[PRR-talk] Foxburg, PA

[craigmiller4 at comcast.net]

George,

Thank you for the detailed description. Checking with the old aerials (1939) of that area the switchback, station, bridge approaches and roundhouse are shown clearly.

http://www.pennpilot.psu.edu/photos1940s/clarion_1939/clarion_1939_photos_jpg_800/clarion_062539_aph6596.jpg

Might be a good excursion for the 4th of July weekend to get some final photos.

Craig Miller
Pittsburgh


-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: <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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