Hike #15
Ronald and I along the old Bel Del Tracks in Belvidere.
5/16/2k
With this renewed interest of hiking, I decided to scale off a new route, once again with
the help of my grandfather and his USGS maps. I decided on a route beginning in
Ramseyburg, heading south of the Warren line to Manunka Chunk, but then switching
onto the Belvidere and Delaware line (or “Bel Del”), which terminated at Manunka Chunk
Station on it’s way along the Delaware from Trenton. We would continue to Belvidere
where we would pick up the Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad, which operated from
Belvidere NJ to Maybrook, NY from 1881 to 1986 when the tracks were removed. We
would follow this to the Warren line near Buttsville and continue back to Washington on
the familiar route.
Starting our hike at Ramseyburg where the Warren Railroad crossed
Along former Bel Del Railroad bed south of Manunka Chunk
Bel Del Railroad bed south of Manunka Chunk
View of Delaware River from Bel Del rail bed
My grandmother dropped us off once again, and we headed south to the Bel Del at
Manunka Chunk. The Bel Del was different, in that it was only single track, and therefore
a more intimate path to follow through the vegetation. The line also came closer to the
Delaware with nice views. When we reached where the line once crossed Route 46 ( the
concrete pavement for the old highway alignment is still visible ascending on the east side
of the current highway, and on the west in the yard of King Cole Grove.) we had to cross
into the Hoffman LaRoche Property, a major vitamine manufacturor.
Along former Bel Del rail bed near Belvidere
There was an outer
fence which terminated on the edge of the railroad fill which we swung around, then
cautiously crossed an access road. We crossed another access road once again in an open
area before paralelling a fence next to the right of way. We also followed a series of stairs
down and back up from the river.
Next to former Bel Del Rail bed near Belvidere
Stairs down to the Delaware
More stairs down to the Delaware near Belvidere
View of the Delaware from near the Bel Del rail bed
The views were spectacular. As we headed along the
fenceline, we could hear workers on a PA system, and we passed by a large basin with a
disgusting smell, apparently a waste management site, like sewage treatment or something
of the sort.
Abandoned road north of Belvidere
Along abandoned roads near Belvidere
When we reached the other side, there was a little building we hid behind
bofore following a woods road I believed to be the railroad grade. We soon found we had
lost the right of way, and reached where the road became paved, though long abandoned,
and broke off in over three different directions. We attempted to make our way along
these roads back towards the river, knowing that it would take us to Belvidere either way.
Fire hydrant along abandoned road north of Belvidere
Along the way we found several little water pumps, what appeared to be some sort of a
canal, foundations, and rusty old fire hydrants, all along paved roads whose purpose
escaped us. We also found what appeared to be EPA test wells. No one I talked to could
tell me what this place was, until a few months later my grandfather told me it was part of
the old Hercules Plant which manufactured gun powder. This would explain a lot, seeing
as though explosive materials would have to be kept in small structures rather than one big
one, all spread out.
Fence line north of Belvidere
We made our way back to the river, and came to another fenceline. We decided to follow
the fence to the left, paralelling it on a path, and crossing several more abandoned
roadways, until reaching another roadway where the fence turned west. We followed this,
taking us past abandoned sports fields and to another fence in a private enough area that
we decided to cross. This took us out to a dead end road, and back to the railroad tracks,
which are still used here to access the Roche facility.
Pequest ttrestle in Belvidere
On Pequest trestle in Belvidere
We continued south over several
bridges, most noteably the deck style trestle over the Pequest River and two roads. We
made our way down at a bridge just past this one and stopped at Skoogy’s Deli in
Belvidere.
I was now wearing a pair of old bowling style sneakers, having destroyed my previous
ones, and they were entirely too small. My feet were in pain and bleeding badly on the
heel. I found a trucker at Skoogy’s who lent me some duct tape to cover it over. I then
had a bottle of Snapple Elements’ “Rain” beverage which was supposed to be an Agave
Cactus flavor. I would have one of these during almost every hike for a while, until the
drink was discontinued.
We continued on, passing through a vacant lot owned by my grandfather, also the site of
the creamery, reportedly.
