The C & O would never have let this massive structure get neglected like this. They would have had this very important asset, grit blasted and repainted on an as needed basis. This bridge was so important to the war effort during World War II, that it was guarded to prevent a possible attack. By Germans who might try to destroy the main route of coal and limestone needed by the blast furnaces of the steel mills in the east. Should this massive bridge fail, CSX would probably not be able to pay the cost of the cleanup and replacement. So called Modern railroads are not proving to be good caretakers of their infrastructure !
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I've often wondered how long these bridges can rust away before they become structurally unsound. I suspect that each CEO figures that his successor can eat the cost of bridge painting. Maybe the next bridge here will look quite different.
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