That was my truck pulling onto 611 from Slateford at 10mins. Sorry for the background noise. I remember seeing them taping there after leaving the family's xmas eve! Glad I found the video!
These are all interesting videos. Thanks for posting. I leave Bethlehem and go for motorcycle rides all along RT 611 and areas north. Now I have new areas to stop and look-see and have a better understanding of the rail line on up to Steamtown. I've taken the train ride from Steamtown down to the Delaware Water Gap Station. When I was on I-80 from PA east to Rt 46, I always passed under the concrete RR bridge and now I know much more about it. Thanks for the most interesting videos. Barry G. Kery
Howdy Chuck I have been watching your article on the cut off for the last two days. When I was a rug rat, I lived right across from Chrusz's store.. I remember trains using the tracks, I also rtemember going to the creamery in Johnsonburg with the Air Starters on their trucks. T he reason I am writing, is to let you know, in part 3, when you were in DWG, standing on the tracks, you were no too far from where those cars left the track, as a mater of face, had you followed the tracks on the river side, north, you's come across a pathway leading to the river below. Right zat the edgre of the water, you'd see a section of RR track. and if you'd look around the rivers edge, you'd find one of the cars, I believe a gondola, but I'm not sure Also, If you go to the DWG townhall, they have a ton on information on the RR's. \Thanks for such a great on the cut off, I'm enjoying it
The commuter rail project will never come to fruition. The Paulins Kill viaduct is incredible. I would have loved to see a DL&W pacific at speed over the cutoff. Time absolutely sucks!
Chuck, I love your historical descriptions I only wish you had more historical photos to accompany them. I was through that area in 1988, but didn’t know what to look for and never got back, and due to health issues probably never will. That’s why your 2025 target date is figment of imagination for me. I’ve made a vow to keep my stylus quiet for now, though.
I went to school at Portland.Went to that bridge once and was up on it.Real hot up there.Was in Portland when there was a colossal train wreck there.Never did see any pictures of that.
So those dozen runaway freight cars went through the 50mph curve on the PA side of the Delaware River bridge at 70mph and made it through the switches merging with the old line, only to derail in the gap. Considering that it was 1958, it's amazing that no other rail traffic was encountered (with tragic consequences).
Yes, it was lucky, although there may have been an eastbound train that just managed to avoid the westbound runaway by pulling into Greendell siding. But I'm not 100% sure about that.
chuck, a bit off topic, but i am unable to find any record of environmentalist or aestheticalist protest from the period to the abominable act of routing Int 80 through the watergap. are you aware of any history of objections from the time period? was no consideration given to tunnels nearby instead? or was everyone at the time so gung-ho on interstates that no one cared about desecrating the watergap in this way? of course now the area is a hopeless bottleneck, as 80 cannot be widened through the watergap. are you aware of any consideration being given to rerouting 80 so that it could indeed be widened?
Jim, as you may know, I-80 through the DWG predates the Interstate Highway Act of 1955. It was completed in 1953 and its planning would go back farther than that. The days of environmental protests, the likes of which stopped the Tocks Island Dam, were still about a decade into there future. Overall, I don't know how it would be practical to reroute the highway from its present alignment, More east and you need to deal with Kittatinny Mountain, the Delaware Water Gap NRA and Worthington State Forest. Going west would be no better. You're right, tunneling would be the answer, and expensive. But you'd still have to figure out how to connect around what would become an abandoned section of highway. I see no way to do that. There have been plans on the books for some time about the widening of I-80 through the Gap, but I'm not aware that anything has come of them.
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That was my truck pulling onto 611 from Slateford at 10mins. Sorry for the background noise. I remember seeing them taping there after leaving the family's xmas eve! Glad I found the video!
Great to watch. Trying to watch them all together so I can get a clear picture in my mind of Cut Off
These are all interesting videos. Thanks for posting. I leave Bethlehem and go for motorcycle rides all along RT 611 and areas north. Now I have new areas to stop and look-see and have a better understanding of the rail line on up to Steamtown.
I've taken the train ride from Steamtown down to the Delaware Water Gap Station.
When I was on I-80 from PA east to Rt 46, I always passed under the concrete RR bridge and now I know much more about it.
Thanks for the most interesting videos.
Barry G. Kery
Christmas Eve? More than likely I was driving right behind you on 80 to my grandmothers!
I have a family history with the DL&W. So, I love the concept of these videos. The videos are just soooooo wordy.
Howdy Chuck I have been watching your article on the cut off for the last two days. When I was a rug rat, I lived right across from Chrusz's store.. I remember trains using the tracks, I also rtemember going to the creamery in Johnsonburg with the Air Starters on their trucks. T
he reason I am writing, is to let you know, in part 3, when you were in DWG, standing on the tracks, you were no too far from where those cars left the track, as a mater of face, had you followed the tracks on the river side, north, you's come across a pathway leading to the river below. Right zat the edgre of the water, you'd see a section of RR track. and if you'd look around the rivers edge, you'd find one of the cars, I believe a gondola, but I'm not sure Also, If you go to the DWG townhall, they have a ton on information on the RR's.
\Thanks for such a great on the cut off, I'm enjoying it
Awesome video, full of cool facts. Would love to catch a train into Scranton once in a while, stay in the gap frequently
I like your video, very informative
The commuter rail project will never come to fruition. The Paulins Kill viaduct is incredible. I would have loved to see a DL&W pacific at speed over the cutoff. Time absolutely sucks!
Chuck, I love your historical descriptions I only wish you had more historical photos to accompany them. I was through that area in 1988, but didn’t know what to look for and never got back, and due to health issues probably never will. That’s why your 2025 target date is figment of imagination for me. I’ve made a vow to keep my stylus quiet for now, though.
I went to school at Portland.Went to that bridge once and was up on it.Real hot up there.Was in Portland when there was a colossal train wreck there.Never did see any pictures of that.
So those dozen runaway freight cars went through the 50mph curve on the PA side of the Delaware River bridge at 70mph and made it through the switches merging with the old line, only to derail in the gap. Considering that it was 1958, it's amazing that no other rail traffic was encountered (with tragic consequences).
Yes, it was lucky, although there may have been an eastbound train that just managed to avoid the westbound runaway by pulling into Greendell siding. But I'm not 100% sure about that.
chuck, a bit off topic, but i am unable to find any record of environmentalist or aestheticalist protest from the period to the abominable act of routing Int 80 through the watergap. are you aware of any history of objections from the time period? was no consideration given to tunnels nearby instead? or was everyone at the time so gung-ho on interstates that no one cared about desecrating the watergap in this way? of course now the area is a hopeless bottleneck, as 80 cannot be widened through the watergap. are you aware of any consideration being given to rerouting 80 so that it could indeed be widened?
Jim, as you may know, I-80 through the DWG predates the Interstate Highway Act of 1955. It was completed in 1953 and its planning would go back farther than that. The days of environmental protests, the likes of which stopped the Tocks Island Dam, were still about a decade into there future. Overall, I don't know how it would be practical to reroute the highway from its present alignment, More east and you need to deal with Kittatinny Mountain, the Delaware Water Gap NRA and Worthington State Forest. Going west would be no better. You're right, tunneling would be the answer, and expensive. But you'd still have to figure out how to connect around what would become an abandoned section of highway. I see no way to do that. There have been plans on the books for some time about the widening of I-80 through the Gap, but I'm not aware that anything has come of them.
Good stuff.
Did you say that Hurricane Diane caused a 500,000-year flood?
I think he meant 500 to 1000 year flood.
very nice
5:16 It's not that we don't like looking at you, but would you please scootch-over to your right about 5-feet?