Hike #125
Hike 125
Taking a break I think in Ackerson, Sussex Co. Delotto did'nt join us for long unfortunitely.
2/29/4
For this hike, my plan was to walk a railroad themed loop in the vicinity of Sparta, NJ,
beginning at what was once Warbasse Junction, where the Sussex Branch of the
Lackawanna Railroad, as well as the Franklin Branch crossed and connected with the New
York, Susquehanna, and Western Railroad. Joining me for this trek were Tea Biscuit, Joe
Millionaire, and Justin Mason, aka “Toolbox”.
Paulins Kill Valley Trail from former Franklin Branch
Along the old Franklin Branch near Warbasse
Swamp land near Warbasse NJ
Near Warbasse NJ
Near Warbasse NJ
Former Franklin Branch rail bed, Ackerson NJ
Former Franklin Branch near Ackerson NJ
Where the Franklin Branch crossed school lands near Ackerson
Former Franklin Branch, Monroe NJ
Former Franklin Branch, Monroe NJ
Former Franklin Branch, near the LHR line approaching Franklin
Former LHR railroad south of Franklin NJ
Retrieiving insulators along the LHR line south of Franklin
LHR railroad at the junction with the Franklin Branch
Former DL&W Franklin Branch heading into Franklin
We piled into the Camaro and headed to Warbasse where my first goal was to head south
on the Sussex Branch of the DL&W to find the junction with the Franklin Branch and
follow it. The junction was overgrown and through someone’s yard, so we followed a
road looking for it, then crossed a field. We eventually found the line, which crossed the
NYS&W line, now Paulins Kill Valley Trail on an angle. We continued through the weeds
on the Franklin Branch, until we reached the site of a bridge over the Paulins Kill River.
Because the bridge was missing, we headed over to the pedestrian bridge on the NYS&W
line, then made our way back over to the Franklin Branch, still very overgrown. The
railbed was so over grown that we opted to walk on the frozen over bog and swamp
adjacent to the right of way. There were many signs of beaver activity through here.
We soon came out to a road and had to look around to find the next piece of the railbed.
We found it directly ahead, posted as private land, which did not stop us needless to say.
The right of way from here and for a considerable distance was nice and clear. It first led
us through woods, on cuts and fills, and then out across farmland. Using Tea Biscuit’s cell
phone, we tried to hook up with Delotto. When we reached a road crossing with some
convenience stores nearby, we waited for Delotto to show up. The guys went in for food,
while I walked up and down the highway a few times to be visible to Delotto. I was a bit
unnerved because there were police cars swarming back and forth on the road endlessly. I
seem to recall there was something going on with someone in the woods, which made me
apprehensive about continueing on the right of way. When Delotto joined us, and learned
of how far we still had to walk, he opted not to join and head home. The four of us
continued on the right of way ahead.
Soon, we reached a chain link fence and a school yard over the right of way. We climbed
over the fence and continued straight. After crossing the yard, the fence on the other side
was much more difficult to cross. Toolbox dragged a piece of un-used gate to help him
climb over.
The next section of the railbed was in a cut below the road, and somewhat more
overgrown, but fortunitely cleared out to a nice path again shortly. This section led us
along more farmland, and then closely along a road before crossing it. The next section of
the railbed was much wider and used as an access road, probably to a farm. It soon
became overgrown, then joined the active tracks of the former Lehigh and Hudson River
Railroad. I had followed this line previously many times, and had covered all of it’s
trackage from Andover south, but was still missing a section between here and Andover.
On the former Franklin Branch of the Lackawanna
Former NYS&W Railroad, Hanford Branch in Franklin
NYS&W Hanford Branch in Franklin
View from the Hanford Branch in Franklin
Along the Hanford Branch, Franklin
Along the Hanford Branch in Franklin
Hanford Branch in Franklin
Huge lime kiln along the NYS&W Hanford Branch near Ogdensburg
We followed the tracks north, stopping along the way to retreive insulators from atop old
telegraph poles. The two railroads ran side by side here for a distance, then the Franklin
Branch crossed to the east. We were able to follow the right of way clearly, however it
crossed a large field full of cows. We ran across this part carefully as not to disturb the
animals. I had horrible visions of being attacked by a bull, which I believe a few were
present. Once on the other side, it seemed clear, and the Franklin Branch ended where it
joined the abandoned Harnford Branch of the NYS&W Railroad. The particular line was
in wonderful shape and clear for some time as we passed across a road, through a cut, and
along a golf course on a high fill. Now in Franklin, we made a stop near a police station to
refill on water as I recall, then headed south on the Hanford Branch. It was a bit more
overgrown than what we had previously been on, but still manageable. We crossed a
bridge and I walked right by an enourmous lime kiln which I beleive Joe Millionaire
spotted. We had to go back and check it out, and Tea Biscuit had to climb it.
