Skip to main content
Carrollton Viaduct
Society
Main Category
Sub Category
Era
Date Created
Location Country
us
Coordinates
39.275417, -76.654889
Address1
Gwynns Falls
City
Baltimore
State
Country

The Carrollton Viaduct over Gwynn's Falls was the first masonry railroad viaduct constructed in the United States. This structure proved the feasibility of using a viaduct to transport railway vehicles across wide and deep valleys.

The concept for the viaduct came from international research. Three engineers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers went to England to observe construction methods for British railways. They were impressed with the heavy masonry construction they witnessed and brought their knowledge to the Carrollton Viaduct project. The success of this project led to the construction of many masonry railroad viaducts throughout the nation.

The structure is 312 feet long and rises over 51 feet above the waterway. The arch has an 80-foot span. A temporary heavy timber structure, called centering, was first built to support the massive stone voussoirs of the arch until they were keyed and could support themselves.  

"The effect was like when a barrier is removed from the channel of a clogged-up river; the tremendous pressure on the surface thoroughfares was at once relieved and movement became free and accelerated to a degree that has never been witnessed by the pre
Image Credit
Public Domain (National Park Service)
Image Caption
Carrollton Viaduct

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support America's only magazine of the history of engineering and innovation, and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to Invention & Technology.

Donate

Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.