#p&le

[railwayhistorical]

Smithfield Street Bridge/Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Station

One of the most historically important bridges in Pittsburgh, this bridge was devised by Gustav Lindenthal; it utilizes a intriguing lenticular design. Built in 1883, it supports tons of traffic to this day. (Since I was sometimes using longer exposures, I had to be conscious of the bridge shaking when buses crossed the span.)

The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad operated from 1875 to 1992 but this wonderful lighted sign continues to shine. The letters are perched on the railroad's station building in Pittsburgh. The edifice was erected in 1898 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Two images by Richard Koenig; taken June 2nd 2026.

[aryburn-trains]

P&LE commuter train passing under the Fort Pitt bridge, June 24, 1985

[20th-century-railroading]

ATSF 999704, Joliet, IL

Santa Fe 999704 was one of 50 class Ce-8's built by International Car Company in 1978.

8-29-1978

[aryburn-trains]

The P&LE Commuter Train lays over for the weekend at Beaver Falls. June 6, 1981

[aryburn-trains]

Near the end of its life, the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie's weekday commuter train to Beaver Falls, PA, behind GP7 1501 is just a couple minutes out of Pittsburgh's P&LE Station as it ducks under a highway bridge over the Ohio River. April 30, 1984

[aryburn-trains]

Beaver Falls, PA April 23, 1983

[aryburn-trains]

Pittsburgh and Lake Erie commuter train from Beaver, PA, or Youngstown, Ohio, arriving at Pittsburgh on an April morning in 1966.

[aryburn-trains]

PLE 1501 at McKees Rocks, PA

Pittsburgh & Lake Erie commuter train came to an end on July 12, 1985.