Times Observer file photo The Kinzua Dam was once proposed as the tourist attraction at the end of a scenic railway connecting the dam to Warren.

Such is the case in this story we found in the archives of the Warren County Historical Society — from July 1, 1969, Warren Times-Mirror and Observer — that proposed saving a bridge constructed for the construction of the Kinzua Dam as a key element of a scenic railway.

Now, we’re not implying that this is a bad idea at all. Just an interesting one, made more interesting by the fact it didn’t pan out.

And, in all fairness, it’s more practical than the half-mile suspension proposed in a county task force report a while back. Interestingly, there are two things that bring these two stories (railway and suspension bridge) together? Bridges and the Warren County Commissioners.

Here’s the headline: “County Tries to Save $40,000, Keep Bridge for ‘Scenic Railway.'”

Times Observer file photo The Kinzua Dam was once proposed as the tourist attraction at the end of a scenic railway connecting the dam to Warren.

“The Warren County Commissioners have taken action to save the taxpayers $40,000, and are continuing their study of a reasonable attraction which would bring millions in tourist dollars to Kinzua Country, according to information released by Commissioner Blain Mead yesterday,” the article states.

‘Millions’ seems a bit ambitious but hear Mead out:

“Mead said that there is a plan to inaugurate a ‘Scenic Railway’ from the Allegheny Hotel at Glade Bridge to the east bank of the Allegheny River below Kinzua Dam,” the report states. “The project has been under study for several years, Mead said, but the plan could not be finalized until the power plant project was completed.

“The matter has suddenly become urgent, he said, because the word has been received from Col. Wayne Nichols of the Corps of Engineers in Pittsburgh that demolition work will start on the bridge on July 15. It has been estimated that this demolition will cost the taxpayers $40,000, Mead said. The bridge was built two years ago to serve the power plant during construction and was to be demolished after serving its purpose.”

The commissioners, at this point, had two weeks to save the bridge. Given the fact that the bridge isn’t there — and there are no scenic railways — it’s safe to say that the effort was futile.

Photo courtesy of the Warren County Historical Society/Times Observer file photo Above, this photo, from the July 1, 1969, Warren Times-Mirror and in the archive of the Warren County Historical Society, shows a bridge that was proposed as a focal point of a scenic railway once construction of the power plant was complete.

“Mead said that the Warren County Chamber of Commerce, the Kinzua Dam Vacation Bureau and E. Kent Kane, McKean County planning director, and the Warren County planning commission, have already written to the Corps in support of the proposed project and asking that demolition action be delayed until the study has been completed and until an engineering and insurance appraisal can be made to determine its continued sustainability as a rail carrier and its insurability.”

This gets at one question that we had when we first saw the headline — Was a temporary bridge built to permanent bridge specifications? Was it built to last 50 years?

“Commissioner Mead has been advised by the Pennsylvania Electric Company that it looks with favor on the proposed tourist attraction but that it is hampered in its efforts to save the bridge from demolition since this was the stipulation in its contract for the power plant. The Pennsylvania Electric Company has stated that they will cooperate with the Corps of Engineers in the Big Bend overlook project below the dam as well as with the scenic railway plan because they want to make the power plant available as a tourist attraction.”

A noble goal and we’ve often wondered why that area isn’t more developed. We suspect it’s now an issue of a lack of capital but we’ve heard about other proposals (a resort!) that failed for one reason or another.

“Mead said that the scenic railway will serve the public’s recreation needs in more than one way and will solve a serious travel problem on the township-owned road up the west bank of the river and on Rt. 59.”

There isn’t a ton of parking on Hemlock and the Forest Service has had issues that have prompted them to restrict shore camping just downstream from the dam. Does what is essentially a transport service mitigate any of that? We’re not sure, but the proposal was more utilitarian than the ‘scenic railway’ moniker would suggest.

“Flatcars would be provided on the train to haul fishermen and their boats to an embarking point below the dam, Mead said. Tourists would ride passenger cars to enjoy the beauty of the ride up the scenic valley, and to see the dam from the lower side — probably the most impressive view in all of Kinzua Country, he said. Finally, the passengers could tour the power plant, which is the largest one of its kind in the area. It has even been proposed, Mead said, that an elevator or a lift be provided to take passengers to the top of the dam to make the tour of the interior of the dam, to return to the waiting train for the trip back to the Allegheny Hotel. The federal fish hatchery would also be available to the tourists when completed. Mead said the train would provide scenic access to the dam and would eliminate much of the traffic…”

Not a terrible idea.

We question whether it would have been sustainable as a tourist offering but understand the motivation. It’s refreshing to see that kind of “dream big” mentality on a project.

If anyone knows what scuttled this project, feel free to reach out. we’d like to hear the rest of the story.