DL&W Alford, PA station and tower - to be demolished?

ebtrr · **Posted:** Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:27 pm

Was watching a nice video today about the abandoned DL&W structures on the Nicholson Cutoff at Alford, PA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE6qCH-izGg

At 22:45 the author states that the buildings are to be torn down (no timeline given). While there are several surviving DL&W concrete interlocking towers, it is still shameful that they have to be torn down way out in the country. Probably liability concerns. The station looks much more unique but in more dilapidated condition.

Of particular note to preservationists, this tower still has a partial armstrong machine in it, which seems to be rare for the remaining DL&W towers.

They also show another of the towers on the cutoff (no machine left) but I have as yet not been able to locate it. If anyone knows where it is located I would appreciate that information.

6-18003 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:31 am **Posts:** 728

Well that's a shame.

6-18003 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:31 am **Posts:** 728

For reference: https://www.nepaview.com/dlw-alford-station.html

nedsn3 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 02, 2019 11:04 am

Interesting video, but.....
1. Why do people have to focus on their own face while they talk instead of showing the subject at hand?
2. He needs to stay off of the tracks. Wrong lesson there.
Neat looking structures.
Ned

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2127

ebtrr wrote:

They also show another of the towers on the cutoff (no machine left) but I have as yet not been able to locate it. If anyone knows where it is located I would appreciate that information.

The second tower is near Wickizer Road in Kingsley, PA. If you look on a map at where Wickizer Road crosses the track, then go south from there about 1/2 mile, that is the approximate location.

PC

robertjohndavis · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:10 am **Posts:** 2499

Alford is one of only a handful of stations that were not demolished during the NYS&W’s period of operating the DL&W from Taylor to Bingo. It has been a magical, abandoned site for 40+ years.

And there’s the rub. No one could come up with a plan to do anything with the station and tower all that time. It can’t be a surprise that the end may be near.

To me, Alford is the quintessential DL&W rural junction. I sort of modeled it in HO once. And one of my all time favorite stories about a “professional” railfan involves Alford, graffiti and a duck blind. That’s a 3 beer story.

Alford is a cool spot.

Rob

ebtrr · **Posted:** Mon Mar 11, 2019 2:20 pm

PCook wrote:

The second tower is near Wickizer Road in Kingsley, PA. If you look on a map at where Wickizer Road crosses the track, then go south from there about 1/2 mile, that is the approximate location.

PC

Thanks for the info!

ebtrr · **Posted:** Tue Jan 24, 2023 10:20 pm

An update on this old topic, per areal views the station has been demolished. Only debris in it's place. Tower appears to still be standing.

cjvrr · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2023 10:41 am

Been demolished for over a year.

I was at the station site on January 15, 2023 and all the debris is still there.

When it was torn down over a year ago I grabbed some of the rafter tails to make an overhang at my home. They haven't been used yet....lol

Plenty of cut stones, wood and bricks at the site for souvenirs. Even some of the wooden door frames remain.

Tower is still standing but getting absolutely covered with graffiti.