Abandoned Lehigh Valley Railroad Bridge Over Taughannock Gorge Royalty-Free Stock Image

This bridge served The Black Diamond Express that started service on May 18, 1896. It was a fitting name for a train on a route conceived of to haul coal, but became popular by hosting luxury coaches to connect the area with Buffalo, Ithaca, Geneva and New York City.nThe Lehigh Valley’s 315-foot long Black Diamond Express ferried passengers from New York City to Buffalo. The train was known for its speed and onboard dining. Passengers could sit in velvet chairs, mingle in a large well-appointed smoking room and avail themselves of gender-specific lavatories. The last car in the train included a parlor and observation platform, where passengers could look out plate glass windows at the passing landscape. The rails on which the train rode became known as The Route of the Black Diamond. Many newlyweds took this route to get to Niagara Falls, so the train was also known as the Honeymoon Express.