Since I've been transplanted to Western Pennsylvania, I've learned of this line. Any enthusiasts out there?
I have always been intrigued by the branch thru Foxburg with its switchbacks. I even rode the line between Kane and Mt. Jewett and onto the ex-Erie to the Kinzua bridge, when the tourist line was still running in 2002. Since then the tourist line was abandoned and the Erie bridge knocked down by a tornado.
I seem to remember coming across that tourist line, back in 1992, when I traveled across Pennsylvania on US 6.
The BR&P became the B&O's Buffalo Division after took it over in the 1930's. During the B&O operation of the property Dubois Shop was a major heavy repair shop. I believe Dubois Shop manufactured the tenders for the streamlined P7-D Pacifics for the B&O's 1947 streamlined Cincinnatian.
CSX sold the trackage North of Eidenau, PA to the B&P (Buffalo & Pittsburgh) in the late 1980's. Approximately 2005 (+/-) CSX wanted to do away with the P&W SubDivision West of control point Field. The AVL (Allegheney Valley) and B&P stepped in. The B&P had been using the track from Eidenau to New Castle as trackage rights to deliver their interchange to CSX at New Castle. With CSX wanting to get rid of the P&W, both the shortline carriers stepped up to the plate - The AVL leased trackage form Glenwood Yard (East of Field) to Allison Park. The B&P leased from Allison Park to New Castle. CSX Dispatching stops at the control point Field - where Amtrak 29 & 30 go to NS trackage and Amtrak's Pittsburgh station.
In the Summer of 1967, I worked the Train Order Operators positions on the P&W of FY Tower, Etna, Bakerstown and Eidenau; at that time the P&W was a double track Current of Traffic signalled railroad - the P&W was part of the original route of the Capitol Limited between Pittsburgh and New Castle.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Buffalo Rochester & Pittsburgh
Wow, was the Capitol Limited still running in '67? That would have been pre-Amtrak.
On another note, the Indiana, PA railroad station has been converted into a restaurant. They have an awesome selection of food and draft beers. An added bonus is that each table has a small book with photos of the railroad. The tracks are still active, but so far, I've only seen one train while eating there. A worthwhile destination, if I may say so.
New Castle B&O station 1931
I've had a soft spot for the BR&P ever since RMC had a good article on the B&O Mallets with the 3 truck Vanderbilt tenders right before they started Railfan magazine. Twenty years ago, I was in the area and stopped by Dubois. The shops were in use by Rescar and I just checked Google Earth and it seems most of the steam backshop is still there.
My roommate in seminary who later became my nephew through marriage, is from Dubois. In fact, his uncle once worked for the B&O. The uncle got him a ride in the cab of a steam locomotive out of Salamanca, NY.
In fact a cousin of his is our dean and rector of our church in Dubois. His late father worked for the B&O. I have a parishioner in his 80' s who was a gandy dancer for the B&O. He was drafted for Korea; when he got back, they didn't have a job for him.
Fr.AlWow, was the Capitol Limited still running in '67? That would have been pre-Amtrak.
The B&O ran the Capitol Limited until the creation of Amtrak. In the late 30's, I believe, the B&O obtained trackage rights to operate selected passenger and freight trains over the P&LE from UN Tower at New Castle, PA to MK Tower at McKeesport, PA - the route that CSX uses today. Using the P&LE route instead of the P&W route between McKeesport and New Castle saved approximately a hour and a half. The P&W was mountain railroading climbing Bakerstown Hill in both directions; the P&LE was a water level grade.
I meant to give the brief answer to Father Al's question about the Capitol Limited in1967 by commenting that I rode it from Chicago to Washington in June of 1968 and that it was being operated, as Balt responded, until Amtrak came into operation.
I bought my ticket in Chicago, and had a little trouble getting the ticket seller to understand that I wanted a ticket to Baltimore and a slumbercoach room to Washington.
At the time, whether you rode PRR or B&O between Chicago and either Baltimore or Washington the price of a ticket was the same--$32.53 OW coach.
Johnny
There's an ex-BR&P passenger car at a winery not too far from here. The owner of the winery is an avid railfan, and I believe his intention was (or may still be) to convert it for use as a restaurant...
The other side is more difficult to photograph, but still bears the Buffalo Rochester & Pittsburgh name in the letterboard....
There are also several cabooses and possibly some older tank cars on the property, too.
Wayne
doctorwayneThere's an ex-BR&P passenger car at a winery not too far from here. The owner of the winery is an avid railfan, and I believe his intention was (or may still be) to convert it for use as a restaurant... The other side is more difficult to photograph, but still bears the Buffalo Rochester & Pittsburgh name in the letterboard.... There are also several cabooses and possibly some older tank cars on the property, too. Wayne
The B&O agreed in March 1929 to the purchase of the BR&P from the Alleghany Corporation, getting ICC approval in February of the following year. The deal yielded the B&O the BR&P, the Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad, and the Mt Jewett, Kinzua, and Riterville. It gave the Van Sweringens the Wheeling and Lake Erie. The formal hand-over occurred on 1 January 1932, forever ending the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway.
The B&O Historical Society's newsletter 'The Sentinal' just published an article on what was likely the last piece of BR&P equipment on the B&O property - a baggage car being used in MofW service B&O 910568 that was pictured in 1982 in a severely deteroirated condition.
Thanks for that info on the BR&P. I recall seeing the passenger car being delivered to the winery, but don't recall the year. I must've been headed somewhere important, or I surely would have stuck around to watch the whole operation.
If it's of any use to you, I could probably stop in there someday (it's only a 10 minute drive from here) and see if the owner can provide more information. It does seem rather unusual that the car is still lettered for the BR&P so long after the takeover. If it had been useable at that time, it probably would have been repainted and re-lettered, or perhaps put into MoW service, as-is.
A few minutes ago, I was looking through some Pullman records on-line. I found a couple of very early references to Pullman-built cars for the BR&P, including 17 cars built in 1912, and another 27 cars in 1913.I also found 16 named cars built for Pullman service in 1928, one of them being Admiral Dewey, the name on the car pictured.
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