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

[Modelcar]

....That is really amazing of the work finally being starting at Bedford Springs...Just difficult to see how that place can be brought back to life.....

[southpennrailroad]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

....That is really amazing of the work finally being starting at Bedford Springs...Just difficult to see how that place ca
n be brought back to life.....

I look at the place (Bedford Spring) as well and wonder what amount of tourism will bring that area back to what it was or similar. As for the ESSO I never was up in that area. I don't recall anything about route 30. Tat would be OFF TRACK to me. HA HA!

[southpennrailroad]

You should know where this ridge islocated. Look at the South Penn alignment passing just behind the ridge abundment. This is on the south bank of the river.

[southpennrailroad]

The South Penn was already planning onring in rails andties. This B&B bridge w where they were going to supply the east to Sideling Hill and west to the top of the Allegheny Mtn. The South Penn would be beneaththe B&B algnment just west of Everett.

[southpennrailroad]

The letter which brought in the biddng process o the South Penn Railroad.

[southpennrailroad]

I've been meaning to send this up. Notice the date is after the 911 incident. This is very mportant to me. It also gets me onto private property as well.

[southpennrailroad]

A surveyor from Somerset County has this survey equipment and said this is most likely the type of equipment they used on the South Penn.

[Modelcar]

....I wonder if I am identifying the right location re: The location of the bridge in your above post and showing the S P passing near it's one abutment.....Not very much map to go on and if it is the covered bridge I related to....that {steep}, embankment shown at the lower part of the map would be the northeastern side....?? You'll have to go a bit farhter with that one.....
Surveying instrument is a thing of beauty.....and it would be well over 120 years old if it is of the type the surverors used on the S P.
If you ever get into the Westmoreland Arts Museum at Greensburg, the painting..."Closed For Duration" is there and if it's on display {they rotate paintings}, that would be "Mong's Esso Station".......Painted while closed for WWII.

[Modelcar]

...........Or is it the Rt 30 bridge just east of Bedford.....At least it would be on the south side of the Juniata there....?? But there should be a steep elevation on the north side if that's the location.....??

[southpennrailroad]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

...........Or is it the Rt 30 bridge just east of Bedford.....At least it would be on the south side of the Juniata there....?? But there should be a steep elevation on the north side if that's the location.....??

It's actually the Bridgeport & Bedford Railroad bridge crossing the Juniat River that is now removed.

[Modelcar]

...Ok, understand.....Wasn't quite enough map to work with.
That valley up to Manns Choice and then from outside of Manns Choice where 31 rises up slightly along the ridge above the river with cabins on the northwest side of the road....the valley continues all the way up through that area until we start up towards White Horse. That is a beautiful valley all the way up thruogh there...Have looked at it hundreds of times with our testing and always liked to travel up through there. Especially very pretty in the summertime. And then it was the long drag up White Horse to the summit...especially with trucks we were testing....Of course where we started up grade the Turnpike swung off to the right heading to the New Baltimore area and I'm sure the South Penn would be doing the same......There is where the surveyors had their work cut out for them to get up through that area and then to the location where they had to bore the Allegheny Tunnel.

[Modelcar]

...Happen to think about some years ago several of us were roaming around in the mountain east of Allegheny Tunnel and found this very large fill of the South Penn....and remember it had a culvert down at it's center, etc....I seem to remember of it being an exceptional big fill.....Must not have been too far east of the tunnel. Perhaps you have been to it Russ....

[southpennrailroad]

Look just inside the tree line to see where the South Penn work farthest from the Allegheny Tunnel is seen. This is on Tunnel road at the 340 address. Notice by the fence that I took this from the turnpike at mile post 128.0 at Three Lick Run Valley

[Modelcar]

...Yes, see it Russ....Seems it would have been very close to the house but I'm sure the house was not there at that time.

[southpennrailroad]

On the contrary, the house is older then the railroad and is found on their maps. And studying the maps and site itself, seems to reveal had the expansion into two tracks have taken place te second track would have just missed the back door.

[southpennrailroad]

Here is a comparison map showing the South Penn compared tot he Turnpike climbing the mountain.

[southpennrailroad]

The Pennsylvania turnpike abandoned the South Penn Railroad leaving it for exploration as I did on this date marked on the photo. The faint turnpike tunnels are seen through the trees in the distance. The grade is directly in the foreground.

[southpennrailroad]

The north slope of the railroad grade is seen in this shot covered in fresh snow. This is on the Fisher property on Tunnel Road. The fill is almost three stories tall. If you present yourself with respect they may let you explore this on your own. Up grade is to the right.

[southpennrailroad]

Another shot just to the east of the Negro Mountain Tunnel at mile post 118.0. Look just above the evergreen trees to spot this well blended in grade. West is left.

[southpennrailroad]

Everett Cemetery Tunnel

The Everett Cemetery was almost a path into Everett, however the cost of purchasing an acre f property in that town was between 1000.00-1500.00 dollars. The instead decided to remain on the south bank only to cross the river at the base of the cemetery twice. A freight office and yards were to be built just south in te town of Earlston. Look howlong te tunnel should have een uilt. I c just see them working and as the got beneath the graves the bodies just dropping from above.

In this picturethe east is to the right







Notice the Harrisburg & Western letter head placed above the South Pennsylvania Railroad letter head.

[southpennrailroad]

The map showing exactly where the Everett station yards were to be built.

