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Stations where lines divide?

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Posted by Miningman on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 7:53 PM

Now that was thoughouly enjoyable. Beautiful stations. Everything is so quaint, individual and looking like a million bucks.  Big hardwoods and lush grounds...just please don't tell me it's all parking lots and fast food joints today accented by strewn garbage and guys in hoodies. 

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Posted by Firelock76 on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 6:31 PM

Not sure if this one counts or not, but just in case it does...

I pulled out my copy of "The Next Station Will Be...The Northern Railroad of New Jersey (Erie)" from the Railroadians of America in 1976.

The old Northern Railroad ran from Jersey City to Nyack NY, and at Sparkill NY a branch split from the main line and ran west to Suffern, NY. It was referred to as the "Piermont Branch," although it didn't really run to Piermont anymore except for a small freight branch.

The Piermont Branch is long gone, and the Northern itself is abandoned north of the NJ/NY state line.  CSX owns what's left and would like to abandon that too.

For a cool peek at the glory days check this out...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzTAGCUUMtk

Follow the "Greetings From Bergen County" links for some neat rail postcard videos.  Ahhh, like being back home...

 

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Posted by bobontroy on Thursday, May 25, 2017 9:12 PM

In Illinois the Chicago Peoria & St Louis had at least two depots like this...both long gone.  In Havana, IL the line from Pekin diverted on one side of the depot to Jacksonville, the other side to Springfield.  In Lock Haven, IL (near Alton) the lines diverged with one line going north to Springfield and the other west to Grafton, IL.  In both cases the depot was situated in the middle just like at Point of Rocks.  Bob F

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Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, May 25, 2017 4:57 PM

Boyd

This thread that I started would be even better with maps and more pictures.

 

Easy enough. Google the different places mentioned.

I have been to Bellows Falls and White River junction.

A few years ago I saw quite a lot about White River Junction online.

A little research will show a lot with sometimes links to train forums discussions.

Below is a map you must have missed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Station_(Northampton,_Massachusetts)#/media/File:Highway_Grade_Crossings_Across_Railroads_in_a_part_of_the_City_of_Northampton.jpg

Rich

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Posted by Boyd on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 9:29 PM

This thread that I started would be even better with maps and more pictures.

Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.

RME
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Posted by RME on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 7:15 PM

One of the entities that owns the Tunnel Bar has to have the coolest 'unrecognized railroad name' reference out there - Harmonic Rock LLC.

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Posted by richg1998 on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 5:20 PM

Union Station in Northampton, Ma was served by four roads at one time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Station_(Northampton,_Massachusetts)

Two lines are now rail trails I ride on a bicycle a lot. They will soon cross under the one line still in use.

https://trainsinthevalley.org/northampton-underpass/

One line passes through Easthampton, Ma where I live. One Rail trail will extend to New Haven, Ct in the near future.

Rich

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Posted by Bobkat525 on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 3:21 PM
While we're in New England -- Bellow Falls Vermont.
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Posted by acmatth on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 5:16 PM

Hanover Junction, Pennsylvania where the Northern Central RR and Hanover Junction, Hanover and Gettysburg RR diverged.

 

 

 

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Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 10:08 AM

Walton, Va., on the N&W--the line from Roanoke splits here with one leg going towards Bluefield, and the other leg going to Bristol.

Granger, Wy., on the UP--you can go to the Pacific Northwest or to Ogden.

Johnny

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Posted by Readingfan2124 on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 10:00 AM
Roanoke on N&W
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Posted by Readingfan2124 on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 9:58 AM
On the Reading was Wayne Jct., Jenkintown, Bethlehem (w/LV), Allentown (w/CNJ), Norristown, Lansdale, Tamaqua (another one inside a wye), East Mahanoy Jct., Lehighton (LV & CNJ), Palmerston (LV & Chestnut Ridge), etc
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Posted by Readingfan2124 on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 9:46 AM
Union Station in DC, PRR stations @ Baltimore, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh & 30th Street in Philadelphia for starters
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 6:50 PM

A location may surprize some is Bristol, Va.

