Hike #67
Werry Lake looking for the rail bed
Hike 67
8/25/2
As always, when joined by Alan Eisberg, hippie mentality abounds. Also, Cathy and Tea
Biscuit joined. The plan for this hike was to try to follow as closely as possible the route
of the former Delaware Valley Raiload. This was a short line, operating from a junction
with the Lackawanna Railroad main line in East Stroudsburg to Bushkill PA. It was
originally intended that the line would continue north to Port Jervis, but was never
completed. Passenger service was discontinued in the 1920s, and all other frieght service
was done by 1938 when they abandoned the line.
Having some breakfast at a general store in Bushkill PA
Tea Biscuit, Al, and I on what we believe was the foundation to Bushkill RR station
We left my car in the AT parking lot in Delaware Water Gap, PA, and then hopped in
Al’s van to Bushkill. On the way, we stopped to shop for junk at a store in Marshall’s
Creek. When we reached Bushkill, we parked in the lot of a general store, and had some
food before we began walking. Then we headed out looking for remnants of the railroad.
Little Bushkill Creek
Cathy wading through Little Bushkill Creek
What may have been a railroad bridge abutment, Bushkill PA
Behind the store, we found somewhat of a level area, as well as what we believed to be
the foundation of the old station in a piece of parkland. From here, we headed southwest,
into the woods. Immediately, the right of way was overgrown, and we found some sort of
stone work which may have been the site of the railroad crossing. We waded through the
stream (Little Bushkill Creek) out to the nearest road.
Near the former Little Bushkill Creek crossing for the railroad
Cathy and Al at Delaware Valley Railroad Kioske, on Railway Ave
On Delaware Valley Railroad right of way, just south of Bushkill
On Delaware Valley Railroad right of way, just south of Bushkill
Frog On Delaware Valley Railroad right of way, just south of Bushkill
On Delaware Valley Railroad right of way, just south of Bushkill
On Delaware Valley Railroad right of way, just south of Bushkill
Former Delaware Valley Railroad abutment from where it crossed Bushkill Creek
Crossing Bushkill Creek
Following the nearest road, we reached Railway Avenue, once a thriving little business
street with several buildings, leading back to a dead end at the railroad bed. A little kioske
gave us some info on the railroad. The street was now blocked, and used as a recreational
trail, all remains of buildings completely erased, probably during the demolition due to the
Tocks Island Dam project.
At the end of the street, we reached the railroad bed, also the route of a power line. This
brief section of the right of way that was trail did not last long, We soon paralelled a road
and then entered the woods, still following the power line. The remains of the railroad
were tough to see, but we were able to find where it broke off from the power line right of
way. While no ties were visible, the contour of the ground still took the shape it would
take if there were ties there. There were quite a few evergreen forests, quite thick, but still
offering enough of a canopy to make walking the rail bed possible. Soon, we reached Big
Bushkill Creek, and the obvious site of a bridge, only abutments remaining. The creek was
very shallow, and easy to wade across.
Crossing Bushkill Creek
Crossing Bushkill Creek at the old railroad trestle site
Little wetland along the former Delaware Valley Railroad
Little bridge site along Delaware Valley Railroad
A pond in a construction area, I believe the railroad is under water on the left side. Near Werry Lake community.
When we reached the other side, we walked atop a brief fill, then came out across a road.
We were still able to to continue on the right of way for some time, passing by a dried out
pond area, then into a cut. The cut was tough to follow, and everyone but me headed up
the hill to the right. We soon came out to a quarried area with a large pond. It appeared as
the the railroad bed was now underwater in the pond. Al asked a construction worker
driving a large piece of equipment about the line, but apparently all he told him was that he
was’nt supposed to be there. We continued around the pond to the west and into a new
gated community, and came out through someone’s yard. No one bothered us in there,
fortunitely. We walked some streets looking for remnants, to no avail. When we saw a few
kids riding bikes, we asked them if they’d seen anything left of a railroad, one told me a
friend of his had railroad ties in his back yard. We headed in the direction they pointed, but
instead made out way out to Rt 209 where we stopped for food and drinks. I talked to an
old timer who told me the location of the railroad, and a story about how his father went
back to collect insulators from the telegraph poles, which he told me had been chainsawed
down. As we waited, Al and Tea Biscuit went into a video store to look at the dirty movie
section; they returned with giant grins.
