CSX Transportation Historical Society

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Summer Vacation 2021 - Lock Haven and Avis PA 06-23-2021

Rail Fan Adventure --

1. 1:100,000 scale showing West Branch of the Susquehanna River valley between Renovo and Lock Haven circa 1984. Williamsport West PA, 1:100,000 quad, 1984, USGS. Click here for a larger image.
1:100,000 scale showing West Branch of the Susquehanna River valley between Renovo and Lock Haven circa 1984. Williamsport West PA, 1:100,000 quad, 1984, USGS.

2. West end of the NS yard at Lock Haven PA. This is a former tower that controlled PRR’s Bald Eagle Branch coming in from the right.
West end of the NS yard at Lock Haven PA. This is a former tower that controlled PRR’s Bald Eagle Branch coming in from the right.

3. A Nittany & Bald Eagle RR train arrived behind North Shore RR GP38 2004 (ex-Lycoming Valley, NS, CR nee-Penn Central) and N&BE GP7 4174 (ex-C&NW nee-Rock Island). Note the Erie-Lackawanna-inspired paint scheme. Lock Haven PA.
A Nittany & Bald Eagle RR train arrived behind North Shore RR GP38 2004 (ex-Lycoming Valley, NS, CR nee-Penn Central) and N&BE GP7 4174 (ex-C&NW nee-Rock Island). Note the Erie-Lackawanna-inspired paint scheme. Lock Haven PA

4. NBER pulls into yard. On the right is NS scale test car 982567 and GP38-2 5658. Lock Haven PA. NSHR 2004-NBER 4174.
NBER pulls into yard. On the right is NS scale test car 982567 and GP38-2 5658. Lock Haven PA. NSHR 2004-NBER 4174.

5. Nittany & Bald Eagle is part of North Shore Railroad Co. & Affiliates which comprises six short lines. Their lines cover 247.2 mi in central Pennsylvania which look to be mostly former PRR, Reading and Erie-Lackawanna track. Check out their website for details. NBER consists of Pennsy’s Bald Eagle Branch from Lock Haven to Tyrone, connecting with NS on both ends. They also connect with Canadian Pacific and Buffalo & Pittsburgh via NS. Lock Haven PA. NSHR 2004-NBER 4174.
Nittany & Bald Eagle is part of North Shore Railroad Co. & Affiliates which comprises six short lines. Their lines cover 247.2 mi in central Pennsylvania which look to be mostly former PRR, Reading and Erie-Lackawanna track. Check out their website for details. NBER consists of Pennsy’s Bald Eagle Branch from Lock Haven to Tyrone, connecting with NS on both ends. They also connect with Canadian Pacific and Buffalo & Pittsburgh via NS. Lock Haven PA. NSHR 2004-NBER 4174.

6. NS scale test car built 2000. There is a scale at Lane, 3.5 miles east of Lock Haven. NS MW 982567. Lock Haven PA.
NS scale test car built 2000. There is a scale at Lane, 3.5 miles east of Lock Haven. NS MW 982567. Lock Haven PA.

7. NBER departs with 19 cars. Lock Haven. NBER 4174-NSHR 2004.
NBER departs with 19 cars. Lock Haven. NBER 4174-NSHR 2004.

8. The former PRR depot is on the right. Lock Haven PA. NBER 4174-NSHR 2004.
The former PRR depot is on the right. Lock Haven PA. NBER 4174-NSHR 2004.

9. An earlier PRR depot. Lock Haven PA.
An earlier PRR depot. Lock Haven PA.

10. Note the Piper Memorial Airport. The Piper aircraft factory was located here and is a museum now. There is a huge display of Piper “Cubs.” Lock Haven PA. 1:24,000 quad, 1965, USGS. Click here for a larger image.
Note the Piper Memorial Airport. The Piper aircraft factory was located here and is a museum now. There is a huge display of Piper “Cubs.” Lock Haven PA. 1:24,000 quad, 1965, USGS.

11. The former New York Central depot at Avis PA is now Grand Central Beer.
The former New York Central depot at Avis PA is now Grand Central Beer.

12. Looking west on the Lycoming Valley RR. LVRR operates over former NYC and Reading track from Avis through Williamsport to Montgomery. They are another one of the six North Shore Railroad Co. affiliates. Former Chessie HLMX boxcar 491545 is parked on the left. LVRR Avis PA yard depot. 06-23-2021.
Looking west on the Lycoming Valley RR. LVRR operates over former NYC and Reading track from Avis through Williamsport to Montgomery. They are another one of the six North Shore Railroad Co. affiliates. Former Chessie HLMX boxcar 491545 is parked on the left. LVRR Avis PA yard depot. 06-23-2021.

13. Looking west at the former site of NYC’s Avis Yard, now LVRR. Avis PA.
Looking west at the former site of NYC’s Avis Yard, now LVRR. Avis PA.

14. So what is that big industry that LVRR serves out here? We thread around the village of Avis on back streets. What’s this...a transfer table! Jersey Shore Steel. Avis PA.
So what is that big industry that LVRR serves out here? We thread around the village of Avis on back streets. What’s this...a transfer table! Jersey Shore Steel. Avis PA.

15. The west side of Jersey Shore Steel. Check out their website. Avis PA.
The west side of Jersey Shore Steel. Check out their website. Avis PA.

16. The brick part of this facility certainly preceded the more modern metal structures. Jersey Shore Steel. Avis PA.
The brick part of this facility certainly preceded the more modern metal structures. Jersey Shore Steel. Avis PA.

17. When I got home I did more research. Avis was the locomotive shop for the Pennsylvania Div. This was a pleasant discovery! NYC shop. Avis PA.
When I got home I did more research. Avis was the locomotive shop for the Pennsylvania Div. This was a pleasant discovery! NYC shop. Avis PA.

