Bird's eye view of Rockville Bridge near Harrisburg Pa....

[southpennrailroad]

The first three miles of a 14.5 mile journey suggested by the South Penn that the EBT Railroad should follow to reach the west portal of the Tuscarora Mtn. Tunnel. Beginning at the Rockville/Orbisonia Shade Gap line.

[southpennrailroad]

Notice the black line of the Shade Gap algnment comes to a side line alongthe red South Pe alignment just outside the Tuscarora Mtn. Tunnel. Also Burnt Cabins is on this map to the left. The turnpike is not shown of course but wel inside this survey map.

[Modelcar]

...Visited and rode that line years ago...in the early 60's. Sat in the wicker chairs of their passenger car that I believe Grover Cleveland used....So the story was.
Never could understand why lines such as that one were constructed in narrow gauge. All the extra movements that caused {when meeting the Pennsylvania to off load their coal product...}, makes me wonder was it worth the savings.

[dwil89]

Found this link that shows pics of the abandoned 15 mile section of the PA Turnpike in the Breezewood area, when a 15 mile long bypass was completed in 1968 to bypass 2 tunnels http://www.briantroutman.com/highways/abandonedpaturnpike/

[Modelcar]

...Yea Dave....I don't know how current the web site you point to is and I have wondered how far along the "bike trail" may be now....Believe the intention was in later rendition to do 8.5 miles including the 2 tunnels. Anyone have an update for us...?

[southpennrailroad]

The bike trail is still primitive and remains the same as it was when acquired in 2001. However the curators are trying to get funding for the improvements. The trail is a ride as you take your life into your own hands setting. In fact my Cd was instrumental in them getting funding for the trail. However they put the cart before the horse. In February I was looking in my CD that I have and which all the photos you see here were dug up from and decided to call SAC (Southern Allegheny Conservancy ) owners of the trail and upon them answering my call were great to have heard from me. I asked why and they said that the Cd was instrumental in them getting a $60,000.00 grant. They told me that they were in the process of being interviewd for the grant and were about to be turned down when the meeting teporarily adjourned so as to have the WJAC johnstown telivision crew leave the room. They were there to telivis the incident, It appears the meeting about wether the trail was a railroad grade was under question. While the room was being cleared a member of SAC decided to introduce my Cd into evidence. Once they reviewed it, it was decided the trail was indeed clasified as an old railroad corrider and should be given the money.

The problem now is that the amount was uped to the $90.000.00 amount but that the owners were supose to have done a study which was to have cost $20,000.00 of which they have no money to do and the grant may have to be returned. This study was needed before the grant was to issued and non of this grant money can be used for the study

Things that were wanted to be done was semi lighing the tunnels, and paving one set of ld turnpike lanes and a few other things. I will check on this tomorrow for you.

Note: I am not a member but a sort of honorary memeber, however I have access to drive this route while others are not allowed as it is a bike trail like all others. But because I am still researching things about the South Penn they allow me to have the access codes. I feel really privlliaged. I don't think that is spelled right. They were grateful for the 10 year study I have provided them and aways act like I am a member.

[Modelcar]

....Sounds like the typical moving of the government wheels....Sure hope they will be successful to get a plan into action and find the resourses to accompli***he upgrades needed to make the "old" pike into a bike trail. Would be really neat and {necessary}, to get some light into those tunnels. It is really wild how mother nature reclaims her territory so quickly....a 4 lane highway melting away into oblivion....And how I marveled how "modern" the pike was when I first rode on it when it was about a week old....No wonder the S P is hid so easily in some places. That's 120 years ago.

[southpennrailroad]

Sorry for not posting new info. Wife 47years young took a second stroke and is in ICU. Need sleep and some time to think. Need prayers!

[Modelcar]

...Oh my.....Such sad news. So sorry to hear of this set back. For sure, will offer prayer from this end.....We pray they can give her a full recovery.

[southpennrailroad]

Wife got out of the hospital and is doing well. Thanks for your prayers.

This next shot is the area just west of the Tuscarora Mtn. Tunnel and this road I am on (lockes road) is exactly where the South Penn was to cross this road from east (right) to west (left). The Perry County survey would enter the low cut seen waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in the distance. That is called Concord Gap. Route 75 enters that gap as well. Route 75 is a turnpike exit road junction.

The farm on the left side of the road is found on the South Penn maps.

[Modelcar]

Russ....Great you can report of good family news...!
Was wondering how things were going for you....and glad the news is possitive.

Tomorrow..{Saturday}, we'll head for Somerset.

Interesting site you post above. Gap was sure a blessing to the surveyors. They probably opened a bottle of bubbly when they saw that...

[southpennrailroad]

I was just passing through the Somerset area (notice date on photo) on my way to the factory where my new Danzer Trailer was built in Hagerstown, Md. It was hard not to stop and lookat sights. But I pushed on. I will be fixing he trailer up into a camper and the outside will be decorated with South Penn sights and other relaited material. Photos will be listed onto my web page as I progress.

