Bethlehem PA - Hill To Hill Bridge

[Anonymous]

Awhile ago one of the magazines had an article about this junction.
Of course I didn't have money that day when I visited the hobby shop and came back later the same week. Yup...sold out. I then forgot about it for awhile.

Does anyone know which magazine and issue that was? I want to pick up a back issue, but so far no luck.

[Anonymous]

That would have been the June 2004 issue of Railfan & Railroad magazine. As a Lehigh University student in the 60s, I had many adventures on, under, and around the H to H bridge. What a great trainwatching site it was.

[tmcc man]

If you want some pix, go to your hobby store, or even a Barnes&Noble and see if they have the book "ALCo's To Allentown." Browse through it and you will see a few photos of it. I have the book, and I love it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks both of you - I couldn't remember the issue.
Yup - own the book and love it. I am looking more for the track plan for the junction, especially back just before Conrail.
And yup again - graduated from Lehigh in the early 80's. Many adventures and just plain watching trains.

[MRinkunas]

JimSwain,

I live about 3 miles south of the hill to hill bridge, so i could run up there and take some pictures of the junction as it is today. I am a huge LV fan, and i can provide info on track layouts for there in pre and post conrail eras.

I'm also an LU alum - 2002, what was your major in?
~Mike

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the offer Mike. I live about 3 miles north of the bridge, so I have current pictures.
I want to stretch the passenger operation into my 1970's model (high end commuter pulled by PAs and RDCs) so I am having fun trying to picture what was there and what I need for my scene. I have about 10 to 12 feet for the whole junction/station scene.
I have started putting together a track diagram, based on pictures from the LV In Color books and other sources. I haven't gotten real far yet, so if you have anything you could share I would appreciate it.

1983 - BSME
1990 - MSME

[rrinker]

Hate to drag up an old thread, but hey. I'm a Lehigh grad myself, BSEE '88. Sadly there is no more train traffic through South Bethlehem other than the main down along the river. The connection up to Saucon Yard has been mostly removed now, most of the track pulled up now. When I was at Lehigh the steel plant was still in operation and it was a glow and constant sound throughout the night. A little later I belongs to a model railroad club that was located right next to tracks between Third and Fourth street. Common practice for everyone to find the quickest way out from under the layout when a horn sounded. Towards the end most trains were heading towards Allentown, loaded with whatever leftover materials were found at the steel plant, then even parts of the plant itself.

--Randy