroad Bridge At Hawks Nest - hawksnesttraintrestle197336
by Frank J Benz
Title
Railroad Bridge At Hawks Nest - hawksnesttraintrestle197336
Artist
Frank J Benz
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The CSX Railroad Bridge At Hawks Nest West Virginia
This photo was taken from the Hawks Nest State Park Overlook located a very short distance north of the lodge. This overlooks provides better views of the bridge, river valley and damn as well as being very easily accessible with minimal steps and fully paved walking trails.
Built originally as a C&O Railroad Bridge (Parker through truss bridge architectural style) at Hawks Nest, is about 4.5 miles north on the New River from the New River Gorge Arch Bridge and now used by the CSX Railway. This bridge is in active daily usage by several trains and will likely remain in use for many years to come.
Hawks Nest acquired its name from the very large number of fish hawks that colonized the massive cliffs at this point in the river valley. When the C&O Railroad started blasting operations in preparation for laying the tracks in this area from 1869 to 1873, the hawks left the area and never returned. The curve in the track at Hawks Nest is said to be one of the sharpest of any along the old C&O tracks and usually requires a speed of 10 miles per hour with only a very few others being able to round it at 15 miles per hour.
Just above the bridge, at the Hawks Nest Lodge, is an area known as lovers leap that presents a very nice overlook and view of the railroad bridge and the river valley. This high and very sheer cliff edge is the location of several fabled stories of romantically inspired suicides by those who were not allowed to be with each other due to many family and cultural barriers.
Uploaded
July 22nd, 2019
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