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| (1637627) | |
PHOTOS: RED BANK TRAIL |
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Posted by Jersey Mike on Wed Dec 4 09:15:35 2024 One area that has seen a significant amount of railroadinal attrition is coal/oil/iron fields of north central Pennsylvania roughly between Interstates 99 and 79. Once a region where the PRR, NYC, B&O and Erie all fiercely competed to extract the natural resources, today only a skeleton of the rail network remains after high costs forced the closure of the regions marginally productive mines. However the State of PA has had a robust right of way banking programme and has been slowly converting some of the lines into high quality recreational trails. In 2021 I hiked along the Allegheny Valley Trail including the famous Red Bank coaling tower. In 2023 I set out on a 20 mile bike ride on the connected Red Bank Train from the town of New Bethlehem, PA. You can find these photos along with others from the Buffalo and Pittsburg Brookville yard and shoppe complex, here ( mirror ).The Red Bank Trail follows the right of way of the former PRR Allegheny Division "Low Grade Line" that ran from the junction with the Buffalo Line in Driftwood, PA to the junction with the Allegheny Valley line in Red Bank. The route provided a low grade crossing of the Alleghany divide and some erroneously consider it to be a "third main track" for the Main Line when that route was still only double track. In reality it was set up to send traffic to the Great Lake port of Erie, PA, either coal or iron ore. I started my journey at New Bethlehem, PA where a parking lot stands at the old PRR station site.  The line has been well graded and even includes examples of public sculpture like this goat and rabbit made of CorTen weathering steel.    The line survived into the Conrail era and some Conrail mileposts still survive. It met a similar fate to the nearby Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Western PA branch that folded as eastern shaft mine coal declined in the 1990s.  The trail features several preserved tunnels and my trip took me through two of them, Climax and Long Point, with Climax having seen significantly more renovation.       A picnic area and outhouse was constructed adjacent to the Long Point tunnel.   The most interesting part of the journey was the long defunct Clarion Fire Brick Company works in St. Charles. Ultimately closing in 2004, the site has been largely frozen in time, although some of the buildings are still leased for light industrial use.   The plant opened in 1900 making use of local clay and on site natural gas wells, which effectively provided free energy in the days before natural gas was a commodity. The plant closed in 2004, a victim of the China shock that sent labor intensive and environmentally costly forging operations overseas.    One of the original kilns is still standing with period cast iron gas burners and other hardware.    A covered portion of the facility featured two long U shaped annealing tunnels.  Stacks of wrapped palletized product was just laying around with 2002-2004 production lots. A physical indication of their downstream customers cancelling orders as demand for high cost domestically cast products declined.   Back on the trail, the right of way went through groves of hemlock and rhododendron.  People know Brookville, PA for the Brookville Equipment Corp that builds bespoke locomotives and light rail vehicles, however Brookville is also home a Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad shoppe complex. Saving the Brookville Equipment facility for another day, I took some time to check out the B&P shoppe.  The shop facilities were originally those of the Pittsburg and Shawmut Railroad, an 88 mile regional road that was absorbed into the G&W owned B&P in 2004.  The complex is fairly extensive with two main shoppe buildings, a power house and several outbuildings.     The adjacent yard had a Budd stainless steel passenger car along with several other random bits of rolling stock.  However the yard was also storing two SEPTA Red Arrow double ended PCC cars, numbered 18 and 21, used on the Routes 101 and 102.    Likely belonging to Brookville Equipment, I wouldn't claim that they are beyond restoration, but at this point is would be a tall order.   Inside the B&P shoppes there was signs of activity, but nothing super interesting.     Of course the G&W had to apply its paint scheme to the B&P mailbox. Meanwhile the Brookville sign was far more tasteful.   Well that's the end of the tour. I highly recommend any of the western PA rail trails and if you are passing by Brookville or DuBois check out the B&P operations in both towns. |
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| (1637629) | |
Re: PHOTOS: RED BANK TRAIL |
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Posted by cortelyounext on Wed Dec 4 12:45:55 2024, in response to PHOTOS: RED BANK TRAIL, posted by Jersey Mike on Wed Dec 4 09:15:35 2024. Nice documentary as is expected from you - I always learn something. The fourth picture from the last brought memories of when I used to work at a factory across from Teterboro Airport. The company had those wash basins operated with the foot pedals and the gritty, exfoliating soap dispensers. I was on the conveyor belt where the machine wrapped and sealed vinyl around cardboard sleeves to make 3-ring binders. Pleasant enough co-workers, few if any native speakers. "Roach Coach" outside for lunch. Nothing like scarfing down a sandwich with chips and a soda for the allotted 20 minute lunch break on a hot and humid August day right by Route 46 with the airplanes coming and going. A hard day's work for a pittance which means a very small or inadequate amount of money paid to someone as a wage. |
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| (1637657) | |
Re: PHOTOS: RED BANK TRAIL |
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Posted by 3-9 on Fri Dec 6 18:09:31 2024, in response to PHOTOS: RED BANK TRAIL, posted by Jersey Mike on Wed Dec 4 09:15:35 2024. Fascinating journey! Interesting that so much is still intact at the brick factory - it's a shame that it's otherwise gone to ruin. Too bad about the PCCs though. Thanks for sharing this! |
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| (1637697) | |
Re: PHOTOS: RED BANK TRAIL |
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Posted by Jersey Mike on Mon Dec 9 20:21:06 2024, in response to Re: PHOTOS: RED BANK TRAIL, posted by 3-9 on Fri Dec 6 18:09:31 2024. Glad you enjoyed it. |
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Re: PHOTOS: RED BANK TRAIL |
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Posted by Jersey Mike on Mon Dec 9 20:21:29 2024, in response to Re: PHOTOS: RED BANK TRAIL, posted by cortelyounext on Wed Dec 4 12:45:55 2024. I've seen those washbasins at a few other locations. |
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