Eldred Pennsylvania Allegany River Bentons Bridge PS&N Cut Railroad 1910 Real Photo Postcard
The Pittsburgh, Shawmut & Northern Railroad (PS&N), often referred to simply as the Shawmut, was a significant regional railroad operating primarily in western Pennsylvania and southern New York from the late 19th century through the first half of the 20th century. This image captures a "cut" along the Allegheny River near Benton's Bridge in Eldred, Pennsylvania, a common engineering practice to create a level grade for tracks through challenging topography. The presence of a steam shovel indicates construction likely occurred in the early 1900s, during an intensive period of railway expansion.
The PS&N played a crucial role in transporting coal, lumber, and other industrial products, connecting resource-rich areas to markets and contributing to the region's economic development. Projects like this river-side cut demonstrate the era's ambition and the technological advancements in heavy construction. The steam shovel, a marvel of early 20th-century engineering, revolutionized earthmoving, allowing for the rapid and efficient creation of the vast rail networks that underpinned American industrial growth.
The PS&N played a crucial role in transporting coal, lumber, and other industrial products, connecting resource-rich areas to markets and contributing to the region's economic development. Projects like this river-side cut demonstrate the era's ambition and the technological advancements in heavy construction. The steam shovel, a marvel of early 20th-century engineering, revolutionized earthmoving, allowing for the rapid and efficient creation of the vast rail networks that underpinned American industrial growth.