The new SOU RR line from Johnson City proceeded by the main station ( located west of the track ) to a switch off the main going to the west.  South of the diverging switch was SOU RR property and was N&W main track north of that station switch. The line actually split the platform canopy with the platform continuation along the N&W main.

  This line to the west was for SOU RR service on the old V&SW  ( Virginia and South Western ). Service was to Gate City, Big Stone Gap, Appalachia.  Connecting to L&N for service to Corbin, Lexington, Frankfort, Cincinnati, and north. Had express, RPO, Coach, and sleepers due to inacessibility factors. Grandfather may have served as a pullman conductor briefly.

Don't know when service to Appalachia ended but believe early 1930s.

Of course the N&W main north of Bristol was always more busy

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, May 7, 2017 10:25 PM

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by matthewsaggie on Sunday, May 7, 2017 9:24 PM

one for Balt- Relay Maryland near Thomas Viaduct - Hotel and Station stood in the junction of the old main line and the Washington line of the B&O.

see this if someone can heat it:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snh0Cuo3LEI/T_go45lxaFI/AAAAAAAAAi0/xUWS7V37g7c/s1600/The+garden,+hotel,+and+passengers+at+the+Relay+station-hotel+ca.+1880%27s.+Courtesy+of+the+Enoch+Pratt+Free+Library.JPG

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Posted by matthewsaggie on Sunday, May 7, 2017 9:18 PM

one for Balt- Relay Maryland near Thomas Viaduct

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snh0Cuo3LEI/T_go45lxaFI/AAAAAAAAAi0/xUWS7V37g7c/s1600/The+garden,+hotel,+and+passengers+at+the+Relay+station-hotel+ca.+1880%27s.+Courtesy+of+the+Enoch+Pratt+Free+Library.JPG

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Posted by Deggesty on Sunday, May 7, 2017 8:49 PM

That is, indeed, a nice picture of the Point of the Rocks station. I presume that the station agent lived upstairs.

The building is quite familiar to me, I usually pass it twice on my trips to the South.

Also, since I now know what it is, K Tower in Washington is also a familiar sight.

Johnny

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Posted by Firelock76 on Sunday, May 7, 2017 8:40 PM

Wanswheel, I followed that seedyroad.com link under the Nanuet station postcard and those are the now gone New City tracks in the foreground, the line to Spring Valley's on the other side of the station but not visable.

And that's a great shot of Point of Rocks in it's steam glory days!

Thanks, Wanswheel!

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Posted by wanswheel on Sunday, May 7, 2017 7:20 PM
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Posted by Firelock76 on Sunday, May 7, 2017 2:39 PM

RME
 
Firelock76
At Nanuet NY on the old Erie "New York and New Jersey" railroad there was a diverging line to the east that ran to Piermont on the Hudson River, the original terminal of the Erie Railroad. The other line swung to the west to Spring Valley NY. Both lines were connected north of the station forming a wye.

 

Close.  The diverging lines went to Spring Valley and New City; the Piermont line ran across the top.

What I'd heard was that the old station (on the opposite side of the existing track from the present structure) burned in the '80s.  Mike might be able to find the story in local papers; I'm sure it was covered when it happened.

 

Right you are, I did some further checking.  I also found out the old station burned down in 1991.  It's seen briefly in a cab ride video I've got filmed in 1990 (which I'll probably watch again tonight) and as I said, it was in bad, bad shape. Probably only still standing at the time by force of habit.

In that cab ride video I mentioned you can kind of see the "ghost" of the New City branch, a parking lot wall follows the curve of where the branch line was, the tracks being long gone.

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, May 7, 2017 2:26 PM

54light15
Isn't there still passenger service to Point of Rocks from D.C?

