When was it last used for mainline through freights? From what I can find it seemed to be under utilized even under Erie-Lackawanna ownership?
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Originally Posted by Mike W.:
When was it last used for mainline through freights? From what I can find it seemed to be under utilized even under Erie-Lackawanna ownership?
Probably yesterday...
The Delaware Lackawanna railroad operates that line today as a regional freight railroad...with a fleet of over 30 ALCO locomotives! This is the line that Steamtown operates on.
It was likely under utilized because it is a very tough line to operate. The Pocono Main has steep grades in both directions, plus tunnels. The Erie had the Southern Tier line via Port Jervis with lesser grades. That's also why Conrail didn't want it. They had other routes that were much easier to operate and didn't want the hassle of running on this rugged line.
When I was a kid on the M&E line in the late '50s / early '60s, we got one big freight on early Sun. AM. Most likely CS9. There were others but not many, and they were less predictable.
Originally Posted by OGR Webmaster:
Originally Posted by Mike W.:
When was it last used for mainline through freights? From what I can find it seemed to be under utilized even under Erie-Lackawanna ownership?
Probably yesterday...
The Delaware Lackawanna railroad operates that line today as a regional freight railroad...with a fleet of over 30 ALCO locomotives! This is the line that Steamtown operates on.
It was likely under utilized because it is a very tough line to operate. The Pocono Main has steep grades in both directions, plus tunnels. The Erie had the Southern Tier line via Port Jervis with lesser grades. That's also why Conrail didn't want it. They had other routes that were much easier to operate and didn't want the hassle of running on this rugged line.
Technically speaking, the main line between Bridge 60 and the Lackawanna Station no longer exists as that area was taken over to build the ill-fated "Mall at Steamtown". The present main track through the city is located in the middle of the former yard area, to the west of where the elevated main once ran. The new main rises on an embankment to join the old elevated alignment at the former passenger station, now a hotel.
Mike W.
We have discussed railroad maps before. Just thought I would tell you I just ordered this today: U.S. Railroad Traffic Atlas They are offering free shipping too. Sounded interesting. Don't know if you have it already, but thought I would post the link in case you don't and would like a look. Also don't know if it is any good, but it sounded pretty good. Will know in a few days. Anyway, just a FYI. Now back to normal programming.
That book is 12 years old!
Traffic densities have changed a lot in that time.
Originally Posted by Mike W.:
When was it last used for mainline through freights? From what I can find it seemed to be under utilized even under Erie-Lackawanna ownership?
Conrail killed the DL&W route through Scranton to through trains in 1980, a sterling account of Scranton train-watching in the 1970s is given by Greg J. McDonnell in his 2-part "Life after Lackawanna" in the July and August 1985 TRAINS magazines.
The 1st issue of RAILFAN in winter, 1974 also had a great account of Nickel Plate 759 doing battle with the 1.7% of the Pocono grade in 1973.
Of course, D&H took over the old DL&W between Scranton and Binghamton in 1981, but D&H then vacated its Penn Division from Nineveh,NY. to Scranton, which traumatized a few railfans.
In my opinion, the rail mags of the 1970s-80s not only entertained, but educated their readers.
Thanks for the info and references. The line intrigues me as you can still see the signal bridges...rusting and unused.
Originally Posted by OGR Webmaster:
That book is 12 years old!
Traffic densities have changed a lot in that time.
I'm sure they have changed, and that's a bit discouraging the book is that old. I sure wish they would update some of this stuff. Some of these seem like good information and then you find it's all outdated. Oh, well...something to read anyway...