Former Bel Del Railroad in Belvidere NJ
We soon rejoined the Bel Del line and continued south to the
Lehigh and Hudson River line. This line had two connecting tracks to the Bel Del, for
north and southbound trains. The northbound line was abandoned earlier, as the Bel Del
abandoned it’s line from Roche to Manunka Chunk after it was flooded out badly in 1955,
and the northbound was unuseable. It was now also almost impossible to walk.
Former Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad in Belvidere
Former LHR railroad in Belvidere
The southbound part, however, had an ATV trail along it, and was quite clear. In fact, there
was still rails in place for considerable distance, though they were quite overgrown. In
addition, two rail cars remained on an abandoned side track.
We made our way through the abandoned rail yard and beyond, crossing a bridge over
the Pophandusing Brook, then heading into a disturbed area. The right of way was still
obvious, but trees were being cleared for a new developement. We continued across
County Rt 624, and into posted land. To my dismay, Ronald began smoking a Cuban
Cigar he got from his uncle.
Ron trespassing with a cuban cigar. Bad ass. RIP Ron.
The right of way was clear, through a line of trees soon emerging into a beautiful open
field, the right of way only recognizeable as a stripe of coal cinder stretching out ahead.
After passing through another short wooded section, the right of way had been bulldozed
for a short distance along a cornfield to where it crossed Rt 519 in Bridgeville (named for
the long stone arch bridge Rt 519 uses to cross the Pequest River). The bridge, a through
style girder bridge, still in existance across the highway, could not be used as the fill on the
opposite side had been removed in favor of a junkyard.
LHR rail bed east of Belvidere
LHR rail bed east of Belvidere
LHRrail bed nearing Bridgeville
Ascending to old LHR rail bed on old Edison Road
We turned north on Rt 519, and after stopping at a mini mart for snacks, turned on
Titman Ave to the abandoned road to Edison’s Quarry (now Tilcon) in Oxford, which we
used to access the rail right of way. The bridge was still there, but only filled in to prevent
traffic from passing through.
Deck girder trestle over the Pequest in Buttsville, former LHR railroad.
We passed through more woodlands soon crossing the Pequest again on a deck style
girder bridge (which is visible behind Hot Dog Johnny’s in Buttsville).
Approaching Pequest Viaduct on LHR rail bed, Buttsville
We continued
through Buttsville and to the Warren line via a path at the Pequest Viaduct (Both the
DL&W and the L&HR crossed the Pequest River at the same spot, remarkably.
Consequently, this site was one of celebration when the tracks were laid, only they forgot
to lay rails on the bridge, and the party which was to take place in Great Meadows
happend in Buttsville!).
Soaking my feet by Oxford Tunnel
Ronald soaking his feet near Oxford tunnel
We made our way back through Oxford, skipping the tunnel, but still cooling our feet off
in the water at the south portal.
I don’t remember for sure if it was on this hike, the previous one, or the one after, but on
one of these where we were finishing up in Washington and it was only Ron and I, Ron
stopped my from walking head on into a train heading right for me.
Former Warren RR in Washington NJ
Ron had said
“Uh...Mike, you got a train comin’!”, at which point I looked up and jumped out of the
way when the train was about 15 feet from me. I get in these dazes when I’m not aware of
the world around me, so it’s always good to haves someone astute like Ron with me. This
was in Washington just after we crossed over the Rt 31 bridge. We reached Port Colden
with no more problems.
ATV paths that used to be near Warren Plaza in Washington
My appetite for exploring new sections was again renewed.
Here's the pictures from this hike:
http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q13/sneezehorse/hike015/
Fire hydrant along abandoned road north of Belvidere
Fence line north of Belvidere
Pequest ttrestle in Belvidere
On Pequest trestle in Belvidere
Former Bel Del Railroad in Belvidere NJ
Former Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad in Belvidere
Former LHR railroad in Belvidere
Ron trespassing with a cuban cigar. Bad ass. RIP Ron.
LHR rail bed east of Belvidere
LHR rail bed east of Belvidere
LHRrail bed nearing Bridgeville
Ascending to old LHR rail bed on old Edison Road
Deck girder trestle over the Pequest in Buttsville, former LHR railroad.
Approaching Pequest Viaduct on LHR rail bed, Buttsville
Ronald soaking his feet near Oxford tunnel
Former Warren RR in Washington NJ
ATV paths that used to be near Warren Plaza in Washington
Soaking my feet by Oxford Tunnel
Along abandoned roads near Belvidere
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