Eastbound Cardinal passing under the New River Gorge Bridge, 2014.
Color digital image showing the eastbound Cardinal (Chicago-New York) passing under the New River Gorge Bridge near Fayetteville, W.Va.
- Digital Image Details
-
- Date Archived:
- June 5, 2014
- Geography:
- South
- Decade:
- 2010s
- Data Format:
- Image
- Route:
- Cardinal
- Date Created:
- May 4, 2014
- Download the full-sized version of this photo
The New River Gorge Bridge, opened in 1977, carries U.S. Route 19 over the New River. It remains the longest steel span in the western hemisphere and the third highest in the United States. Passengers aboard the Cardinal may catch a glimpse of the bridge as the train travels between the Montgomery and Thurmond stations.
During "Bridge Day," which takes place every October, the bridge is opened to pedestrians. Attendees can participate in various activities, including breathtaking views, BASE jumping, rappelling and live music. In 2013, the bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its engineering achievement.
In this image, the Cardinal is led by P-42 locomotive No. 204. General Electric built approximately 200 P-42 locomotives for Amtrak, and they entered service between 1996 and 2001. Used in long-distance and corridor services, they have 4250 horsepower and can reach a top speed of 110 mph.
Photographer: Chuck Gomez for Amtrak. From the Amtrak Corporate Collection.
