Pennsylvania Railroad District
Also known as: Conrail:Little Juniata River Bridges and Tunnels,Spruce Cree
Why it's listed
Ten stone arch railroad bridges, two parallel tunnels and the connecting right-of-way form a 5.15-mile railroad district in northwestern Huntingdon County, between Spruce Creek and Birmingham. The Pennsylvania Railroad built the line through the mountain ridges along the Little Juniata River, where the terrain forced the track to cross the river repeatedly and pass through Tussey Mountain. The bridges were constructed of stone ashlar in multiple semi-circular arches, replacing earlier iron deck truss and deck girder structures, and between 1886 and 1963 many were strengthened or widened with concrete and steel. The first tunnel, 1151 feet long, was built in 1850 for a single track, and a second 1075-foot tunnel was added in 1900 during the four-tracking of the main line. The district is regarded as an engineering achievement and as a key link in rail transportation between Philadelphia and the west.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to be significant for engineering, since the railroad's route followed the Little Juniata River through mountain ridges and required many river crossings and tunnels. It is also argued to be significant for its role as an important transportation link between Philadelphia and Altoona and Pittsburgh.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90000393, listed March 20, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Conrail mile markers 213.73 to 218.88, Spruce Creek |
|---|---|
| County | Huntingdon County |
| Listed | March 20, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000393 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1850-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Pennsylvania Railroad |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The two tunnels are in use, with the 1850 tunnel carrying a single eastbound track and the 1900 tunnel a single westbound track. |
| Acreage | 50 |
| Coordinates | 40.61318, -78.15160 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90000393.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7164041
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.