There is an NS branch that leaves the mainline at Emmaus, PA, that runs south to terminate in East Greenville, PA. It is former Reading trackage (as is NS's Allentown-Harrisburg main). The line is single track and runs through very scenic hills, formerly serving many quarriers, and even has a tunnel or two. It originally ran further south than East Greenville to meet up with the Reading's Philadelphia main, but that portion is already abandoned. I believe the abondoned portion is now the Perkiomen recreation trail.
I'm wondering what the status of this branch is at this time. It's obviously still intact, but in my year or so of living within a couple of miles I have never heard nor seen a train on it. One day I crossed and saw flange marks in the dirt at the crossing, indicating that something had crossed there, but it could have been a track car or a Sperry. The only time I've ever seen a train on it was in Emmaus, but the NS was only using the beginning of the branch as a switch lead. With such a lack of traffic I'm thinking it's a sure candidate for abandonment, which may not a be a bad thing as the scenery is great and I like to hike.
Any ideas?
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