I was born and raised in Sligo,Pa , a few miles from the trestle and the tunnels. In the mid seventies my friends and I would skip school and go hang out there. The trains were still running and we would hop on the coal hoppers and ride over the Clarion River trestle. Spent many days exploring there back then. We would drive our 4x4 trucks through the tunnels. Great memories for me.
Yeah man I got hornets right in the middle. They were living in the wood... That was fun sprinting down that beam, it's about 2 ft wide. I could see those circumstances definitely killing somebody because once they started buzzing me I just threw all caution (literally) to the wind
I used to go there in the late 80's. There was road/path that would bring you out between the tunnels. I remember the one tunnel was walkable but the other one was not.
Great video bud!!! This place is definitely on my bucket list just haven't made it out that wY yet. That water running looked like mine drainage you see over here. Looked like you basically had the place to yourself
I have had it on my list for 3 years along with a few other sites along the Armstrong Trail... figured I would need my bike to hit it correctly and in a timely fashion. All in due time (although the natural aspect of it will now be much lesser due to the revamping by the trail gang this past year).
If you ever want to come back to these tunnels, myself and a few friends have got the southern tunnel 90% drained and the northern tunnel 50% drained and I am still working on it currently.
Holy cow, someone else has my idea! I was just working on the northern tunnel last weekend! I get sketched out by all the posted signs but there’s no other way to get to it unless deck ties are replaced on the bridge, which I plan to also start working on. This stuff needs saved! Maybe I’ll see you there some day!
I realize this is over 2 years old but one correction the third tunnel is not in Cranberry township near Pittsburgh but the town of Cranberry near Franklin. It's called the Mays Hill tunnel
Love the video and fond memories of when I lived in Clarion. We went to the trestle often. I can say with certainty that the trains were running as late as 1986, maybe even 87. Nothing like being out on that thing at night (after more than a few beers) and hearing the rails start to sing as the train approached. We used to wave to the engineers as they went by.
I think this was New York Central. It started at Polk in Venago County. I partially crossed the bridge over the Allegheny River when it was still an active railroad in the 1960's.
I have vhs..walking video of the trestle and tunnels...there is a track that ran up to clarion dam....also track and ties were there in the 90s....I live 3 miles from the trestle
Maybe you can offload them to digital and make a movie of your adventure. It would be great to see. My younger brother and I did a "Blair Witch" style film on VHS back in the day.
Just randomly stumbled across your video while looking at other trestle videos. My friends and I used to drive our lifted trucks through flooded tunnel #2 and across the trestle. Proud to say none of that graffiti came from us and we just liked to explore and appreciate historic things such as this. Thanks for the great video and bringing back memories. 🙂
Just went to check out tunnel #2 for my first time last weekend. I am saddened to say it has suffered a major collapse about midway through, probably due to all the water inside. I had a shovel with me to try and dig away some debris at the portal so it could drain some, I want to get inside lol
Before that collapse of which you speak, I actually packed some hip waders and entered from the trestle side. Already half way through the water was too deep so I had to turn back. @@Lakeshoretrains
Hi Scott. One thing keeps crossing my mind while watching your videos. At times you seem to be in prime snake habitat. How often - if at all - do you run across any of the venomous reptiles that are home to our Commonwealth? I spent a few years as a PA Park Ranger and it wasn't odd to run across them on a daily basis. Just curious. Thanks again for another awesome production!
When I go into the deep woods or really abandoned locations I ALWAYS see snakes. Rarely do I get blessed enough to see a Timber Rattler and I am usually in the vehicle driving, just to stop and take a picture. Along the waterways and around the skunk cabbages I often see the copperheads, usually the young ones. I have NEVER come across an Eastern Massasauga, probably because they are endangered and only found in Crawford/Mercer/Venango counties. As with all walks of nature I follow keen rules... if you come across a wild animal, 1. Let it know you are there, 2. Keep your distance for observation, 3. Do NOT interfere with the animal in ITS home area. So when I cross logs I use my stick/pole/foot to hit the log and let the snakes know I am there (never just walk over a log). Even when you run into black bear, you just need to let it know you are there and then tell it to move out of your way because you are just passing through. The animals in PA, unless rabid, are really timid and like to keep their distance. That is of course with the exception of all these Disneyfied idiots who think you can go pet them, feed them, or get a selfie with them... in which case my belief is; Let Nature Take its Course.
@@ODDySEEy those are some excellent rules to follow while out in Nature's homeland! Many times I'll be forced out of the water while fishing for some reason or other and wind up in dense brush and downed trees with Lord knows what lurking about. Only twice did I come across a copperhead. And I never under estimate the value of carrying a good hiking staff! Oh, I forgot to mention a good telephoto lens for the camera to help keep your distance from those critters you're documenting on film. Thanks again, Scott!
I think someone goes out and if the ties are too far gone, they either remove them or drop them. Most people who go out walk the beams anyway... even when on the ties, staying above the beams is a "smarter" option.
Awesome video scott..one of the best historic and most scenic informative videos ..I had to watch it two times so I didnt miss anything..your the best!!
I had to go back a couple of times and shoot more video because I kept getting caught up in how epic this site was. There was a certain grandeur of the site that I tried really hard to capture. My video still does not fully give you how awesome this site is.
Hey hey you git off my cloud. I respect.jest ret. Mil.all cousins in Pennsylvania, state. And NY. State,I am the last of my family.i liven thru these stories,dony have money to traivel, okay.
First off... reading that HURT MY EARS. But hey, I hope you continue to enjoy these locations. I make these vids for those who cannot go there anymore and for others who are too far away to get there. :)
Love the music too as you enter the tunnel. Man, I couldn't get my foot on that trestle, you're brave. Andddd there's beams missing...egads man! That drone footage is amazing! My drone would have lost a signal in that tunnel! Awesome golden hour there!
