Re: (erielack) Lackawanna

["Bill K." <pontiac_@_dreamscape.com>]

I just wanted to mention that at least one ex-DL&W drop-frame hopper is
still in service.   The car, in faded Conrail paint, is one of many 2-bay
covered hoppers that have since become ballast cars.   It serves on the
NYS&W and I saw it in Utica on Sunday, so it's even on home rails.   I can't
imagine what else it could have been with the frame drop (higher on the
ends) -

Bill K.

- ----- Original Message -----
From: <Dlw1el2_@_aol.com>
To: <Lvmecg_@_aol.com>; <erielack@lists.railfan.net>;
<anthraciterr_@_yahoogroups.com>
Cc: <cropplb_@_NJTRANSIT.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2002 7:37 PM
Subject: Re: (erielack) Lackawanna Gons, & Sharpsburg


> 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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