Most of the white settlers who invaded the Indian land which became Cumberland County had to negotiate a stream. For the first century arriving was a matter of rafting or fording the Susquehanna River or the Yellow Breeches (Callapatscink or Shawnee) Creek.
When it was officially opened ceremoniously for traffic on January 16, 1839, the Susquehanna River bridge, also referred to as the Cumberland Valley Railroad Bridge, was intended to connect the Cumberland Valley with the Harrisburg and Lancaster Railroad.
Interview of Robert Monath for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library Memory Bank a part of the Cumberland County Historical Society in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Monath discusses his family's history and connections working on various Railroads in Central Pennsylvania as well his own time as a fireman and engineer for Penn Central, Amtrak, Conrail, and finally Norfolk Southern.