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All the United States Washington, D.C. Foundry Branch Trolley Trestle Ruins

Foundry Branch Trolley Trestle Ruins

A derelict bit of transportation infrastructure hidden in the woods.

Washington, D.C.

Added By
Elliot Carter
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  Elliot Carter
  Elliot Carter
An old bicycle has been consumed by a tree on top of one of the piers   Elliot Carter
  Elliot Carter
This bridge has massive amounts of rust on it, do not attempt to walk on the actual trestle.   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Sitting on west end of the trestle looking east,on the concrete pier. Don’t even attempt to try walking on this bridge. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Another shot of the tracks remains leading up to the trestle, from the west side of the structure. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Shot of the track that remains and leads up to the trestle. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Next to the concert pier of the trestle, looking east. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
On the western concrete pier, looking east. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Tracks left on the trestle, looking east from the western concrete pier. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
(2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Shot looking up at the trestle, facing south. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
From the ground below, facing southeast. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Facing southeast. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Under the bridge, looking west. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
  NateG20 / Atlas Obscura User
  samanthanichols70 / Atlas Obscura User
(2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
(2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
(2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Under the bridge, looking east. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Eastern half of the trestle. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Looking north. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Under the bridge, looking west. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
(2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
View from one of the concrete piers. Do not venture out onto the wooden planking   Elliot Carter
  Elliot Carter
  Elliot Carter
  Elliot Carter
Another shot from the eastern concrete pier, looking west down the tracks. Notice the bike that has become of a pet of the tree to the left. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
  Elliot Carter
From the eastern pier looking west down the remaining tracks. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
East concrete pier and trestle, looking west. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Graffiti on the eastern concrete pier. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
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Go for a hike through Glover-Archbold park, just beyond Georgetown University, and you may happen upon this mysterious rusting hulk. The steel pratt-truss bridge floats high overhead and disappears at either end into the camouflage of densely overgrown canopy. On top, a fresh generation of saplings have taken root amidst the rotting 120-year-old timbers.

The bridge is one of the last remaining pieces of the old streetcar system that carried District residents around the city for a century, long before the subway opened. This particular line opened in 1896 and ran from Georgetown into Glen Echo, Maryland, with the 280-foot-long bridge lifting traffic over the valley around the Foundry Branch stream.

The last trolleys ran over the Foundry Branch Trestle in January 1960 and ownership passed to the WMATA subway authority. Over the subsequent decades, the bridge fell into disrepair, and by 2008 the D.C. Preservation League was warning that it is “barely standing with the help of improvised cables.” Following inspections in 2014, the National Park Service and WMATA are currently working to stabilize the trestle and and build a covered walkway underneath in case of falling debris.

Related Tags

Transportation Infrastructure Ruins Abandoned Bridges Parks Industrial

Know Before You Go

The trestle is unstable and not fit for climbing; enjoy it from the safety of ground level.

Community Contributors

Added By

Elliot Carter

Edited By

JayKay, samanthanichols70, exploringwithesch, NateG20

  • JayKay
  • samanthanichols70
  • exploringwithesch
  • NateG20

Published

May 5, 2017

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Sources
  • Any dictionary. "Incase" should be two separate words. "Incase" has a very different meaning.
  • http://www.thehoya.com/bridge-restoration-proposed/
  • https://bridgehunter.com/dc/washington/foundry-branch/
  • http://www.structura-inc.com/rehabgroup/georgetown-pedestrian-bridge
  • https://ggwash.org/view/34932/a-former-trolley-line-could-become-a-walking-and-biking-trail-from-the-palisades-to-georgetown
  • http://www.dcpreservation.org/endangered-places/y2009/
  • http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/24/AR2008062401600.html
Foundry Branch Trolley Trestle Ruins
Foundry Branch Valley Park
Washington, District of Columbia
United States
38.906758, -77.079224
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