Nostalgia & History > Help ID'ing PRR Schuykill Div. locations c. 1955

I processed slides from a couple rolls of film from the camera of John Dziobko, Jr., and a 1955 PRR excursion from Philadelphia to Wilkes-Barre, via the Schuykill Division and associated trackage (some via LV trackage rights). These are taken from the train, and will be difficult to ID but what the heck, a fun thing and perhaps someone with a sharp eye for the territory will be able to help. Remember, these are 1955 views, and much of this route has been turned into a bike path or outright abandoned. So, here we go, the slides are uploaded in chronological order as that helps with ID'ing them. We start at Philadelphia, on the lower level tracks, and work our way to the junction at 52nd St., then north to Norristown, Reading, Pottsville, and into the anthracite region.

By the way, a 2001 post here on trainorders was a big help in describing the route the train would have taken, as it was a PRR excursion of June 1955 and I'm certainly not qualified in this territory although I have fanned area as part of the NRHS Convention in Scranton a couple years back. That thread for background on the route, if you care to revisit it: http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?2,290809

OK, now the pictures. Help with locations if you can.

#1, John's train at Philly, Roadmaster/Trainmaster types and Cndr/Engineer before departure

#2 leaving through the terminal tracks towards ZOO. looks a lot different here today!

#3 rounding a curve in Philadelphia



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/14 20:35 by chico.

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next three shots:

1. passing a nice centercab at a yard

2. now were past the Norristown, out in the boonies

3. climbing up into the coal region. is that the RDG alongside?

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1. bridge view (looking back)

2. hey, a tunnel! can't blow up that mile marker enough to read it.. sorry.. remember, looking back..

3. pretty countryside

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continuing, sequentially..

1. a nice depot view (looking back)

2. looks like it's been recently single tracked

3. Best shot on the roll, Carbon, getting a roll by. must have been a lonely PRR outpost for that OP

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next three, past Carbon (or still there..)

1. the water tank

2. and another bridge, this one looks fairly modern

3. even this branch got signal bridges

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next three


1. massive water tank

2. looking back at another nice depot

3. another water tank and signal bridge at a stop John was able to get out and snap a few shots

these were all taken at Carbon I believe



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/14 20:04 by chico.

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1. a junction but where?


2. getting into the mountains

3. another single tracked bridge

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next three, climbing further into the anthracite region..


1. what new highway is that? speak of new, the RR bridge seems new too..

2. another water plug (steam was still active, at least nearby, on the Shamoken line)

3. looks like a tower above the train

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more.. in order..

1. pretty country, former double track?

2. another centercab. is this Wilkes-Barre?

3. here's one for the modelers, a nice shanty

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more...

1. signals--

2. signals--

3. passing a train, note the high line on the left



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/14 20:14 by chico.

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a few more


1. another shanty


2. small town depot (with a rail photographer!)


3. mud flats?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/14 20:27 by chico.

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last three.


1. depot. I like this shot a lot

2. meeting what looks like a PRR freight train at a jct.

3. and, the small town scrapyard. looks like this railroad is fading away..


I hope you all don't mind this long string of pics. Maybe I should have broken it up, but I thought you'd like the tour.

Thanks for looking.

(by the way, there's another roll....)

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Wow that "mud flats" shot is really cool. Almost surreal looking.

Posted from iPhone

Really love the slides! Sorry I can't help with locations. Lived my entire life in KY except for 4 1/2 years in NC.
I was 10 years old when these slides were taken. I would have been the happiest little boy in the world to have gone on a trip like this.
Thanks again!
ALLEN

Wow. Just wow. Love the semaphores and PAs?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/14 20:36 by NH2006.

Number 24 appears to be in Reading. That's sure looks like the Buttonwood St bridge. But was the PRR Route that close to the Reading there?

More please!!!!!

chico Wrote:
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looks like this
> railroad is fading away...
>
> I hope you all don't mind this long string of
> pics. Maybe I should have broken it up, but I
> thought you'd like the tour.
>

That was QUITE a tour, too!

Terrific post.

Thanks, 'Chico' (& "The Godfather")

Pat from Littleton, CO.

What a GRAND tour back to 1955! Enjoyed every picture! Hard to believe 1955 is about 60yrs ago. Thanks!

Larry

Ok some are out of order but here goes. #3 Manayunk bridge over the Schuykill the Reading Co freight station sign can be seen below the bridge , #4 Norristown the MU yard is to the east, #6 Near Port Clinton the Reading below (out of order )#8 tunnel at Phoenixville I now have that milepost !!! #12 Mt Carbon yard, #18 Mt Carbon yard, #19 crossing the Readings W&N branch at Birdsboro this is looking east the PRR station is behind the train ,#20 the cut just east of the next picture which is east of Reading, #21 east of Reading the substation for Titus Met Ed plant in background,#22 Darkwater trestle Rt 61 under the bridge west of Pottsville ( out of order ), #23 PRR yard in Reading on east side ( out of order )#24 going into Reading PRR tower ahead. These are really nice Thanks for posting. ---- Ken



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/14 23:31 by Kemacprr.