NYS&W Hanford Branch near Ogdensburg
Rail crossing site, Ogdensburg
NYS&W Hanford Branch near Stirling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg
View from a high fill on the Hanford Branch, Ogdensburg
View from the Hanford Branch fill, Ogdensburg
Double culvert over the Wallkill for the NYS&W Hanford Branch, Ogdensburg
Stirling Hill Mine branch bridge, Ogdensburg
View from the former rail fill in Ogdensburg
NYS&W Hanford Branch, Hamburg Mountain WMA
Hanford Branch in Hamburg Mt. WMA
Cut in Hamburg Mt. WMA
View in Hamburg Mt. WMA
View toward High Point, Hamburg Mt. WMA
Former NYS&W main line in Ogdensburg
Viewpoint along the NYS&W tracks, Ogdensburg
Ice along the NYS&W in Ogdensburg
View on the NYS&W in Ogdensburg
Cut on the NYS&W south of Ogdensburg
As we continued south, we crossed a drive way where residents stopped us to find out
what we were up to. They were cool about it when I explained we were doing a hike on
the abandoned railroad. As we neared Ogdensburg where there was a spur to a mine, a
few rails became visible. We continued southbound toward Ogdensburg, however the
enourmous railrod fill had been removed as part of an apparent quarry. There was
someone working in some sort of earth mover below, so we climbed down the fill to the
road and the Wallkill River, with a beautiful stone double culvert. It is interesting to note
that the Wallkill is one of the few south to north flowing rivers. Within view of this stop
was an old railroad bridge from the mine spur still in place.
We continued along the road until we found a place we could climb back to the railroad
grade. Unfortunitely, what was left was unrecognizeable, and we fought through some
weeds before making our way to some roads. We headed into the quaint little downtown
Ogdensburg and I picked up some beer for all of us in the local liquor store. We continued
along the road until we found the railroad bed, this part of it in Hamburg Mountain
Wildlife Management Area. We walked the line along shelves and through very deep cuts
soon parallel to the active former NYS&W main line. We soon decided to climb to the
main line when we got close to it, as this was the planned route anyway.
Now heading generally south, southwest, we soon came across a viewpoint from a
powerline with High Point Monument in sight, as well as part of Ogdensburg. While I was
walking this section of active track, I noticed a small nail in one of the railroad ties with
the number “55” on it. These nails were put in railroad ties to tell the year the tie was laid;
they are quite collectable among rail enthusiasts! We spent a considerable amount of time
removing these dated nails from the ties. Toolbox specifically was very interested in
getting many of them.
Along this active track, there were some of the largest ice formations I have ever seen, as
well as a couple interesting cuts. We seemed to be walking forever, soon getting close to
Rt 181, then crossing it at Sparta. It was beginning to get dark by this time, and Joe
Millionare and Toolbox felt they could not continue much longer. They opted to climb
down from the right of way and head to town to wait for Tea Biscuit and I.
The two of us continued on, passing an old railroad station on the right. Very interesting
looking, but our daylight was running out and we had to keep moving. We crossed a busy
highway and continued to a rail yard. I knew we were near the former Sparta Junction,
and therefore near the end as well. We continued on straight along large grey tanker cars
parked on the tracks heading straight across the former L&HR Railroad. We soon found a
little white sign stating “Sparta Junction” at the end of the Paulins Kill Valley Trail. I was
quite happy to see this, and we continued on. Getting darker all the time, I had a giant
thick candle in my bag, which I lit and carried, rotating it regularly to keep the wax from
burning my hands. It was now pitch black and we could only see thanks to the candle I
was carrying.
Next, we came across an old bridge with only I-Beams remaining. I knelt down holding
the candle to the I-Beam to shine our way across safely! We continued walking in the
dark, and by the time we reached Warbasse, my giant thick candle had melted away to the
point where I had to hold it flat in my hand. Back in the light, I could see my entire left
side, pant legs and shoes were covered in dried wax from the candle. We were overjoyed
to be back at the camaro, and we called Joe Millionaire to let him know we were on our
way. We found them with few problems.
After scaling this hike, I found that it was much longer than anticipated, roughly about 26
miles!
Along the NYS&W line near Sparta
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