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Flood, January 26, 1839

Two days of heavy rain followed by a freeze caused a major flood in the Schuylkill River from its headwaters downwards, flood carries away 200' of P.W. & B.'s Newkirk Viaduct at Grays Ferry and also old floating bridge; meadows between Grays Ferry and Chester flooded, and northbound mail train forced to return to Wilmington; service interrupted for about two weeks (AR, PubLdgr, Powers, Montgomery - check if damage to Columbia Bridge)

Reference

  1. A GENERAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY, 1839 by Christopher T. Baer, June 2015 Edition, Hagley Museum