Hike #110
Hike 110
Me in a field tryin to find the former Uhler Branch of the Lehigh and New England Railroad, farmed out of existance in this part of Forks Township.
10/5/3
For this particular hike, I wanted to take on the most mileage I had ever done in a day.
Only Tea Biscuit was up for this task. Scouting an all new hike and having it be roughly
30 miles was definitely something not many would be up to. The proposed hike would be
a loop in Northampton County, PA, starting in Brainards NJ, following only railroads.
Looking toward Brainards NJ
Old building in Martins Creek PA
Old building in Martins Creek PA
Crossing Martins Creek on former lackawanna line, Martins Creek PA
It was foggy in the morning when we set out. We parked the camaro on the main street in
Brainards next to an old gentleman’s house where Bode had parked his car on a past hike.
We then set out down the Bel Del line, turning across the Delaware on the Martin’s Creek
Branch of the DL&W into Martin’s Creek, PA.
As soon as we reached the other side, we climbed down the embankment and checked
out an abandoned concrete building along the river. I do not know the purpose of this
building. It was open in the middle of the floor all the way around. As we continued along
the tracks, we soon crossed Martins Creek on a smaller bridge. Another abandoned bridge
lie beside the active one, with only metal framework on it. We also took a walk into the
quarry area nearby to see if we could find anything interesting.
Former LNE Uhler Branch, Martins Creek PA
Former LNE Uhler Branch in Martins Creek PA; with a balloon that says "Hi"
On a train in Martins Creek PA
Con Agra Martins Creek PA
Former LNE Uhler Branch south of Martins Creek PA
Former LNE Uhler Branch, part of an old trestle south of Martins Creek PA
Old LNE trestle on the Uhler Branch, Forks Twp
Former LNE Uhler Branch Trestle, Forks Twp PA
As we continued on the tracks, we reached a junction with the former Lehigh and New
England Railroad’s Uhler Branch. The tracks were still in place, being used to access the
nearby Con-Agra facility. We walked this line south, under a large concrete building, and
behind a bar along the Delaware, then across the road and behind Con Agra. We spotted a
hot air balloon that read “Hi” on it’s side here. We also climbed across the top of train
cars. Con-Agra’s storage facilities were huge, and we stayed on the upper of two track
levels as not to be seen, though it appeared the place was closed at the time anyway.
At the end of the facility, the tracks ended, and we followed an abandoned right of way
out to an old deck girder trestle, with the ties removed. In fact, half the trestle had been
removed! It appeared one section had been lifted off, probably with a crane, while the
other was left in place. I suspect that half might have been used as a spur to back up rail
cars at one point in time. We had to climb down and cross Mud Run, a creek below, then
come back up the other side and cross a road to get back to the right of way. The rail bed
was more or less clear from here for a good distance until we reached some sort of
driveway where we could not determine where the tracks went. We soon found another
rail trestle, and made our way onto it through weeds; we had to crawl quite low in order
to fit through a small hole in fencework erected to keep people off.
Former LNE Uhler Branch trestle, south of Martins Creek PA
Former LNE Uhler Branch trestle, Forks Twp
Former LNE Uhler Branch in Forks Twp.
Fields in Forks Twp.
Only the mid part of this trestle was clear enough to walk, the remainder had to be
negotiated by crawling under vegetation. I put my sweater on while crossing because I
did’nt want to rip up the soft flame shirt I had worn. The south side of the bridge was
fenced as well, and we had to swing under the fence on the side of the trestle and climb
back up on the other side. From this end of the trestle and for a short distance south a
piece of this railroad is part of the Forks Twp. Recreational Trail. We were able to walk
clearly to Newlins Road. Directly across the road from the trail section was very disturbed
by new developement, but we continued on, passing some new houses, and then walking
through fields searching for rail remnants. We could not find any of it, as it had been
completely erased by farming.We walked into a new developement and asked a local
about the line, but he knew nothing. He was able to tell us names of roads which was a
help. We continued through the developement back Sullivan Trail, a north/south road. We
continued on the road until we found the site of the railroad crossing. While it was evident
at close glance on the west side of the road, the east side was completely obliterated by
farming. Not even cinder dirt was visible.
Walking the right of way west was quite a task. The rail bed still had some ties, but was
far too overgrown to walk on, so we followed an overgrown field to the north and faught
through weeds, as well as got covered from head to toe with hitch hikers, little thorny
balls from plants that stick to everything. We eventually came to where the line is once
again active, used as an industrial spur to the Forks Industrial Center. We had an easy time
walking the tracks across Kesslerville Road, Uhler Station, and through Churchville. We
kept our eyes peeled for places to buy food and drinks, but amazingly found nothing here.
The Uhler Branch was surprisingly not at all straight, seemingly making endless turns
before reaching an old DL&W track just south of Stockertown. There was an interesting
track crossing here, and we began walking the old DL&W line north. Unfortunitely, this
line ended abruptly at a fence and a junkyard. We had to turn back, as we were
sorrounded by fences on three sides. When we got to an open spot, we climbed across
giant piles of tires over to the active track that leads to Nazareth, using it to take us to the
next road where we could access the next part of our northbound rail grade.
