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Donora Southern

 
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ple1556



Joined: 21 Apr 2005
Posts: 42
Location: Monroeville PA

PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2007 6: 37 pm    Post subject: Donora Southern Reply with quote

Did the Donora Southern RR own the trackage up to Sudan or was the Donora Branch P&WV trackage?
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camp car bill



Joined: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 87
Location: carnegie pa

PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2007 9: 19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know the P&WV employees maintained the bridges,track and flasher crossing on the Donora Branch.
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PWVJer



Joined: 13 Dec 2005
Posts: 945

PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2007 4: 06 pm    Post subject: Donora Branch Reply with quote

Yep, P&WV/N&W owned, operated and maintained this branch from Sudan
Station switch, down and thru Vang tunnel, the heavy bridge over the PRR/NS river line and state route 837. They maintained and owned the curved-fill, across this bridge very near the Mon River shore line down to the (1st) switch?

I also think this branch ROW is not abandoned. It may be just rail-banked. As you drive past, look closely, a truck-to-barge transfer Co. has cut thru the fill in two places. My guess, to gain better access to a larger river dock/terminal.
However, they have placed (what looks to be) new cement bridge bases on both sides of these deep cuts.

If the railroad had reason to re-open this line, two short spans would be needed, with the Barge Transfer Co. picking up this cost, one would think.
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Longview Station



Joined: 16 Apr 2005
Posts: 176
Location: Longview Station

PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2007 11: 20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Donora Branch was built by the Pittsburgh & West Virginia,
which is probably why one tunnel is named Graham.
Vang Tunnel is named for the construction company awarded
the contract to build the Donora Branch.

I think the branch is abandoned, but I am not 100 percent sure.
The roadbed from Sudan and the connection to the main track is
now a driveway to a home.
From memory, there were 4 large steel bridges that have been
completly removed.
Many years ago, a resident video taped removal of the high-curved
bridge that fell while being dismantled. Contractors had attempted
pulling it away from the roadway below, but the bridge had a mind of
its own and went straight down.

Both Graham and Vang Tunnels have been sealed.

I have a N&W memo illustrating the last 25 or so train movements
down the Donora Branch. Its neat to see all of the 6 axle power
that was used on the branch and quite a few Western Maryland
locomotives have been on the Donora Branch.
VW
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ewb



Joined: 10 May 2007
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 11: 36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I really wish someone would have some photos available of the Donora Southern branch. I grew up nearby, and unfortunatey was too young to apprecioate what was there.

I remember a hike up to the Vang Tunnel when I was a kid, and a walk to the high trestles.

If someone, anyone has photos, I would really like to remember the old Donora Branch as it was.
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CuriousGeorge



Joined: 08 Jan 2006
Posts: 50
Location: Monongahela, PA

PostPosted: Sat May 12, 2007 7: 59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Many years ago, a resident video taped removal of the high-curved
bridge that fell while being dismantled. Contractors had attempted
pulling it away from the roadway below, but the bridge had a mind of
its own and went straight down.
Do you know what roadway this is? Was it 837 leaving Monongahela?

Quote:
However, they have placed (what looks to be) new cement bridge bases on both sides of these deep cuts.
I drove by these the other day .... I think they might be to stabalize the hillside.
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PWV101
Site Admin


Joined: 04 Apr 2005
Posts: 157
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2007 5: 38 am    Post subject: Photo by Gene Schaeffer Reply with quote

This photo was taken mid February 2007 of a NS coal
train passing under the only remaining bridge on the Donora
Branch.

GPS


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