MARC commuter service from Brunswick and Martinsburg stop at the station.  The track that can be seen in the background of the station picture is the East Leg of the Wye between the Old Main Line (left side of the station) and the Metropolitan Sub (right side of the station) - the wye handles the MARC commuter operations that run from Frederick, MD to the District, they don't stop.  There is no MARC ticket agent and no indoor waiting area.  The station itself is the headquarters for the CSX Roadmaster, his men and the Signal Dept.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by RME on Sunday, May 7, 2017 11:20 AM

Firelock76
At Nanuet NY on the old Erie "New York and New Jersey" railroad there was a diverging line to the east that ran to Piermont on the Hudson River, the original terminal of the Erie Railroad. The other line swung to the west to Spring Valley NY. Both lines were connected north of the station forming a wye.

Close.  The diverging lines went to Spring Valley and New City; the Piermont line ran across the top.

What I'd heard was that the old station (on the opposite side of the existing track from the present structure) burned in the '80s.  Mike might be able to find the story in local papers; I'm sure it was covered when it happened.

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Posted by Firelock76 on Sunday, May 7, 2017 10:01 AM

54light15

Isn't there still passenger service to Point of Rocks from D.C? 

 

As far as I know, yes. MARC transit trains stop there, I did see MARC signs on the premises, as well as commuter parking.

I just remembered another station with diverging lines.  At Nanuet NY on the old Erie "New York and New Jersey" railroad there was a diverging line to the east that ran to Piermont on the Hudson River, the original terminal of the Erie Railroad.  The other line swung to the west to Spring Valley NY. Both lines were connected north of the station forming a wye.

The line's still in service as New Jersey Transit's Pascack Valley Line, but the tracks to Piermont are long gone. The 1870's train station in Nanuet was still there in the early 90's, albeit in a ramshackle condition.  I don't know if it's there now, I'd be surprised if it was.

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Posted by 54light15 on Sunday, May 7, 2017 9:51 AM

Isn't there still passenger service to Point of Rocks from D.C? 

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Posted by Firelock76 on Sunday, May 7, 2017 9:40 AM

BaltACD
 
NorthWest

Point of Rocks, MD, on the B&O is probably the most famous example.

 

 

 

We saw this station last September on the way to a Basset Hound rescue organization fundraising event and let me tell you, as good as that photograph is it barely gives you the full impact of seeing it "in the flesh", it's just magnificent!  What a structure and masterpiece of the 19th Century builder's art!

Unfortunately it's not open to the public, so you can only admire it from the outside.  Point of Rocks Tunnel is just a stone's throw away.

 

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Posted by Firelock76 on Sunday, May 7, 2017 9:33 AM

RME

Firelock, didn't the C&O station in Richmond have tracks in a V at one end?

 

Sorry RME, I haven't looked in on this topic until this morning.

Yes, the old C&O station has diverging tracks on it's south side. One set swings off to the east, it's the line to Newport News used by freights and Amtrak and passes though the old C&O Fulton Yard where amazingly a coaling tower still stood until about ten years ago. The other swings west, it's the old C&O (now CSX) James River line to Clifton Forge, freight only now.

That old C&O Main Street Station is an amazing restoration, visiting it is like being a time-traveler.  Just gorgeous on the inside, and the outside's not bad-looking either!

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Posted by ORNHOO on Thursday, May 4, 2017 10:43 AM
And also Vancouver, Washington.
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Posted by K4sPRR on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 7:16 AM

Hudson Ohio where the PRR Cleveland & Pittsburgh line junctioned with the Cleveland, Akron (Columbus) Cincinnati line.  The station was positioned between the two lines.  Despite attempts to save the station it was demolished a few years ago.

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Posted by ORNHOO on Monday, May 1, 2017 6:54 PM
Davis, California. The first time I rode the Coast Starlight, it used the west leg of the (now) Cal Northern wye, and the Zephyr used the south platform on the overland route.

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