When it comes to the history of industrial Allentown, the railroad buffs are among the current experts. Our heavy manufacturing base moved it's materials on the tracks of several railroads. The Front Street area was crisscrossed with tracks and sidings. The West End Branch ran along Sumner Avenue, crossed Tilghman Street, looped around 17th Street and ended near 12th and Liberty. The Barber Quarry Branch ran along the Little Lehigh until it then followed Cedar Creek. It crossed Hamilton Street near the current Hamilton Family Restaurant and ended at what is now the Park Department Building. The rail buffs are current day archeologists, looking for remnants of those glory days. Shown above is a portion of the Barber Quarry pier and track. This is at the bottom of Lehigh Street hill, near the former bank call center, near the former Acorn Hotel, in a former city still called Allentown.
photo courtesy of Mike Huber, Coplay
related posts
The Train of Lehigh
Parkway
The World of Mirth
Lehigh Valley Railroad Piers
Depot at Overlook Park
reprinted from April 2013
ADDENDUM: This remnant of the previous railroad bridge is part of the Wire Mill Bridge over the Little Lehigh, which will soon be closed for repairs.
"When it comes to the history of industrial Allentown, the railroad buffs are among the current experts." The trolley fans are also among the current experts. I love and have been showing pictures of Allentown from the trolley days to my friends. Among them are pictures of the 8th St Bridge being built, trolleys on the bridge showing the toll booths for pedestrians & vehicles, the Aineyville trestle that crossed Trout Creek and the former Reading RR East Penn Junction along Basin St. Many of the buildings in these pictures still exist. The ticket office for the famed Liberty Bell Route was at 8th & Hamilton St. The building is now being demolished, unfortunately like much of old Allentown. But then the under-informed minorities and their champion, the corrupt Fed-Ed have no sense of history for this area. They only no how to destroy what was once a beautiful, vibrant city.
ReplyDeleteMM,
ReplyDeleteThe nue alchemy is a covering over any archeology that was historical marvels of Allentown pa.