Paulinskill Viaduct

History of the Paulinskill Viaduct

The Paulinskill Viaduct, located in Hainesburg, New Jersey, is one of two viaducts along the Lackawanna Cut-Off. The bridge completed construction in 1910 and was one the largest reinforced concrete bridges in the world. 

Two railroads passed under the viaduct, which were the New York, Susquehanna, & Western Railroad, along with the Lehigh & New England Railroad. Hainesburg Station along the NYS&W was located directly below the bridge. 

After the Cut-Off was ripped up in 1984 by Conrail, the bridge became a popular hangout spot among people and urban explorers. The viaduct can be viewed by passing under on Station Road, in Hainesburg, NJ. 

The Paulinskill Viaduct is to be restored for the Lackawanna Cut-Off Restoration Project if Amtrak's proposal comes to fruition. 

Paulinskill Viaduct under constructionOctober 16, 1909 (Bunnell Photo)
The Paulinskill Viaduct as it looked on April 26, 1911 (Bunnell Photo)
A Lackawanna Train crosses over the Paulinskill Viaduct(John Treen Photo)
A NYS&W Train passes by Hainesburg Station with RS-1 #252 in the lead in 1960.(John Krause Photo)
Paulinskill Viaduct as it looked on September 18, 2021(Austin O'Connor Photo)

A comparison of the Lackawanna's four concrete viaducts. The Martins Creek Viaduct and the Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct are the two to be built along the Pennsylvania Cut-Off in 1915. 

(Steamtown NHS Archives)