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Northern NJ abandon lines
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Author:  Jeff Slupski [ Mon Oct 20, 2003 6:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Northern NJ abandon lines
I was in Belvidere NJ yesterday at a winery and noticed an abandon railbed along route 46 heading toward Belvidere. Did a little more investigating and came upon a intersection of 2 rail lines, both abandon where RT 31 and 46 intersect. There was a high 3 arch concrete trestle, and under it ran a thru girder bridge. What lines were these, and how long have they been torn up? Got some nice pictures of a large tresle crossing the delaware of the same line. Also was a GM&O coach as a restuarant close by as well.

Jeff Slupski

mcc385@yahoo.com
Author:  Keith Muldowney [ Tue Oct 21, 2003 6:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Northern NJ abandon lines
Jeff,

The lines you saw the remains of were the Lehigh & Hudson River which ran Northeast out of Belvidere towards Andover. The L&HR interchanged with the Pennsy at Belvidere. The other line was the Lackawanna's "Old Main" which came Northwest out of Washington through the Oxford Tunnel up to Butzville where it crossed the L&HR and headed towards the town of Delaware along Route 46 were it crossed 46 again heading across the Delaware River into PA. The DL&W south of Delaware imerged from "Van Ness" Tunnel at Manunka Chunk were it had its interchange with the Pennsy's Bel Del line. The NYS&W even interchanged with the DL&W at Delaware.

There are several books on these lines including Warren Lee's "Down Along the Bel Del" and "The Lackawanna Railroad in Northwest New Jersey" by Lowenthal & Greenberg.

Hope this helps.

Keith

kmuldowney@att.net
Author:  Tim Stuy [ Tue Oct 21, 2003 9:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Northern NJ abandon lines *PIC*
The GM&O sleeper "Azelea" is now part of the Riverside resturaunt. It has had a number of owners over the years. The food is not great, but it is cheap. If you go inside they have a wonderful series of photos on the wall showing the L&HR delivering the car to the nearest crossing and then it being trucked to where it is now.

Also another three mile east on 46 is the L&HR Great Meadows station which has been restored (along with several other associated building like the speeder shed). It is now a civil engineering office.

Allamuchy, NJ L&HR Freighthouse project
Image
tstuy@eldcps.org
Author:  Jeff Slupski [ Tue Oct 21, 2003 7:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Northern NJ abandon lines *PIC*
Ok, here is one picture I found on the net of the site I was referrng to in my first post. The upper viaduct is the old DL&W and the lower route is the D&HR

Jeff Slupski

Image
mcc385@yahoo.com
Author:  Keith Muldowney [ Tue Oct 21, 2003 8:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Northern NJ abandon lines
Jeff,

In the picture you posted the view is towards the West (towards Bevidere), the Rt. 31 bridge is visible in the distance. The DL&W bridge was originally a 3 arch stone bridge built for the Warren RR, replaced in 1929 by the 3 arch concrete bridge shown. The L&HR was built in 1881. The river is the Pequest. Just east from where the photo was taken was the Pequest Furnace. West from the location bout a 1/2 mile was the Butzville station for the L&HR, the DL&W station was on the North side of 46. Also coming into this area was a small branch line, Lehigh and Oxford, which joined with the L&HR perhaps under the 31 bridge. This 2 mile spur serviced an iron mine and limestone quarry. Perhaps someone can fill in more history on this line.

In my earlier post I may have mixed the tunnel names, both are refered to differenly at times. The tunnel in Oxford is refered to as the Oxford Tunnel or Van Nest Gap Tunnel. You go over this tunnel if you travel 31 South towards Washington.
The tunnel at Manunka Chunk is refered to as the Mununka Chunk Tunnel.

Keith

kmuldowney@att.net
Author:  Tim Stuy [ Wed Oct 22, 2003 8:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Northern NJ abandon lines
> Also coming into this area
> was a small branch line, Lehigh and Oxford,
> which joined with the L&HR perhaps under
> the 31 bridge. This 2 mile spur serviced an
> iron mine and limestone quarry. Perhaps
> someone can fill in more history on this
> line.

Keith,

I thought the Lehigh & Oxford came in further south, nearer to Oxford. Also there was an industrial railroad called the Pequest Furnace Railroad which connected to both the L&HR and the DL&W about a mile east of the photo. You can still see the bridge abutments for it crossing the Pequest River right next to the L&HR's bridge at the aptly name Pequest Furnace Road.

Tim


tstuy@eldcps.org
Author:  Keith Muldowney [ Wed Oct 22, 2003 6:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Northern NJ abandon lines
> Keith,

> I thought the Lehigh & Oxford came in
> further south, nearer to Oxford. Also there
> was an industrial railroad called the
> Pequest Furnace Railroad which connected to
> both the L&HR and the DL&W about a
> mile east of the photo. You can still see
> the bridge abutments for it crossing the
> Pequest River right next to the L&HR's
> bridge at the aptly name Pequest Furnace
> Road.

> Tim

Tim,

The line closer to Oxford I believe was the Pohatcong RR which was later Lackawanna and crossed Rt 31 slightly South of the light in Oxford and headed West towards the Oxford Furnace. The Lehigh & Oxford serviced the Belvidere Iron Co iron mine and a limestone quarry on top of Rattlesnake Hill. Belvidere Iron supposively operated the line.

This is all very intereting.
Keith

kmuldowney@att.net
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