Local Trains In PA
While the
corporate headquarters of the Reading and Northern is located in Port Clinton
(near Reading, PA) a great deal of frieght is moved by this company in the
Northeast Pennsylvania region via the former Lehigh Valley "Lehigh Line". This
heavy-duty mainline stretches for nearly 66 miles between the NS connection at
Lehighton, PA and Pittston, PA. Pittston Yard, about 10 miles south of
Scranton, is a key location on the Leigh Line as cars are sorted here for
several destinations in Northeast PA. From Pittston, the Lehigh Line continues
nearly 30 miles north to Mehoopany, PA and there is also a branch known as the
Taylor Secondary that runs several miles north from Pittston to Taylor, PA,
where the R&N services an industrial park.
The mainline between Pittston and Lehighton actually starts north out of
Pittston, crossing over the Taylor secondary before making a large U-turn and
heading south upgrade through the towns like Avoca, Duryea, Dupont and Mountain
Top, which is where our coverage ends.
Power for the mainline jobs between Lehighton and Pittston often comes in the
form of two more more six axle EMD units, including two former Erie-Lackawanna
SD-45 locomotives painted an a Reading Company inspired green and yellow paint
scheeme. Other power can be seen in the form of several GE U-boats and EMD
switchers that work some of the local jobs out of Pittston. Additionally,
trains operated by Canadian Pacific run between the CP/R&N junction at Dupont
and Lehighton, before entering NS trackage at Lehighton
Photographs are arranged north to south, Pittston to Mountain Top.
At the western end of Pittston yard a set of SD-45's drifts downgrade along side a cut of cars it has brought north from Lehighton. This nicely matched pair of SD-45's was the usual power for the Lehighton/Pittston (or LEPI) trains for several years before one was damaged in a wreck and sveral others were purchased from other railroads to augment the LEPI trains. 5/99
An EMD SW-1200, having returned from a trip on the Taylor Secondary, idles away at the east end of the Pittston Yard. To the right the tracks will curve north and continue several miles to Canadian Pacific's Taylor Yard and an industrial park serviced by the R&N. Another set of tracks behind the photographer wll also head north before turning south, these being the mainline tracks to Lehighton. 8/01
As viewed from the mainline, the interchange train is southbound on the Taylor Secondary about to enter Pittston yard with a lone GE U23B as power. 4/99
At the same location as the above photograph (but in the opposite direction) a mainline Lehighton bound frieght begins the climb north (the south) out of Pittston Yard. 4/99
Beginning the turn south in Pittston Township,the mainline passes a well maintained cemetary. 5/99
Still turning southward, the mainline passes under a bridge on the former Erie Railroad's Wyoming Division (now operated by the Luzurne and Susquehanna Railway). The R&N train, heading almost due-east at this point, is viewed from a vehicle overpass in the town of Avoca. 5/99
Finally heading south, the Lehigh line passes the site once occupied by a coal breaker in the town of Duryea. 4/99
A Lehighton bound freight is seen at Dupont Junction. The tracks to the right serve as a connection between the Canadian Pacific and the R&N. The CP mainline is several hundred feet up the grade to the left. Canadian Pacific trains use this connection and the R&N Lehigh Line to gain acces to the Norfolk Southern mainline at Lehighton. At this point trains begin a steep climb over Pennobscot Mountain, through an area known as "Soloman's Gap" before the line crests at Mountain Top, PA. 5/99
An R&N frieght has completed the stiff climb up the grade and has reached the appropriately named town of Mountain Top. At this point the single track main becomes double track and an automatic block signal system handles traffic movments south to Lehighton. 5/99
Turning 180 degrees at the same location on the same day, we find a light engine movement waiting for the freight to pass. This engine will then drift downgrade to Pittston. 5/99
About half a mile south of the above location the trains begin a downgrade run to Lehighton. Thi is the site of a former yard which has been romoved, hence the piles of rails in the foreground. 4/99