Avon Five Arch Bridge is a historic railroad

arch bridge An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side. A viaduct ...

located at Avon in Livingston County, New York. It was built in 1856–1857 by the Rochester-Avon-Geneseo-Mount Morris Railroad (later

Erie Railroad The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in the northeastern United States, originally connecting New York City — more specifically Jersey City, New Jersey, where Erie's Pavonia Terminal, long demolished, used to stand — with Lake Er ...

). The bridge measures 200 feet long, 12 feet wide, and approximately 30 feet high. It consists of five elliptical arches built of ashlar on

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

piers. The rail line was abandoned in 1941, and the bridge stabilized in 1992. It is located in a public park. ''Note:'' This includes an
''Accompanying photographs''
/ref> The Five Arch Bridge is mentioned in the country song "Big Iron Horses" by Restless Heart (1992). Singer/drummer John Dittrich recounted memories he had as a child, watching trains in Avon, New York with his grandfather. While the song does take liberty with the age of the bridge and the singer's age, he did watch trains with his grandfather in and was a resident of Avon. John likely watched the steam locomotives and trains roll by on the railroad tracks near the bridge. Online interview, February 2021. The bridge was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 2012.

References

Railroad bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state) Bridges completed in 1857 Buildings and structures in Livingston County, New York National Register of Historic Places in Livingston County, New York 1857 establishments in New York (state) Stone arch bridges in the United States Railroad bridges in New York (state) New York State Register of Historic Places in Livingston County {{LivingstonCountyNY-NRHP-stub