Bridge 182+42, Northern Central Railway
Why it's listed
Built around 1871 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, this single-span masonry arch bridge carries the Northern Central Railway over Route 616 and Codorus Creek in Shrewsbury Township. The arch uses rectangular granite voussoirs resting on granite imposts, with larger step-cut brownstone voussoirs set above them. Limestone ashlar forms the spandrels and abutments, and a projecting string course runs above the crown. The bridge was built during the widening of the line to lay a second set of tracks between Baltimore and York. It is one of four surviving bridges from that 1871 work, and few masonry arch railroad bridges remain in southern York County. The line linked farmers and merchants of southern and eastern York County to Baltimore and Philadelphia markets. The structure remains in use for freight and excursion trains and is described as being in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is one of only a few masonry arch railroad bridges in southern York County and one of four surviving bridges from the 1871 reworking of the line. It is said to be closely comparable to two other arch bridges on the same route. The line's role in linking southern and eastern York County to Baltimore and Philadelphia markets is also cited.
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 95000542, listed May 4, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Northern Central RR tracks over PA 616 and Codorus Cr., Shrewsbury Township, Glen Rock |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Listed | May 4, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000542 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1871 - 1942 |
| Architect / builder | Pennsylvania Railroad (builder) |
| Architectural style | Masonry Arch Bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use for freight movement and train excursions; the document states it is in good condition with historic integrity intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.77757, -76.72341 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 95000542.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4966198
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.