South Road Bridge, Northern Central Railway
Why it's listed
Built around 1871 by the Northern Central Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, this masonry arch bridge carries the Northern Central Railway over a small runoff that feeds the south branch of the Codorus Creek near Larue in York County. The arch is formed of five header courses of brick, while the spandrels are cut stone, and the deck was filled with ground before the ties and rails were laid. It is one of only two bridges on the line that combine stone and brick in their construction, the other being Bridge 634 in Shrewsbury Township, which is much larger and crosses both a roadway and the Codorus Creek. The structure was built during a widening of the route to lay a second set of tracks between Baltimore and York, financed by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It is one of four bridges remaining from that period on the railway, and its masonry arch is unusual among the girder bridges common in York County. Freight and excursion trains still use it.
Significance in brief: The bridge is one of only two masonry arch bridges on the line that combine stone and brick in their construction. It displays a method of construction the nomination describes as uncommon on York County's railroads, where simple girder bridges are most often seen. It is one of four bridges remaining on the railway from the 1871 period and is in very good condition with its integrity retained.
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 95000549, 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 unnamed cr. at S. Br., Codorus Cr., Springfield Township, Larue |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Listed | May 4, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000549 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | C. 1871 - 1942 |
| Architect / builder | Northern Central Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad (builder) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The bridge and the railroad are still in use today for the periodic movement of freight and train excursions. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.82071, -76.76047 (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 95000549.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7568340
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.