Darlington's Bridge at Delaware Station

Darlington's Bridge is a two-level crossing over the Delaware River with rail tracks on the upper deck for trains and a roadway on the lower level for vehicles. The structure directly links Upper Mount Bethel Township in Pennsylvania with New Jersey and accommodates both types of traffic simultaneously.

The original wooden crossing was built in 1855 by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad and replaced in 1871 with an iron truss bridge. This upgrade allowed heavier trains to cross and eventually enabled the roadway to be added for vehicle traffic.

The bridge became a vital crossing point where residents of Pennsylvania and New Jersey regularly moved goods and visited each other across state lines. This daily movement shaped how communities on both sides of the Delaware River developed and stayed connected.

The bridge operates during most daylight hours and carries both train and vehicle traffic regularly. Visitors should expect slower crossings during peak times and be aware that trains may pass with limited warning.

Edward McCracken and his wife once guarded toll collection with the help of their Airedale dogs, who were trained to protect the revenue from theft. This unusual security arrangement stayed in place until tolls were eliminated in the 1930s.