Re: (erielack) EL / CNJ Scranton

["Paul Brezicki" <doctorpb_@_bellsouth.net>]

Chuck,

 

Susquehanna-Avoca-Ashley trains AY-78 and AY-91 continued to operate for at
least 7 months, probably longer, after the merger, on schedules almost
identical to 1955. They appear in the 6/15/61 freight schedule, but not the
7/1/62. There was relatively little integration of freight operations right
after the merger, so in addition, you continued to have interchange with
L&HR at Port Morris and continued routing of through freights on the DL&W
west of Corning.

 

Paul B

 

From: "Chuck Yungkurth" <raildata_@_comcast.net>

Subject: (erielack) EL / CNJ Scranton

 

Thanks guys for all the replies to my CNJ/EL joint service.  (
Larabee,Sheppard,Connor,Brezinski) 

 

After reviewing all the info and thinking more (my original e-mail to Paul
should have been one of those "Put brain in gear before hitting keyboad"
deals) it becomes obvious that the CNJ units were backing empties into the
D&H interchange off the Daimond Branch. If I get a chance I will post a scan
of the slide. Which is why the locos would have been ehading west at Bridge
60.

 

But questions lead to more questions. I have spent over seventy years
delving into the maze of Scranton area railroads and still ahven't figured
it all out.

 

The CNJ /DL&W interchange at Taylor was the only major source of traffic on
the CNJ north of Wilkes-Barre since they used the D&H to Minooka Jct.

then there was only 5 miles of CNJ track to Scranton. There the line only
had two graocery warehosues, aCudahy meat Co, team tracks, and ameagre
interchange with the O&W. As a kid I lived close to the CNJ tracks and I
always thought the railroad only ran engines and cabooses, not knowing that
they picked up their train at Taylor. The CNJ roundhouse was the one spot
where we kids were welcome.

 

But the Erie had a through mixed train each way from Suquehanna to the CNJ
at Ashley. These trains went over Erie Jeff Jct to Cabondale, then on D&H to
Avoca. There they went back on Erie trackage winding through Pittston etc.
to Plans Jct where the branch met the Canal branch of the CNJ. But the Erie
train went over on to the CNJ branch and through Wilkes-Barre to Ashley.
This interchange and traffic ceased when CNJ abandoned all PA trackage in
1972-3. Question is, did the EL route this fromer Erie train to Scranton via
DL&W route after that??  Or did it run at all after the EL merger??

 

BTW....there was no Erie - DL&W interchange in Scranton. The only one even
near was at Dunmore down behind the car shops and was seldom,if ever, used.
To get from Erie trackage rights on the D&H to DL&W would have meant going
over about 1.5 miles of D&H track where the Erie and DL&W had no trackage
rights. To my knowledge, the only time the EL ran over the D&H was when the
Nicholson tunnel was closed to lower the track (Frirst EL Sciety meet, at
Binghamton, Schuyler!)

 

Fine double page spread of a view of CNJ at Minooka Jct with DL&W Tayloer
station in back ground in Anth RR's & Mining Vol I. Minooka Jct was one of
those palces you would never find if not a native!

 

Chuck Yungkurth\Boulder CO

 



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