Hi, Anyone know what the line that runs through Newark, DE is called? Its a north south line that I believe comes from Baltimore and heads up to Philly..but it runs right through town and is about 200 yrds from my house. I also have the Amtrak line( 1/2 mile from my house) that runs through Wilmington, Washington, Philly, NY etc. It passes a large Chrysler plant in my town that gets alot of yard activity shipping Durangos. I have noticed that its Norfolk Southern Engines..and they seem alot smaller than the CSX's that come through on the other line. Any one with info ..thx!
First off... WELCOME TO TRAINBOARD Dave! As for your question, I can't answer it as I'm on the opposite end of the area! I'm on Sand Patch grade, however I'm sure someone here can answer it...... I'm sure you will enjoy the site overall..... ENJOY!
The CSX line is the Philadelphia Subdivision. It runs from Washington, DC to Park Junction in Philadelphia. The Amtrak line as previously stated is the Northeast Corridor. Also coming of the NEC in the Newark Area is the Norfolk Southern Delmarva Branch that runs down through Dover and Harrington and down to Salisbury, MD.
Listen to Tom, he lives in the area! Tom, doesn't the east coast line go through Newark as well? Also, if you would know this, I know that there is a section of track that runs from the Amtrak NEC to the Philly Subdivision. On one of my old maps it says Penn Central. Is this the NS trackage that was mentioned above? Thanks! Russ
Russ Yes CSX east coast line does run up to Newark, NJ. The Philly Sub connected with the Reading, then Conrail, and now CSX at Park Junction. From there they would run up to Cheltenham Junction and then up the old Reading New York Short Line. Back in the pre Conrail days both the B&O and Reading would run through trains using this route. I am not sure if CSX has given this line a new name. Also north of Park Junction you can connect with the NEC at Zoo in Philadelphia. The trains would have pull through the connection and then the locomotives have to run around the train and reverse direction. They could then access the South Philadelphia yards by using the High Line past 30th Street Station. Where is the connecting line you are talking about? Off the top of my head I cannot think of any connection between the Philly Sub and the NEC in Delaware. The only connection I knew that was a Penn Central branch was the line that came off the NEC at Baldwin and ran through the Baldwin plant and connected with the Philly sub just west of Fairview Road in Crum Lynne, PA. I can remember as a little kid the branch being used as a detour when there was a wreck on the B&O in Ridley Park. It was quite a sight to see a train crossing Chester Pike, US Route 13. The train had to crawl through the grade crossing since it was unprotected. An interesting note about this branch is it followed the some of the route of the Lieper Railway, which is considered the first railroad in the US. It served some quarries along the Crum Creek and used horses for motive power. The line was built before the revolutionary war and used wood rails. Unfortunately this line was torn up in the late seventies when I-95 and I-476 were constructed. When Amtrak detoured the Florida trains over the Philly Sub after the Chase, MD crash they ran from Baltimore to Philadelphia, skipping Wilmington, DE. That is why I am not sure about a Delaware connection. [ 28. February 2003, 16:22: Message edited by: Tompm ]
According to my outdated map, The line that I speak of branches off of the NEC near Pencador,DE by Delaware state University and travels almost northwest until meeting up with the CSX tracks in Newark. Russ
Russ Now you have got me curious and I am going to have to go searching. Does your map give it a name by any chance? The Delmarva Branch as far as I know comes off the NEC to the south thus runs away from the CSX line and thus never crosses it. [ 03. March 2003, 02:24: Message edited by: Tompm ]
Russ Did a little research and I think I found something. Apparently the branch came off the NEC at about the same location as the Delmarva Branch does. It does not look like the line connected to the old B&O as the B&O crossed it with a bridge. Check out this aerial photo from TerraServer You can see where the wye used to be and if follow the maps north you can follow the old right-of-way until you see the bridge on the CSX line. I still don’t know anything about this line but I am still looking.
Good work Tom! That's what it looks like on my map. My eyes can't tell if that is abandoned or not but the roadbed is clearly still there. Russ
Russ It was the PRR Newark and Pomeroy Branch. It ran from Newark, DE to Lancaster County thru Chester County. It may have connected with the New Holland Branch but I am not sure. It did or the New Holland Branch joins the Main Line somewhere around Lancaster. The Philadelphia Chapter of the PRRT&HS did an article on it in their High Line Publication. Tonight I am going to go bin diving up in the attic to see if I can locate it and get some more information on it. Unfortunately it is abandoned but I don’t when it was. I know the grade crossing at PA Route 41 in Chatham, PA has been removed.
This is great information Tom, Thanks. It is especially interesting to myself because as you may know, my freelance model railroad runs and imaginary road from around Hershey,PA, through Lancaster and down towards Delaware. With some further research, I can turn my freelance into a bit more of a "what if". The what if being if this line still existed and was purchased by a shortline. Thanks again! Russ
Tom; Here is a map of the NH branch Line when it ran to Downington. The line today only runs to New Holland. The line branches off east of Lancaster at ( Greenfield ) and goes to New Holland. This line use to cross over the old Reading Railroad Line east of Honey Brook at (Suplee ). You can see this on the map. Would the old Reading RR line be the one you might talking about? Later, hondo52
That may be the one Hondo! Is there any way that you can send me a bigger copy of that map? My email address is rush2ny@aol.com . Thanks in advance! Russ
The old Reading line which is the Wilmington and Northern ran from Wilsmere Yard just outside of Wilmington to Birdsboro, PA and portions of it are still in operation today. The Newark and Pomeroy Branch was further west of the W&N. It ran from Newark, De to Pomeroy, PA. I have a copy of the PRRT&HS Philadelphia Chapter High Line that has an article on it. Once I locate it I will post some more information.
Tom, this line that ran from Newark into PA..would this be the abandoned line that runs under the csx line in Newark? I know there use to be an old factory(it is now apartments for the U of Delaware) north of the NE corridor line..and tracks came off the NE into this factory..as well as running north under the csx line into PA. I also noticed if you head north of the Chrysler plant on the NE corridor, there are many industries that have turnouts running into them that seem abadoned. there is also a small yard completey abandoned about a mile north of the chrysler yard.
The Newark and Pomeroy branch ran from Newark to Pomeroy, PA. From looking at aerial photos I believe this is the line you are talking about. I have to get into the attic and find that publication about the N&P. As far as the turn outs go it seems that Amtrak has had most of them along the NEC removed or abandoned unless it serves something big like the Chrysler plant or the refineries in Marcus Hook. Back when I was railfaning every weekend in the late 80’s I used to catch the Conrail local on the NEC. When I get a chance I will look and see what I can find out about the yard you are speaking of.
Another question I have you for..when u get up to the yards in Wilmington by the new Amtrak Training Center, if you are on the Amtrak heading out of Wilm soutbound, there are 2 or 3 tracks off to the right, that I will see some boxcars sitting there...the next day , they will be gone..then the next day, some more cars show up..but I never see any action on how they get there or when they leave. there is a line that branches off the NE right past the Amtrak Center heading towards the CSX line .Is this a holding area for CSX cars or are these NS cars? [ 06. April 2003, 05:41: Message edited by: darthdave ]
