Web page by Paige Miller

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Paige Miller

The Spring Creek Trestle was formerly a part of the Lehigh Valley Railroad south of Lima, NY. It stands in a remote wooded area, far from any roads. This is a story of how I was fortunate enough to get to see this particular trestle, and you can view my pictures of the trestle! Enjoy!

Background

The Lehigh Valley Railroad mainline through the Rochester, NY area was built beginning 1892. At Rochester Junction, branch lines split off north to Rochester and South to Hemlock. On the Hemlock branch, the line went south through Lima, NY, and then curved west over Spring Creek. This trestle is one of the larger structures on this branch, and was presumably built in 1892. A map of the area made in 1904 shows the railroad crossing Spring Creek south of Lima.

The Lehigh Valley Railroad abandoned this line in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The rails were torn up, and then the trestle and land was sold. Since then, the trestle has remained on private property and is now used apparently to move farm equipment into some of the more remote parts of this area south of Lima. Most people, other than the property owners and their employees, would not get to see the trestle.

As of late 2004, many of the local Lehigh Valley Railroad fans and historians did not even know of the trestle’s existence. Then, as many local railroad fans tried to discover where Atwells was on the Lehigh Valley Railroad Hemlock branch (map) by discussing it on a railroad bulletin board, a longtime resident of the area mentioned that there is a substantial wooden curved trestle, and that it was still in existence, but highly inaccessible. The remark about the trestle was almost a throw-away line, at the end of a very long post about the Lehigh Valley Railroad near Lima, NY. I replied thanking the man for all of that information, plus I added, “I’d love to see that trestle”.

Shortly thereafter, the search shifted — in my mind, and apparently in the minds of others in the discussion — to seeing the trestle. I called the town of Lima, NY historian, and we discussed where Atwells was. I asked her who might be the owner of the property where the trestle was located. She pointed me to a local businessman, who said he didn’t own that particular property, but gave me some names of people who might. I wrote a letter, and a man called saying he owned property near the trestle, and gave me another name. Two more phone calls later, I had spoken to people who owned the land and the adjacent land, and I had permission to enter the property, provided I notified him in advance before I entered the property (sometimes he allows hunters to use his land).

Sunday, February 6, 2005 turned out to be a perfect day. The weather forecast was correct, we were going to have bright sunshine and temperatures in the 40°s (F). Only one thing was missing. I had called the property owner Friday and left a message. No reply. I called his wife at home on Saturday, and again no answer. Sunday morning, I went out on an errand, and came home to find the answering machine had a message: the property owner had called, apologized for not getting back to me sooner, and said it was fine if I entered his property today.

So, I hopped in the car, and soon I was walking along snow covered farm roads towards the trestle. To see what happens next, click here (takes you to the Photo Gallery).