Werry Lake community near Bushkill PA
Along former Delaware Valley Railroad bed near Werry Lake
We returned to the developement, and crossed a beautiful lake, which I believe was calley
Werry Lake, then made our way to the west side and the end of a cul de sac looking for
the rail bed, but found nothing. We headed down to the other side of the lake, and to
another cul de sac. At this point, I asked a home owner if it would be alright for us to cut
through his yard to access the woods and hopefully the next piece of the rail line. He said
it was alright, and off we went. We next came out to what appeared to be some sort of old
sand quarry, and we all searched for level grades. This took us in several directions, but
we never found anything. We finally decided to just turn back towards Rt 209, and almost
immediately found the railroad fill. We were able to follow the right of way all the way to
Rt 209, where a bridge underpass for the railroad appeared to be filled in. The contour of
the land from the highway showed us roughly where the track laid on the other side, but it
was too overgrown and swampy to follow. We instead followed 209, which was so close
to the right of way it made no difference. At a time, part of 209 is on the railbed.
Former site of railroad underpass below Rt 209
Along Rt 209 near Marshalls Creek
Rt 209 near Marshalls Creek
Stroudsburg PA along former Lackawanna line
Former Lackawanna Railroad, Stroudsburg PA
Former Lackawanna Railroad's Dansbury Depot, Stroudsburg PA
Along former Lackawanna Railroad in East Stroudsburg PA
Former Lackawanna Railroad in East Stroudsburg PA
Former Lackawanna Railroad south of Stroudsburg PA
Along former Lackawanna Railroad in the Broadhead Creek Gorge
Lackawanna Railroad near the Rt 80 underpass at Broadhead Creek
Broadhead Creek crossing north of Minisink Hills
Lackawanna bridge over Broadhead Creek, north of the Del Water Gap
As we walked, we stopped for food at some place I don’t remember, and Tea Biscuit
climbed up some billboards. We soon walked by Marshall’s Creek Flea Market, a place
that backs up Rt 209 for miles. Amazingly, we were moving faster than any of the cars
during this entire stretch! Cathy tripped at one point, and fell skinning her knee pretty
badly at this point. Fortunitely, she was alright to walk on. Also, Tea Biscuit and Al were
macking on some hot girl in one of the cars we were walking closely to. They did’nt get
anywhere. Just past the flea market, the right of way, which crossed 209 once again at the
Flea Market, became more pronounced, and I walked on it while everyone else stayed on
209. However, before we reached the town of Marshall’s Creek, the railroad had once
again disappeared. We decided to stay on 209 because we could not find any rail
remnants.
We headed up hill, and went into a store where Cathy could wash the grime out of her
skinned knee, then we continued to East Stroudsburg. We followed roads to the DL&W
main line, and began walking south, passing Dansbury Depot, the station become
resteraunt. We looked around for the site of a junction with the Del Val RR, but could’nt
find it. I later found that the junction was further north of where we joined the DL&W.
We continued on the DL&W south along the Broadhead Creek, and chatted with an old
guy, apparently a hobo, carrying a carton of milk, who told us about kids that swim down
there. He also asked if we ever jumped the trains, which we had’nt, but he obviously had.
We soon passed under the piers of a trestle that used to carry the NYS&W railroad. Next,
we came to an industrial area, and crossed a through style girder bridge over Broadhead
Creek. At this time, Tea Biscuit began having stomach trouble and had to answer nature’s
worst call. Cathy, Al, and I waited further ahead while he did his business in the middle of
the tracks. I found some napkins and such he could use, but they soon ran out, and I
believe he had to sacrifice a sock, as he had to go several more times on the way to the
Delaware Water Gap!
At Delaware Water Gap Station, former Lackawanna Railroad
When we reached the old Water Gap Station, it was already dark, and Al stole a “No
Trespassing” sign, then we climbed up to Rt 80 and the Appalachian Trail, which we
followed back to the parking lot. Quite a long day.
Delaware Water Gap train station
No comments:
Post a Comment