Cool structure now used as a pedestrian bridge across the water. Cool piece of history

Wow. What an experience to be able to see this and to walk on!

This is a pretty cool place to walk around and check out.

The Railroad Lift Bridge catches your attention immediately. It’s a unique structure and the fact that it’s covered in rust makes it look even more impressive. We were trying to figure out what it was and how it might have been used. Turns out it was a railroad lift bridge built in 1023 over the C&O Canal and acted as an elevator lifting the railroad tracks up so the boats on the canal could go under it. The old plant where the tracks used to go to still stands and you can see it not too far from the bridge, behind Lockhouse 44. It is awesome that they added a staircase to the bridge so you can now go up and walk across to the other side of the canal – plus examine this really cool structure closer. I read that a few years back the NPS ran tours on a replica canal launch boat that went under the bridge, over the water aqueduct, and you could visit the Lock and Loch House 44. I definitely hope they will bring that tour back! This whole area makes for a really lovely visit. Highly recommend!

Love this place