PA Historic Places

Exploring the Tunkhannock Viaduct in Wyoming County

If you’re looking for information about the Tunkhannock Viaduct in Wyoming County, you’re in the right place!

According to the World Record Academy, the Tunkhannock Viaduct is the world's largest concrete railroad bridge. — According to the World Record Academy, the Tunkhannock Viaduct is the world’s largest concrete railroad bridge.

The Tunkhannock Viaduct is the largest concrete railroad bridge in the world, towering 240 feet above Tunkhannock Creek and the borough of Nicholson below.

Measuring 2,375 feet long and 240 feet tall (when measured from the creek bed), The Tunkhannock Viaduct was the largest concrete structure in the world when completed in 1915.

A magnet for tourists since the day it was completed in 1915, what follows is a brief history of this massive bridge, as well as information on visiting the bridge today.

The Tunkhannock Viaduct became a tourist attraction in the golden age of automobile travel. — The Tunkhannock Viaduct became a tourist attraction in the golden age of automobile travel (public domain image).

History of the Tunkhannock Viaduct

500 men worked 24 hours a day from May 1912 to November 1915 to build the Tunkhanock Viaduct.

500 men worked 24 hours a day from January 1913 to November 1915 to build the Tunkhanock Viaduct. — 500 men worked 24 hours a day from January 1913 to November 1915 to build the Tunkhanock Viaduct (public domain image).

The bridge was built by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad (DL&W) as part of its Nicholson Cut-off project.

The Tunkhannock Viaduct was built by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad (DL&W) between 1912 and 1915.

This project was designed to shorten the DL&W main rail line from Scranton, Pennsylvania to Binghamton, New York and remove some steeper grades along the route, thereby improving speed and efficiency for the railroad.

The Tunkhannock Viaduct was built built to shorten the DL&W main rail line from Scranton, Pennsylvania to Binghamton, New York.

The Tunkhannock Viaduct was constructed using over 1140 tons of steel and 167,000 cubic yards of concrete.

The viaduct is composed of 12 arches, with one arch at each end being totally buried by backfilled rocks and soil.

The Tunkhannock Viaduct is composed of twelve arches, with one arch at each end being totally buried by backfilled rocks and soil.

All of the piers supporting the bridge were sunk to bedrock roughly 100 feet below the surface, so that nearly half of the bulk of the bridge is underground.

The bridge derives its name from Tunkhannock Creek, the body of water it spans.

The Tunkhannock Viaduct is also known as the Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct, the creek the bridge spans in Wyoming County Pennsylvania. — The Tunkhannock Viaduct is also known as the Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct, the creek the bridge spans in Wyoming County.

The Tunkhannock Viaduct is also known as the Nicholson Bridge because of the small Pennsylvania borough where it is located.

The Tunkhannock Viaduct is owned today by Norfolk Southern Railway, and is still used daily for regular freight service.

Visiting the Tunkhannock Viaduct

The “official” place to view the bridge from is the Tunkhannock Viaduct Park along Route 11 in Nicholson.

The Tunkhannock Viaduct Park along Route 11 in Nicholson Pennsylvania. — The Tunkhannock Viaduct Park along Route 11 in Nicholson.

The park is located along the southbound land of Route 11 just outside of Nicholson.

You can “unofficially” view the bridge from just about anywhere around Nicholson, including this vantage point along Farnham Road, just east of Nicholson.

The Tunkhannock Viaduct was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 due to its national architectural, engineering and transportation significance.

This hilltop cemetery west of town is another vantage point where the massive scale of the bridge becomes apparent.

The Tunkhannock Viaduct is visible from nearly everywhere in Nicholson, including this hilltop cemetery.

Since 1990, Nicolson has celebrated its historic landmark on the second Sunday of September with “Nicholson Bridge Day”, complete with live music, an arts and crafts fair, and plenty of food vendors.

Tunkhannock Viaduct historical marker along Route 11 in Nicholson Pennsylvania. — Tunkhannock Viaduct historical marker along Route 11 in Nicholson.

An architectural marvel and testament to human ingenuity – take time to check out the Tunkhannock Viaduct in Wyoming County if you find yourself passing through northeastern PA!

Viewing the Tunkhanock Viaduct and Tunkhannock Creek from Farnham Road just east of the bridge.

Nearby Attractions

Little Rocky Glen Preserve in Wyoming County is a 26-acre nature preserve encompassing a stunning gorge along the South Branch of Tunkhannock Creek.

A collage highlighting the scenic beauty of Little Rocky Glen Preserve in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. The top left image shows a picturesque waterfall flowing over layered rocks, with autumn leaves scattered across the scene. The top right photo captures swirling foam patterns in the creek, bordered by rugged, moss-covered rock formations and vibrant fall foliage. In the bottom left, a hiker in a red sweatshirt stands admiring the view along the South Branch of Tunkhannock Creek, surrounded by natural rock layers and colorful autumn leaves. The bottom right image displays the preserve's trailhead sign, inviting visitors to explore the peaceful forested trails within this 26-acre nature preserve.

Vosburg Neck State Park in Wyoming County, comprised of 669 acres, is located along a dramatic oxbow in the Susquehanna River, near Tunkhannock.

A collage of four photos showcasing Vosburg Neck State Park in Wyoming County, PA, featuring a scenic river view with autumn foliage, a forest trail with a wooden bench surrounded by fallen leaves, a picnic table near the Susquehanna River with colorful hills in the background, and the park’s entrance sign framed by greenery and trees.

PA’s Top Railroad-Themed Attractions | A Visitor’s Guide highlights the best train rides in Pennsylvania, railroad museums, model railroads, and historic rail sites across Pennsylvania, all based on my firsthand visits.

A collage showing 4 of the best railroad-themed attractions in Pennsylvania, including the East Broad Top Railroad, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, and the Horseshoe Curve.

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