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ple1556
Joined: 21 Apr 2005 Posts: 42 Location: Monroeville PA
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6: 37 pm Post subject: Donora Southern |
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Did the Donora Southern RR own the trackage up to Sudan or was the Donora Branch P&WV trackage? _________________ High green!! |
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camp car bill
Joined: 11 Mar 2007 Posts: 87 Location: carnegie pa
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9: 19 pm Post subject: |
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I know the P&WV employees maintained the bridges,track and flasher crossing on the Donora Branch. _________________ wmmjr |
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PWVJer
Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 946
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Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 4: 06 pm Post subject: Donora Branch |
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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
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Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 11: 20 pm Post subject: |
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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
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Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 11: 36 pm Post subject: |
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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
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 7: 59 am Post subject: |
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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
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Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 5: 38 am Post subject: Photo by Gene Schaeffer |
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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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