Scott Creek Bridge-North, Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad
Why it's listed
Built around 1909 by the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Company, this riveted steel girder bridge crosses Scott Creek in Peach Bottom Township, southern York County, Pennsylvania. Two riveted girders rest on stone abutments on either side of the creek, and the abutments are thought to date from an earlier trestle bridge built when the line was first laid. The bridge replaced an older trestle as the railroad moved away from trestle construction. It is regarded as the only intact small-scale riveted girder bridge on the railroad's York County route. The shortline ran about 77.2 miles between York and Baltimore, giving local merchants and farmers access to the Baltimore market. Because the company had limited revenue, it built economically, using fieldstone, riveted steel and local timber for the ties. Freight traffic declined after World War II, and the section was abandoned in the 1970s. The bridge remains largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the only intact example of a small-scale riveted girder bridge on the railroad's route in York County and that it reflects typical late 19th and early 20th century engineering. It is also linked to the railroad's role in providing a freight connection to Baltimore for southern York County merchants and farmers.
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 95000551, listed May 4, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Maryland and Pennsylvania RR tracks over Scott Cr., W of Watson's Corner and S of PA 851, Peach Bottom Township, Bryansville |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Listed | May 4, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000551 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | C. 1909-1942 |
| Architect / builder | Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Company (builder) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Abandoned for several years; the bridge remains intact, though the track on either side has been removed and sold for scrap. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.74613, -76.34109 (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 95000551.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7436191
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.