When was this segment of the D&H abandoned?
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It wasn't quite fully abandoned out of Scranton. About 15-20 miles from Minooka Junction to Carbondale is still in use. In 1985, Guilford sold this segment to Lackawanna County (PA) Rail Authority. From Carbondale north, Guilford tore up the rails, and sold off a large fill area near Starrucca, PA. Some bridges were sold for scrap, while others still remain. The portion where the tracks are missing is now a hiking trail going to the New York State border.
Originally Posted by Tim O'Malley:
It wasn't quite fully abandoned out of Scranton. About 15-20 miles from Minooka Junction to Carbondale is still in use. In 1985, Guilford sold this segment to Lackawanna County (PA) Rail Authority. From Carbondale north, Guilford tore up the rails, and sold off a large fill area near Starrucca, PA. Some bridges were sold for scrap, while others still remain. The portion where the tracks are missing is now a hiking trail going to the New York State border.
I recently acquired a CD of D&H steam. Most of it is recorded on Richmondville Hill, in Oneonta and in and around Whitehall, NY but there is one cut of a 4-6-0 on a miners train at Scranton and one of a Challenger passing SW cabin at Ninevah on it's way south on the Penn Division.
What a show it must have been to see three or four articulateds struggling to lift a freight over Ararat Summit.
I got this recording and some others from a fellow named Jay Wynn. I don't know if the posting of URLs for a vendor is permitted but you can Google Vintage Railroad Audio if you're interested.