The art is when I can get you to feel what I felt while out on the site visit as best as possible... so thank you for confirming it worked :) And of course, for watching the channel. (and yes... I had vertigo multiple times while up there and started to rethink my walk)
@@ODDySEEy I was going to say when I went I got to over the water and went full chicken turned around but if there is another tunnel across the river I might walk over or swim across lol
Cool video! I loved the drone shots. You should check out Salisbury and Keystone Viaducts in Somerset County near Meyersdale. They are part of the Great Allegheny Passage. I remember trains going across them when I was a kid.
@@ODDySEEy Scott, it would be great when you get down my way to go out with you. Maybe the Cornwall Iron Furnace, or something near the Lebanon. I am glad I came across your page/station. I believe the first video I saw was the White Lady of Buckhorn Mountain.
Extraordinary! Your history, walking tour and drone footage (with accompaniment) make for a wonderful virtual adventure. Amazing to see the many structural components and details involved when those old trestles were erected and riveted together, riveting indeed. Just east in Brookville PA is another short tunnel with a small trestle at each portal. The west portal joins Redbank Valley Trail and crosses Redbank Creek. Recall the old tunnel is less than 500 feet passing under S. White Street/PA36 and was lined with 3 layers of red brick. The east portal is adjacent to Miller Fabrication (welding equipment & supplies manufacturer) and the trestle crosses Sandy Lick Creek (one of 2 streams forming Redbank Creek). On the south end of Brookville, little ol' Redbank Creek loops around the hill, rare to find the same creek at both portals of a tunnel. No much history but a quirky railroad engineering feat.
Great video! My now wife, froze out on the middle of that bridge back when we were dating. You have the history of the local bridges, rail lines, and tunnels transposed. I hate to be that guy, but if history is going to be stated, it should be correct. First, Tunnel 1 of this former New York Central/Penn Central/Conrail line is in Cranberry Twp., Venango County at Mays Mill, not the Cranberry Twp. north of Pgh. As far as the history of the bridge being in disrepair and the railroad abandoning it because the residents of Clarion wouldn't pay for the repairs, that history is a completely different bridge and line than this one. This line never went "into" Clarion. The "residents repair" bridge WAS a B&O line into Clarion Borough that crossed the Clarion River farther upsteam, close to the current US322 bridge. You can find B&O Drive on the west bank of the river off of RT322, which is part of the former right of way. The B&O crossed the river on an S-shaped bridge near the mouth of Trout Run on the east bank and wrapped the hillside into Clarion to end in the area of Greenville Ave. near Clarion University. The B&O abandoned THAT bridge and discontinued rail service to Clarion. In return, some Clarion and other local residents created and built what would become the Lake Erie, Franklin, and Clarion RR from a connection with the Pennsylvania RR in Summerville, PA. I actually think that this bridge was abandoned later than 1984 as the Piney Power Plant (not the dam) was still receiving rail service into the mid 90s, and the bridge was used for headroom for the train to switch cars in and out. The mid to late 80s DOES sound correct for the abandonment of this line from here to the west to Jefferson, OH (Carson) though. For interest, parts of a fairly recent movie was filmed in Tunnel 3, as well as the Climax Tunnel on the same mentioned Pennsy line. The movie is "Be Afraid", and you could find it here on RU-vid for free. Not sure if it is still here or not.
Thank you for 1. Being nice on clarification and disseminating potential historical information that I may have gotten wrong. If you are gonna a be that guy, YOU did it the right way (with proper discourse and validation of your opinion). 2. My information is gleaned from documented public record which is normally correct and accurate because it is backed in money. That said, the backed in money usually has a political tie that is equally backed in someones "interpretation" which can lead to manipulated data (that I typically pride myself on catching and tearing apart, but it doesn't always work that way). YOU, sir, are considered a Friend and Benefactor to the mission of my channel. Thank You! Please keep on watching and keep that mind open, yet skeptical when needed.
I grew up in that area been there plenty of times but never had the guts to walk across it! In 2002 my boyfriend who at the time was only 18 fell from it landed just before the water he fell 60ft he was drunk and stumbled right off the edge got some serious head trauma and a helicopter ride out of it he's lucky to be alive every time he talks about it my guts wrench what a nightmare!
I read about that in my research. Sad story. :( Not having the guts to cross is not a bad thing... matter of fact, all my family members did not hesitate to tell me how stupid it was for me to cross. But here is my view on it. I like to conquer my fears... and when life gives you an opportunity to take a hard way or an easy way with a promise the hard way will show you things you could never imagine... I always take the hard way. But that is not for everyone. (hence why I do this channel ;) )
Great work. Beautiful scenery. Future plans were to possibly double track it in case traffic expanded. I see a lot of vehicular traffic has been on the bridge in the past.
Yes, the Brandywine Viaduct. It was.one of my first trestle crossings 20 years ago when I lived back down that way. As time and more so money, permits... I will be hitting SEPA and NEPA.
One other thought (this video made me remember)…you need some merch (clothing specifically) that says “It’s a hole…” Put a caricature of you next to a big ol hole and you got another winner!
Yet another masterpiece, Scott!! Anyone who clicks dislike on your videos needs to be punched in the mouth. This is one of my favorites and I’ve been watching since video #1. Keep rockin bro!
I will add attribution to the artists next time, that way you can look them up. Not all of their music is that good IMHO, but the ones I picked up from them touched me.
It was so much more beautiful to be there than what can be captured in 4k. The smells, the wind, the vertigo... it was really a neat place that I will eventually go back to.