[southpennrailroad]

YOU FIGURE THIS OUT.





I'll let you study these two pieces of South Penn surveyed sites. It will show you where the South Penn and the turnpike would have been built. In the picture I AM STANDING SOUTH OF THE BUILDINGS LOOKING NORTH Study them close and you will see just what I had to do to find where the turnpike should have been built. Imagine this for all sites not built such as this area between Breezewood and the Allegheny Mountain where not a section of dirt was worked on.

[Modelcar]

....I am amazed to the extent which papers and drawings and maps, etc....seem to have been preserved in district files.....and even available to see.
On the photo with the house and barn and the S P ROW behind it.....clearly visible.....and looking at the map, you should be just about standing on the other ROW for whatever it was...{Turnpike..?}.....You mentioned "where the turnpike should have been built"......That I don't understand. You might comment a bit farther on that. "Should have been built".....?? Didn't know any sites for the Turnpike were rejected.

[southpennrailroad]

Simply put, the South Penn and therfore the turnpike should have been built in front of both the barn and house in the green field. The upper section of right of way on the map is a continuation and should be attached to the left end of the map at the bottom. The turnpike is built in the area behind the house and barn. The road traveling away from whereI am standing in the photograph is the road seen on the map just to the left of the buildings.

[southpennrailroad]

Bedford Narrows right of way!

This South Penn map shows the existing B&B line with several other surveys which were done by the South Penn in the area just east of Bedford (the town) inwhat is called the Narrows. Notice to the right of the map I have two arrows covering the right and left side of the one survey route. That paticular crossig is what today is the exact alignment of the famous historic route 30 /Lincoln Highway bridge. SOOO the next time you find yourself crossing this historic bridge, think about the South Penn surveys done here. By the way the South Penn actually chose the one crossing from the north side of the river after crossing in front of the old route 30 toll bridge. These piers are still standing today. Picture on the way. I placedin dark arrows where the turnpike is today.

[southpennrailroad]

These two items or attachments are closely related. This was the choosen route the South Penn was going to build upon.

[Modelcar]

...I suppose none of that makes any sense to me Russ, but no matter.....I see what looks like the remains of the S P ROW passing northwest of the house and barn....and your statement of it should have passed the house and barn "in the green field", I can't make the connection.
I must assume the house and barn indicated on the map are not connected to the surveyed route south of it .....Each must belong on a different page....?? If so, then since they would not be located in relation with each other and you are saying in reality the Turnpike passes farther northwest of the house....I could understand. But don't understand how they would be passing through the "green field". Clear as mud Russ...Ha.....

[southpennrailroad]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

...I suppose none of that makes any sense to me Russ, but no matter.....I see what looks like the remains of the S P ROW passing northwest of the house and barn....and your statement of it should have passed the house and barn "in the green field", I can't make the connection.
I must assume the house and barn indicated on the map are not connected to the surveyed route south of it .....Each must belong on a different page....?? If so, then since they would not be located in relation with each other and you are saying in reality the Turnpike passes farther northwest of the house....I could understand. But don't understand how they would be passing through the "green field". Clear as mud Russ...Ha.....

OK here is how it goes. The page was not wide enough to place the survey route onto the left side of the bottom section of the survey. They should be connected. Anyhow, the upper section is to be ignored. The area you believe is the South Penn in the color photo, is actually the turnpike alignment. The turnpike bought the South Penn right of way and therefore should be south of the house and barn because that is where the right of way is drawn by the railroad on their map. On the map, the road on the leftside of the house moving north is the road seen in the color photo. Its quit the opposite, the house and barn are a definate part of the bottom survey and that is the main focal point. Thats what makes this searching for the South Penn interesting is that what appears is not really so. Look at the map and see for yourself that the South Penn is runing in front of or south of the house and barn as the turnpike has not utilized the railroad right of way . The house is "L" shaped as seen on the map. Paper was a premium back then and they drew the extension to the top of the map not the bottom.

After re-reading your post, you are correct in thatthe turnpike didn't use the railroad right of way here on te Mowery property. They built to the north of the house and barn. While traveling on the turnpike east bound lanes today, this would make a great railfanning photo with a train traveling to the south of the barn and house .

[Modelcar]

...In my post above I was referring to the house and barn in ref. to the posts above, not the new posts you list above showing the Bedford Narrows. Yes, I've even fished east of the Rt. 30 bridge there too...Perhaps a few miles east of there.

Bedford in all aspects is a historic place. In later years when I've had a chance to be down through there and with 30 bypassing the town now it seems very strange to me. Took a couple of pic's of the old Art Deco Shell station a couple of years ago.

Understand they have even moved the the old coffee pot restaurant out to the Fair Grounds now.

And back to the Turnpike route through that area....and up and over and through the mountains....Quite an accomplishment and well done. Just wi***he service stations and restaurants were as good as the originals...Stopped in Midway back 5 - 6 years ago and I thought it was a sad sight with the fast food arrangement to what it was original and including the decor....

[southpennrailroad]

Yep. I only use the rest areas for relief. If I have to eat, I either go to ED"s Steak House or a pizza shop at the intersection of 56 and 3. By the way, the Fort Bedford would not be there today had the South Penn been built as the South Penn was to pass exactly along that hillside where the fort is located now. That also was the division line between the Bedford Div and Soerset Div. Each Div was to be 30 miles long.