Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad

In December of 2016, Big Ben Wells and I once again teamed up for a few days of train chasing in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Thanks to a tip from railfan friend Jon Clark, we wandered up the back roads north of Kittanning, Pa, to find the Moss Grove Bridge -- a skinny, lean, single-track structure that spans the Allegheny River. It was an overcast and chilly December day, and we waited on the shoreline of the river for nearly an hour for train RIBT to make its appearance over the water. Despite the fact that river camps abound along the shores of the Allegheny, no one was around in early December. Ghost-town. Soon the silence was broken by the rumble of unison EMD 645 prime movers, and RIBT appeared on the horizon: inching its way across the narrow high bridge with four C-C motors on the point, a dead-in-tow Tunnel motor in trail, and an impressive daily westbound manifest full of boxcars, covered hoppers, and plenty of general black tankers. It was an impressive sight, the crew taking their time with the restrictive speed orders over the aging structure. As friend and engineer Jon Clark later pointed out, "You think it looks narrow from the shoreline ... You should see that bridge from the cab!" No doubt. Even so, what a great railfan spot, watching the B&P ply the legendary Allegheny waters. Thanks for the tip, Jon.