When we reached the road and came into Stockertown, it was obvious where the railroad
continued. The tracks had ended in the industrial complex, and it was apparent where the
line crossed a municipal park. We followed it from the park through a small cut, past some
industrial buildings with evidence of sidings, across Rt 191, and behind many people’s
homes. In the north part of Stockertown, we came to a bar. We decided this would be a
good break stop, so we went in. Tea Biscuit and I each had a couple of beers, and he had
a burger I believe. And that’s right, he got served once again. I suppose it’s possible he
did look older than 21. He must have!
Plainfield Township Rail Trail
Plainfield Township Rail Trail
Former LNE right of way near Pen Argyl PA
Former LNE right of way near Pen Argyl PA
We continued along the rail grade to Belfast Junction, where another westbound line to
Nazareth joined. From this point to near Pen Argyl PA was now part of the Plainfield
Towship Rail Trail for about seven miles. This rail trail was very nice at first, travelling on
a steep shelf, and soon under a bridge along a brook. The only bad part was the improved
crushed stone surface which is very hard on the feet. I recall the northern end of the trail
being somewhat boring. We passed other trail users, but there was nothing in particular
that set road crossings apart from one another for me. At some point, we must have lost
the trail, because as we travelled further north, we found no more hikers, and the right of
way ended abruptly at a filled in spot with a large fence. We opted to continue on, making
our way out on access roads to whatever that particular facility was, and to Rt 512 in Pen
Argyl. From here we were able to make our way to the Lehigh and New England’s old
main line east.
Much of the L&NE was obliterated through Pen Argyl, but it’s recognizeable, and
fortunitely there are very close parallel roads in the town blocks which kept us close
enough that we could see accessable points of the right of way. I recall talking to a woman
in Pen Argyl’s east side who was very impressed by our undertaking.
Former LNE right of way near Pen Argyl PA
Former rail bed in Roseto PA
Former lackawanna line crossing Martins Creek southf of Ackermanville PA, north of Martins Creek
Former lackawanna tracks north of Martins Creek PA
The entire LNE on the way toward the line to Roseto was very clear and walkeable as I
recall, and we had no problems. We continued on the southbound branch through Roseto
and onto Rt 191, stopping at a mini mart when we reached Bangor for nourishment. This
time, I was still unable to ascertain where the former junction was with the DL&W branch
in town. Still, we followed the DL&W southbound through Flicksville and along Martin’s
Creek back to the town of Martin’s Creek. There were a few nice bridges, and some spots
where the road and railroad ran side by side, and it was quite scenic, but I think we were
far too tired to really enjoy it. We were also trying to move a bit faster as it was beginning
to get dark. Our last bridge crossing before coming back to the junction with the Uhler
Branch of the L&NE was quite dark. We were still able to cross the Martin’s
Creek/Brainards Bridge well enough to get us back to the car. We finished the hike in 11.5
hours, and the total distance was 31.75, the most mileage we had ever achieve in a day,
and we were both quite sore.
PICS! Here's a link to them all: http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q13/sneezehorse/hike110/
And descriptions, what they're of...
1.) A foggy view of the road towards Brainards
2.) Tea Biscuit in the abandoned concrete building in Martin’s Creek, PA
3.) Me in the Martin’s Creek building along the Delaware
4.) Tea Biscuit on a bridge over Martin’s Creek, former DL&W RR
5.) On the former L&NE Uhler Branch in Martin’s Creek PA. I think that building was
once part of Portland Cement company
6.) Tea Biscuit points out the “Hi” balloon in Martins Creek, PA
7.) On top of a train behind Con-Agra
8.) Me in back of Con Agra
9.) Approaching the half-trestle over Mud Run
10.) Mud Run Trestle...or half of it anyway
11.) Tea Biscuit crawling through chain link on a trestle at Sandt’s Eddy
12.) Me crawling on the trestle
13.) More of the trestle at Sandt’s Eddy
14.) Having to climb under the chain link to get off the bridge
15.) LNE grade in Forks Twp. across from the Recreational Trail near Newlins Rd.
16.) Fields south of Newlins Rd, Forks twp looking for rail right of way
17.) Rail crossings; track to right, former Lehigh Valley RR goes to Tatamy, to left LNE
Uhler Branch to Forks Twp, this is just south of Stockertown.
18.) On the Plainfield Twp. Rail Trail, former DL&W line.
19.) Old DL&W right of way just south of Pen Argyl PA
20.) Me on Lehigh and New England main line right of way in Pen Argyl PA
21.) Tea Biscuit on LNE main line RoW east of Pen Argyl
22.) On LNE southbound branch in Roseto PA
23.) On DL&W crossing Martins Creek between Bangor and Martin’s Creek PA
24.) DL&W tracks north of Martin’s Creek
Rail junction to the south of Stockertown
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