Rapallo Viaduct
Encyclopedia
The Rapallo Viaduct is a filled-in former railroad bridge in East Hampton, Connecticut
which carries the Air Line Trail
across Flat Brook.
The bridge was built as part of the New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad's line from New Haven
to Willimantic
, forming part of a more or less direct route between Boston and New York City
. The directness of the route required the railroad to cross several deep ravines, including that of Flat Brook, southeast of East Hampton, via high-level bridges; this one would be named after Charles A. Rapallo
, one of the railroad's directors. When Edward W. Serrell
, then the Chief Engineer of the railroad, set out to design the high iron bridge that would span the valley in about 1870, bridges constructed completely from wrought iron
were still a very new technology. Despite Serrell's experience and high reputation as a bridge builder, he was not able to work out precisely what shape the bridge members should take, and their design was subcontracted to the Phoenix Iron Works
, which was to build the bridge. While the structure was originally intended to carry a double track
, Serrell's apprehensions about the strength of the bridge led him to reduce it to a single track
before completion. Serrell was apparently discharged as Chief Engineer by the time of the bridge's completion in 1873, when he wrote to the Connecticut
railroad commissioners expressing his apprehension over the design and construction of the iron bridges on the line, including the Rapallo and Lyman Viaduct
s. The commissioners had the bridges inspected by James Laurie, an eminent civil engineer
, who pronounced them fit for use.
Although the New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic was completed in 1873, the Panic of 1873
and the high expenses of construction bankrupted it and forced its reorganization as the Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad in 1875. After a few years of attempted competition, it was leased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
in 1879, which was the operator of the viaduct thereafter. By the early 20th Century, the iron viaduct's capacity was inadequate for the New Haven's heavier freight trains, and in 1911, the New Haven submitted to the state railroad commissioners a plan to encase Flat Brook in a culvert and fill in the viaduct. The plan was approved, and from 1912 to 1913, sand was dumped from the tracks over the bridge until the bridge was completely buried. The fill was topped with a layer of cinders, hiding and preserving the viaduct.
Passenger service over the filled viaduct ended by 1937, and the rails were abandoned entirely in 1965. The viaduct was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1986, when the abandoned railroad was opened as a rail trail
. The fill covering it protected it where other iron bridges in the state have been demolished, so that the Rapallo and Lyman viaducts are the only surviving bridges in the state from the first generation of wrought iron bridge construction.
The bridge is still covered in fill, although its largely intact condition was verified in 1979 when a sewer line was buried in the fill. Part of the culvert collapsed in 2007, but was repaired and the fill restored that year.
East Hampton, Connecticut
East Hampton is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,352 at the 2000 census. The town center village is listed as a census-designated place...
which carries the Air Line Trail
Airline State Park
The Airline State Park is a rail trail located in Connecticut.-History:It follows a rail line that was known as the Air Line. It was conceived as a high speed passenger rail line from Boston to New York City, shaving off the old route...
across Flat Brook.
The bridge was built as part of the New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad's line from New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
to Willimantic
Willimantic, Connecticut
Willimantic is a census-designated place and former city located in the town of Windham in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was estimated at 15,823 at the 2000 census. It is home to Eastern Connecticut State University, as well as the Windham Textile and History Museum....
, forming part of a more or less direct route between Boston and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The directness of the route required the railroad to cross several deep ravines, including that of Flat Brook, southeast of East Hampton, via high-level bridges; this one would be named after Charles A. Rapallo
Charles A. Rapallo
Charles Anthony Rapallo was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Anthony Rapallo and Elizabeth Rapallo...
, one of the railroad's directors. When Edward W. Serrell
Edward W. Serrell
Edward Wellman Serrell was a prominent American civil engineer during the mid 19th century. In 1861, during the American Civil War he helped raise a regiment of engineers from New York state, the 1st New York Volunteer Engineer Regiment for the Union Army and was appointed colonel of the...
, then the Chief Engineer of the railroad, set out to design the high iron bridge that would span the valley in about 1870, bridges constructed completely from wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
were still a very new technology. Despite Serrell's experience and high reputation as a bridge builder, he was not able to work out precisely what shape the bridge members should take, and their design was subcontracted to the Phoenix Iron Works
Phoenix Iron Works
The Phoenix Iron Works , located in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, was a significant manufacturer of iron and related products during the 19th century and early 20th century. Phoenix Iron Company was a major producer of cannons for the Union Army during the American Civil War...
, which was to build the bridge. While the structure was originally intended to carry a double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
, Serrell's apprehensions about the strength of the bridge led him to reduce it to a single track
Single track
Single track may refer to:*Road, track or railway only wide enough for one vehicle at a time. See:**Single track **Single track road**Single track **Trail. See:**Bicycle**Motorcycle**Monoski...
before completion. Serrell was apparently discharged as Chief Engineer by the time of the bridge's completion in 1873, when he wrote to the Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
railroad commissioners expressing his apprehension over the design and construction of the iron bridges on the line, including the Rapallo and Lyman Viaduct
Lyman Viaduct
Lyman Viaduct is located over Dickinson Creek and the former Air Line Railroad right-of-way in Colchester, Connecticut.It was built in 1873 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986....
s. The commissioners had the bridges inspected by James Laurie, an eminent civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
, who pronounced them fit for use.
Although the New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic was completed in 1873, the Panic of 1873
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 triggered a severe international economic depression in both Europe and the United States that lasted until 1879, and even longer in some countries. The depression was known as the Great Depression until the 1930s, but is now known as the Long Depression...
and the high expenses of construction bankrupted it and forced its reorganization as the Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad in 1875. After a few years of attempted competition, it was leased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
in 1879, which was the operator of the viaduct thereafter. By the early 20th Century, the iron viaduct's capacity was inadequate for the New Haven's heavier freight trains, and in 1911, the New Haven submitted to the state railroad commissioners a plan to encase Flat Brook in a culvert and fill in the viaduct. The plan was approved, and from 1912 to 1913, sand was dumped from the tracks over the bridge until the bridge was completely buried. The fill was topped with a layer of cinders, hiding and preserving the viaduct.
Passenger service over the filled viaduct ended by 1937, and the rails were abandoned entirely in 1965. The viaduct was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1986, when the abandoned railroad was opened as a rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
. The fill covering it protected it where other iron bridges in the state have been demolished, so that the Rapallo and Lyman viaducts are the only surviving bridges in the state from the first generation of wrought iron bridge construction.
The bridge is still covered in fill, although its largely intact condition was verified in 1979 when a sewer line was buried in the fill. Part of the culvert collapsed in 2007, but was repaired and the fill restored that year.