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Train and road traffic at Colchester Overpass aka Bunnyman Bridge

Colchester Overpass is a Norfolk Southern Railway overpass spanning Colchester Road in Fairfax County, Virginia. It is an active site of train and vehicular traffic. Often, it is associated with variations of the Bunny Man urban legend.

Origin

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Colchester Overpass was built in about 1906[1] near the site of Sangster's Station, a Civil War era railroad station on what was once the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.[2]

Physical location and features

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Colchester Overpass spans a single lane of Colchester Road in Fairfax Station, Virginia.[3] It is a concrete viaduct design. The overhead clearance for vehicular traffic is posted as nine feet eleven inches. The roadway is protected from cascading railway gravel by large metal girders over both ends of the overpass. A double set of railway tracks pass overhead.

Train traffic

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The railroad tracks overhead are used by Norfolk Southern Railway, Virginia Railway Express (VRE-Manassas Line) and Amtrak trains. VRE-Manassas Line and Amtrak traffic alone accounts for ninety trains using the overpass each week.[4] These trains travel by at fifty to seventy five miles per hour.[5]

Norfolk Southern freight train at Colchester Overpass aka Bunnyman Bridge
Train and road traffic at Colchester Overpass aka Bunnyman Bridge
Amtrak train at Colchester Overpass aka Bunnyman Bridge
Night time traffic at Colchester Overpass aka Bunnyman Bridge

Vehicular traffic

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Colchester Road is designated as Virginia State Route 612. The speed limit at Colchester Overpass is posted at 25 miles per hour. The approach to Colchester Overpass from the northwest is downhill and contains two blind curves. Visibility of oncoming traffic and pedestrians is limited. [5] As the roadway narrows to a single lane under the overpass, traffic in both directions must yield appropriately.

Night time traffic at Colchester Overpass aka Bunnyman Bridge

Legend tripping hazard

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Colchester Overpass is associated with various versions of the {[Bunny Man]} {[urban legend]}. It is infamously referred to as Bunnyman Bridge.[6] In 2001 it was featured on the Fox Family Channel program called Scariest Places on Earth. Interest generated through this “Terror on Bunnyman’s Bridge” broadcast as well as through books[7] , destination reviews[8][9], newspaper articles[10] and paranormal websites[11] make it a favorite legend tripping destination. Legend trippers come from as far away as the Pennsylvania/Maryland state line.[12] Many are not always familiar with the active train and vehicle traffic at the site. Active police enforcement protects the public from the potentially dangerous mix of traffic and curious pedestrians.[12] Internet public service announcement efforts have been undertaken to increase public awareness of the {[legend tripping]} hazard.[13]

Pedestrians, trains and cars at Colchester Overpass

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Because of its association with the legend, Colchester Overpass is a popular destination for paranormal enthusiasts and curiosity seekers.[14] Understandably, interest increases around Halloween and starting in the year 2003, local authorities began controlling access to the area during that time.[15] During Halloween 2011 over 200 hundred people, some from as far away as the Pennsylvania/Maryland state line, were turned away during a 14 hour traffic checkpoint into the area.[16] Non-local visitors could be unaware that Colchester Overpass is an active intersection of trains and traffic. The railroad tracks overhead are used by Norfolk Southern Railway, Virginia Railway Express (VRE-Manassas Line) and Amtrak trains. VRE-Manassas Line and Amtrak traffic alone accounts for ninety trains using the overpass each week.[17] In the vicinity of Colchester Overpass, Colchester Road is narrow and windy with limited visibility. In Fairfax County, Virginia, it is illegal to trespass on posted railroad tracks or to loiter in a public roadway.[18]

Norfolk Southern freight train at Colchester Overpass aka Bunnyman Bridge
Train and road traffic at Colchester Overpass aka Bunnyman Bridge
Amtrak train at Colchester Overpass aka Bunnyman Bridge
Night time traffic at Colchester Overpass aka Bunnyman Bridge

References

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  1. ^ Netherton, Nan and Wykoff, Whitney Von Lake (1995). Fairfax Station All Aboard. Fairfax Station, Virginia: Friends of the Fairfax Station. p. 42.
  2. ^ Netherton, Nan and Wykoff, Whitney Von Lake (1995). Fairfax Station All Aboard. Fairfax Station, Virginia: Friends of the Fairfax Station. p. 41.
  3. ^ 38°47′23″N 77°21′44″W / 38.78972°N 77.36222°W / 38.78972; -77.36222
  4. ^ "Virginia Railway Express Manassas Line Schedule". Virginia Railway Express. Retrieved 4/28/2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ a b "Colchester Overpass History Page". Retrieved 05/02/2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. ^ Conley, Brian. "The Bunny Man Unmasked". Retrieved 5/5/2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ Van Wynsberg, Ronald. "Bunnyman Bridge". Retrieved 5/5/2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. ^ "Bunny Man Bridge Yelp Review". Retrieved 5/5/2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ "Dark Destinations". Retrieved 5/5/2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  10. ^ "Beware Bunnyman Bridge: A Halloween tale rooted in truth". Retrieved 5/5/2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. ^ "Bunnyman Bridge Paranormal site". Retrieved 5/5/2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. ^ a b "Neighbors Find 'Bunnyman Bridge' an Unwelcome Attraction". Retrieved 5/5/2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. ^ "Bunnyman Bridge Informational site". Retrieved 5/5/2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ Varhola, Michael J. (2008). Ghosthunting Virginia (America's Haunted Road Trip). Chapter 2. Bunny Man Bridge (Fairfax Station): Clerisy Press. pp. 15–22. ISBN 1578603277.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  15. ^ Newspaper, Article (November 4, 2003). "Legend Lives on at Bunnyman Bridge". Connection Newspapers. Retrieved 5/8/2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  16. ^ Stachyra, Mary C. (November 17, 2011). "Neighbors Find 'Bunnyman Bridge' an Unwelcome Atraction". CentrevillePatch. Retrieved 5/8/2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  17. ^ "Virginia Railway Express Manassas Line Schedule". Virginia Railway Express. Retrieved 4/28/2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  18. ^ Code of Ordinances, Fairfax County Virginia. "Chapter 5 - Offenses, Articles 1 and 4". Fairfax County. Retrieved 5/8/1012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
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