18. I checked my NYC List of Stations and Other Facilities #4, 1943. The following shops were listed: West Albany, NY (Buffalo east), Collinwood, OH (west of Buffalo), St. Thomas, Ont. (Michigan Central in Canada), Jackson, MI (MC in USA), Beech Grove, Ind. (Big Four) and Urbana, IL (Peoria & Eastern). Avis was listed as having a car shop but doubtful it would have used all of this massive structure. So this shop must have been closed or downgraded prior to 1943. Avis PA.
I checked my NYC List of Stations and Other Facilities #4, 1943. The following shops were listed: West Albany, NY (Buffalo east), Collinwood, OH (west of Buffalo), St. Thomas, Ont. (Michigan Central in Canada), Jackson, MI (MC in USA), Beech Grove, Ind. (Big Four) and Urbana, IL (Peoria & Eastern). Avis was listed as having a car shop but doubtful it would have used all of this massive structure. So this shop must have been closed or downgraded prior to 1943. Avis PA.

19. USGS Williamsport 1:250,000 Quad 1962. Jersey Shore Milton. Click here for a larger image.
USGS Williamsport 1:250,000 Quad 1962. Jersey Shore Milton.

20. NYC Pa Div. Time Table No 62. 1951.
NYC Pa Div. Time Table No 62. 1951.

21. There were no passenger trains nor southward trains. The southbounds must have run as extras. NYC Pa Div 1951.
There were no passenger trains nor southward trains. The southbounds must have run as extras. NYC Pa Div 1951.

22. The Erie also ran over the NYC from Gang Mills NY (WK Tower) to Newberry Jct. NYC Pa Div map 1951. Click here for a larger image.
The Erie also ran over the NYC from Gang Mills NY (WK Tower) to Newberry Jct. NYC Pa Div map 1951.

23. NYC PA Div. Jersey Shore Jct. and Wynn, etc station list.
NYC PA Div. Jersey Shore Jct. and Wynn, etc station list.

24. NYC operated over the PRR from Rich to Keating to reach the better of their two lines to Clearfield which was a river grade. This would be coal moving to the Reading. NYC PA Div profile.
NYC operated over the PRR from Rich to Keating to reach the better of their two lines to Clearfield which was a river grade. This would be coal moving to the Reading. NYC PA Div profile.

25. Penn Central Allegheny Div. 1975. PC Corning Br. 1975.
Penn Central Allegheny Div. 1975. PC Corning Br. 1975.

26. This 1974 map of the Allegheny Div. shows both former PRR and NYC track. Most of the NYC coal field line from Rich toward Clearfield is gone. The former PRR Elmira Sec. and the NYC Corning Sec. will go later. The Bald Eagle Br. out of Lock Haven is probably not shown because it is part of the Pittsburgh Region. Same for other connections. PC Allegheny Div map. Click here for a larger image.
This 1974 map of the Allegheny Div. shows both former PRR and NYC track. Most of the NYC coal field line from Rich toward Clearfield is gone. The former PRR Elmira Sec. and the NYC Corning Sec. will go later. The Bald Eagle Br. out of Lock Haven is probably not shown because it is part of the Pittsburgh Region. Same for other connections. PC Allegheny Div map.

27. A post card showing the Corning Branch in the Pine Creek valley at Blackwell PA. NYC scene Pine Creek Blackwell PA.
A post card showing the Corning Branch in the Pine Creek valley at Blackwell PA. NYC scene Pine Creek Blackwell PA.

28. Postcard depicting the Corning Branch near Waterville PA. NYC scene Pine Creek near Waterville PA.
Postcard depicting the Corning Branch near Waterville PA. NYC scene Pine Creek near Waterville PA.

29. The Pine Creek valley near Jersey Shore. This roadbed is the Pine Creek Rail Trail now...all 62 miles from Wellsboro Jct. to Jersey Shore. NYC scene Pine Creek valley near Jersey Shore.
The Pine Creek valley near Jersey Shore. This roadbed is the Pine Creek Rail Trail now...all 62 miles from Wellsboro Jct. to Jersey Shore. NYC scene Pine Creek valley near Jersey Shore.

30. Lock Haven 1:62,500 scale for 1923 showing Avis yard and shop plus the Corning Branch coming down Pine Creek. The Beech Creek line to Clearfield extends off to the southwest. Lock Haven PA, 1:62,500 quad, 1923, USGS. Click here for a larger image.
Lock Haven 1:62,500 scale for 1923 showing Avis yard and shop plus the Corning Branch coming down Pine Creek. The Beech Creek line to Clearfield extends off to the southwest. Lock Haven PA, 1:62,500 quad, 1923, USGS.

31. A more contemporary view from the Jersey Shore 1:24,000 scale 1965 updated to show Conrail, the 4-lane highway and the absence of the Corning Branch. They didn’t update “Penn Central” on the south bank of the river which is the PRR Buffalo line. Jersey Shore PA, 1:24,000 quad, 1965, USGS. Click here for a larger image.
A more contemporary view from the Jersey Shore 1:24,000 scale 1965 updated to show Conrail, the 4-lane highway and the absence of the Corning Branch. They didn’t update “Penn Central” on the south bank of the river which is the PRR Buffalo line. Jersey Shore PA, 1:24,000 quad, 1965, USGS.

32. Could be YA Tower between Jersey Shore Jct. and Avis Yard. Stream probably Pine Creek, as it is too small to be the Susquehanna River. Note the engine on the bridge. NYC scene Avis PA 1911.
Could be YA Tower between Jersey Shore Jct. and Avis Yard. Stream probably Pine Creek, as it is too small to be the Susquehanna River. Note the engine on the bridge. NYC scene Avis PA 1911.

Next stop Newberry Junction where the NYC and the Reading met.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young