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News Wire: Delaware short line loses half its track after bridge is deemed unsafe

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Posted by Brian Schmidt on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 2:37 PM

LEWES, Del. — The Delaware Coast Line Railroad train departed Lewes for the last time on Dec. 15, hauling three empty tank cars stranded in nearby Cape Henlopen since September 2016, when the elderly swing bridge over the Lewes & Rehobeth C...

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/12/27-delaware-bridge-shortline

Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 5:40 PM

Good article and some photos here:

http://www.capegazette.com/article/update-last-train-lewes/147993 

It's unfortunate, but since the 1980's there hasn't been much likelihood of any other traffic source at the Lewes end of the line, and the lone plant there - makes Maalox or some ingredient of it, I understand - shipping only 2 -3 cars per month isn't enough to justify keeping it.  

There used to be a tourist/ dinner train operation called the "Queen Anne's Railroad" on a portion of the line west of the bridge, which wouldn't be affected by removal of the bridge.  However, that may have ended since I was last there.

Glad I got some photos of a train on that bridge about 5 years ago.

-  PDN. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by daveklepper on Thursday, December 28, 2017 10:31 AM

Can you post one or two?

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Friday, December 29, 2017 6:21 AM

Dave - 

Give me a day or two (maybe New Year's Day).  I have a Flickr account, but don't use it very much.  I don't think I've ever been able to get a photo to post directly, but usually provide a link to it instead.

- PDN. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)

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