[PRR-talk] Foxburg, PA

[George.Pierson at trnty.edu]

Hello, all,
 
The picture Don refers to is of the former narrow gauge Pittsburgh & Western (later B&O) line that ran from Pittsburgh (Allegheny City) to Mt. Jewett (and ultimately Bradford), PA.  Built as a 3-ft line in the 1880's it was gradually st. gauged northward.  The last portion converted was that from Foxburg north c.1910.  It operated as the B&O Northern Sub into the late 1960's-early 1970's, and portions of the line north of Butler are still in service.  The northern part was, until recently, ridable thanks to the Knox, Kane & Kinzua tourist rr out of Marienville, PA (they even had a PRR cabin car), but the sad loss of the Kinzua Viaduct, as well as declining business in this region, has shut down the KK&K.
 
The bridge in Foxburg is a classic - the top deck was rr, with a one-lane auto portion below.  See the original bridge while you can and stop by the caboose in Foxburg to see pictures.  The original bridge was wooden, replaced by this one in (I believe) the 1920's.  The Allegheny Valley RR (PRR) ran from Pittsburgh north along the east bank of the river through Foxburg and on up to Oil City.  There was an interchange between the AV and the P&W in Foxburg.  Foxburg was later known because the P&W line crossed the river from west to east, curved to the north past the P&W station, and into a yard.  It then switch-backed up the east escarpment of the river valley, the remains of which are plainly visible when you drive the road east out of Foxburg.
 
I don't know how much interchange was ever done in Foxburg between the PRR and the B&O in later years.  I do know that in the early 20th century, there was some - and the P&W, while narrow gauge, operated the last Ramsey Transfer in the U.S. in its Foxburg yard.  This was a device for placing n.g. trucks under st.g. cars using a simple drop pit.  It was in service until c.1910.  
 
Also the AV (PRR) station was about 100 yds south of the bridge soon to be replaced, on the east side of the tracks.  I'm sure it's been gone for years, as the AV line itself has not seen trains in many a year.  
 
All in all, the former P&W was the largest single narrow gauge line in Pennsylvania and Foxburg is the one place where its remains are most easily found.  The residents of Foxburg will no doubt be glad to be rid of a one-lane road bridge, but it is too bad that the historic bridge is soon to be destroyed.
 
George Pierson

________________________________

From: prr-talk-bounces at dsop.com on behalf of Donald Harper
Sent: Sun 6/22/2008 8:58 AM
To: PRR-Talk at dsop.com
Subject: [PRR-talk] Foxburg, PA



In the wine outlet at Foxburg, PA, on the east side of the Allegheny River, is a photo of a PRR engine, probably a 4-4-0, at the Foxburg Station.  In the background is a bridge.  That bridge is a double deck bridge, with a one-lane vehicle bridge on the lower deck and the upper deck carried the B&O, which ran north on the west side of the river, across the river, over the PRR tracks, and then northward more or less paralleling the PRR.  You can follow the railroad lines on the TerraServer map:  terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=17&X=763&Y=5693&W=1&qs=%7cFoxburg%7cPA++%7c

The bridge is still there, but not for long.  A new 2-lane vehicle bridge is being built just north of the double deck bridge.  The double deck bridge will be blown up on or around 19 July.  So anyone interested in getting photos ought to do it pretty quick.

Don Harper
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