Re: (erielack) Lackawanna Gons, & Sharpsburg

[Dlw1el2_@_aol.com]

In a message dated 1/22/2002 6:20:10 PM Eastern Standard Time, Lvmecg_@_aol.com 
writes:


> I commute home via the Highland Park Bridge over the Allegheny River between 
> 
> Pittsburgh and Sharpsburg. Below this bridge is a railcar chop shop that 
> cuts 
> up rail equipment for scrape steel. I am sure I saw Lackawanna Gondolas in 
> the line to be chopped but when I pulled into Sharpsburg for a closer look, 
> a 
> NS coal trail was stopped on the mainline and blocked my view. Is this 
> possible that these gons will be soon gone or am I seeing things.
> 
> Vince
> Mining Engineer
> 

Vince

Nothing that goes into Sharpsburg ever comes out.  Thousands of rare, last of 
a breed, Historically Significant, unique, rail cars have met there fate at 
Sharpsburg.
When I was actively pursuing trying to preserve prior right rolling stock on 
Conrail, and I would see Sharpsburg on a destination I knew it was to late 
for that car. When I agonizingly watched the roster of DL&W four bay hoppers 
dwindle from 21 to 18 to 9 and then 3 Sharpsburg would show up to often. And 
then there were none!  

Now I don't look and the pain is less, although there isn't anything that I 
consider really significant left out there.   The Last Phoebe Snow box car 
has sat at Elmira for 20 years, and the Last Lackawanna Cement hopper on CR 
has sat at Enola for at least 5 years, and no one care's enough. If they are 
gone tomorrow, so be it. Sometimes there is great significance in quick, 
unceremonial deaths. When they occure year after year, it can harden a soft 
heart.

Bob Bahrs  

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