In 2008, Kurt Bell, a railroad collections archivist at the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg, addressed the significance of the Stewartstown Railroad, stating, "Why is the Stewartstown Railroad important, and why should it be preserved?" He noted that it is the only "farmer's railroad" still in operation, continuously run by the same company since 1885. This historic short-line railroad retains many 19th-century features, such as the original rails, a turning wye track, a charming depot, a wood-frame engine house, and a rare 1870 iron bridge. The railroad has seven structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the Iron Bridge being the most significant. 

Located in Stewartstown, Pennsylvania, the Stewartstown Railroad Bridge is a historic wrought-iron bridge originally built by Jacob Linville for the Keystone Bridge Company in Baltimore in 1870. We think the Stewartstown Railroad moved it to its current location over Valley Road during the 1890s or early 1900s. This bridge is historically significant as one of the earliest wrought-iron bridges in the United States and is included in the National Register of Historic Places. It represents an extremely rare surviving specimen of an early metal truss bridge, notably one with documented railroad usage. It is also one of the few surviving bridges featuring Jacob H. Linville's patented Keystone columns, which were used for the vertical members and end posts of this bridge. Eric Delony, writing in Invention and Technology Magazine in the Fall of 1994, stated: "These bridges spanned the enormous gap between wood and steel in America, and although the few that survive are little appreciated today, they are the remnants of an era of revolutionary technological change... The iron truss is the rarest and least recognized American bridge... in some ways, it is the most technologically significant."

Today, the bridge's trusses no longer provide structural support for the railroad line, as a deck plate girder span now carries the train loads.  Despite this modification, the bridge retains a high level of historic significance because of its age and rare design.

The hollow structure of the Phoenix columns has led to the infiltration of water and organic material over the past century, resulting in the progressive deterioration of their bases because of sustained moisture exposure. Some columns are experiencing structural failure, with complete separation from the supporting trusses observed in certain instances. To maintain safety standards, the demolition of the trusses will be unavoidable unless the necessary restoration work is completed within the next few years. Restoring the trusses is essential to ensure a long future for this bridge. The bridge is located on a small, privately owned railway line that serves recreational and historical purposes. The railroad understands the value of this bridge, but the largely volunteer-based organization responsible for its maintenance does not have the funds to restore the columns and trusses in a manner that respects the original design and materials.