[southpennrailroad]

A section of South Penn grade on private property north of the turnpike, off Horse track road in Somerset County west of the Allegheny Tunnel. Milepost 118.0. Notice how the farmer removed some of the grade but still leaving the stone box culvert.

[southpennrailroad]

When the Pennsylvania Turnpike slightly bypassed the sharp curve just east of Donegal, at mile post 92.0, I was finally able to explore what I was told as having a section of the South Penn down over the fence line of the turnpike. Here is what I found last year just over the fence line. Notice how the grade is curving to the left. The grade actually crosses beneath the turnpike and is once more found on the south side of the pike. On the other side of the turnpike from this point, the turnpike covered up one of the culverts and totally destroyed another and one which is a rubble culvert still is in the tree line.

[southpennrailroad]

Ok, I've taken you on some really neat sights. Now is the time to take you where no man has gone before. The West Virginia/Pennsylvania State line. In no mans land. This map reveals the proposed last two tunnels of the abandoned and rejected alignment of the South Penn Railroad. This route was surveyed in full but a keen lawyer wrote to Oliver Barnes recommending a better route. This tossed aside map reveals the descent from what is just east of Prosperity, Pa to Wheeling WV. route. I've traveled this route and recommend you take extra fuel as well as something to eat and drink. To see this spot look south from I-70 west of Washington, Pa and follow the Pa. State Line south to spot Majorsville where this map ended.

[southpennrailroad]

It might seem possible that Vanderbilt went blindly into building the South Penn. This is far from the truth as this next added photo shows a study was done into what would be hauled on the new line. This included passengers service. Also what amount of money they would make.



This is one of my favorite documents I have.

[Modelcar]

....Enjoyed the new stuff Russ....I just passed by some of what you show above, yesterday....And I was looking {again}, for the stuff that I knew about once again....Just like a rail fan....

That must have been quite a survey of the potential freight and passenger business. Wonder how those surveys were done...{without many telephones}....Must have been time consuming

[southpennrailroad]

Glad your back, I have many of these Western Union reciepts showing converstions between field operations and New York to Oliver Barnes. his one is hard to read but is stating that dinner that evening wasto be at Mortimers home. The map showswhere this dinner was held that night.

This (second photo) house was the Mortimers home as foundd on the Bedford Map. The map also showed an alternate alignment that had it been built would have tracks surrounding the two sides of the house.

[southpennrailroad]

The top photo is a 1884 South Penn survey map. Focus to the left and lookfor the same road seen on the aerial photo just below the same map. You can see the turnpike is not on the South Penn planned alignment just west of Manns Choice between highway 31 and the turnpike.

[Murphy Siding]

I got my July issue of Trains Magazine friday. On page 37 is a near identical photo to the one in the very first post of this thread.[:)]

[Modelcar]

...I believe Dave's was even a bit better.

[southpennrailroad]

Her is a old topographic map with sections of the South Penn survey maps placed over top to show comparisons of the route the South Penn was to pass over. The comparison between the two are neat to look at. Then & now views.

[southpennrailroad]

A letter written to Oliver Barnes in New York shows Wm. Shunk Chief (Field) Engineer for the SPRR had done some recon work on the PRR Rockville bridge to see just what it was made out of. I have over 2000 of these letters of the SPRR.

[southpennrailroad]

It's been over a year since this posting and its been a hard time. My wife since this time has had two attacks and a third which finally took her life in Febuary 15th. She was 48.1.15 days old. Since that time I have been gathering new information but have not the want nor time to process it. A lot of it is indeed good and when I get about doing so will try to continue this highly interesting information on the South Penn if anyone else is still interested.

[Anonymous]

Welcome back, sorry for your loss.

Of course we are still interested! At least I am. =)

[Modelcar]

....Russ.....I'm surprised when I pulled up this site....and very pleased you decided to post again.

I just sent you a personal note via email.

I'm sure there are plenty of folks waiting to continue the subject and see your fine info.

[southpennrailroad]

Yeah I was a bit of a shock and its been five months and I am trying to date but some think I should sulk. This new companion is highly interested in my research and wants to go with me just like my wife use to but is more interested. We went out yesterday and she enjoyed the trip even though the green was real green.

 

I am having a showing @ the Somerset Hist Society this thursday. I gave my laptop a shower last week and it didn't like it. Now I have a new one.

I asked my son to save my old laptop hard drive with all photos and he can transfer them he said. 

[Modelcar]

....Close....We plan to be at the Hampton Inn beginning about Aug. 2nd....{In Somerset}.

[Anonymous]

WOW! Great shot!

[Modelcar]

....Russ:  Have you had a chance to modify your "new" trailer you pictured in an earlier post.  Have you put it on the "job" yet along with images on it's sides as you mentioned earlier of doing.....