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At Duryea the Lehigh Valley's Mountain Cutoff crossed over the Lackawanna's branch. The cutoff bypassed the steep grade and circuitous route of the LV original main line through Wilkes-Barre. The two railraods crossed at a very shallow angle so this unique bridge was deisgned to avoid the use of a very long span. Columns support plate girders across the Lackawanna tracks and they in turn carry the short girders undert he LV tracks. These matched the crossing angle of the tracks and were placed between the large cross members over the DL&W. While such an arrangement seems complex it saved a lot of steel as compared to a single long span at a time when the cost of a bridge was largely dependent upon the amount of steel used. (Jim Boyd)

Photograph from Lackawanna Railroad Facilities In Color Volume 3: Scranton to Buffalo.

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