around Oaks, PA, there is an abandoned (I think) branch line that stems off of Amtrak (I think) and at the end, has some old locomotives sitting out on a siding. After the siding, the line turns 90 degrees north and continues for a long time. There is even a bridge over Hollow Road. It more or less disappears into the trees, only reappearing on a small girder bridge, until it comes to Mont Clare, PA, and crosses this beautiful curved stone trestle, which also crosses the Schuylkill River, coming into Phoenixville. The part of the line has looked like it was originally double track, then single track until its abandonment. At Devault, it crosses under the PA Turnpike, until it ends very abruptly (according to Google Maps) in Sidley, PA, with what seems to be a small abandoned yard. Unless I missed something, then that is all that this line leads to, with many former industries along the line.
If anyone knows what this is or was, please let me know!
Trainman2005/MatthewB.
P.S. I would give more information, but my computer is about to run out of battery. Thanks!
Here's some locations on Google Maps:
Beginning of the line, connection to mainline : https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Greater+Philadelphia+Expo+Center/@40.1178334,-75.4680241,234a,35y,299.47h,47.1t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c691675a70908d:0x872174672957ecdf!8m2!3d40.1238039!4d-75.4581173
Oaks, display of old trains : https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Greater+Philadelphia+Expo+Center/@40.126171,-75.4566444,222a,35y,299.47h,47.1t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c691675a70908d:0x872174672957ecdf!8m2!3d40.1238039!4d-75.4581173
Stone Viaduct at Mont Clare, pa : https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Greater+Philadelphia+Expo+Center/@40.1348503,-75.5068896,410a,35y,331.22h,40.31t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c691675a70908d:0x872174672957ecdf!8m2!3d40.1238039!4d-75.4581173
cool old overhead crossing signal, most if not all rr crossings are paved over now : https://www.google.com/maps/@40.113483,-75.5388465,3a,75y,120.72h,88.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxj0SBvyJhmmD6SIls17qkQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
cool bridge over PA-29 : https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1064093,-75.5300608,3a,75y,185.62h,95.48t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sA3dZF0YJq4I5U-8h0PndFQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DA3dZF0YJq4I5U-8h0PndFQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D198.0867%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656
As seen, the bridge goes on for quite some direction : https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Greater+Philadelphia+Expo+Center/@40.1071123,-75.5298878,130a,35y,182.82h,45t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c691675a70908d:0x872174672957ecdf!8m2!3d40.1238039!4d-75.4581173
Here's something wierd. a small section of track, completely independent, with some sort of paving, I think. THis is also where the line passes under the PA turnpike. A crossing just after the PAT still has the tracks showing through! Foreshadowing? : https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Greater+Philadelphia+Expo+Center/@40.0775756,-75.5389856,54a,35y,185.39h,47.55t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c691675a70908d:0x872174672957ecdf!8m2!3d40.1238039!4d-75.4581173
Here is where it shows there is a junction. To see it, you will have to go into map mode : https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Greater+Philadelphia+Expo+Center/@40.0752748,-75.5439958,143m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c691675a70908d:0x872174672957ecdf!8m2!3d40.1238039!4d-75.4581173
Once you go down the junction, and follow two curves, you will find the small yard mentioned earlier in my post, plus another few spurs. Again, you might have to go into map mode or zoom in to see the tracks. : https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Greater+Philadelphia+Expo+Center/@40.0671447,-75.5510664,860m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c691675a70908d:0x872174672957ecdf!8m2!3d40.1238039!4d-75.4581173
If anyone even has a guess as to what this is, or was, please don't hesitate to tell me. I saw the original displayed locomotives while at a convention there, and my curiosity never stopped. Thanks, Trainman2005/MatthewB.