RE: (erielack)DL&W Diamond and Green Ridge Branches was - DL&W/O& W in Scranton

["Palmer, Brian" <palmerb_@_toysrus.com>]

Chuck,
 
Last fall I had the opportunity to look over some of the remaining rail
lines in the Scranton  area. The DL operates the Diamond Branch from Bridge
60 to the former D&H freight house on Wyoming Avenue where they service some
local customers. The remainder of the Diamond Branch is out of service. The
out of service Diamond Branch is still intact in many places, but west of
the Lackawanna River it has been largely obliterated by redevelopment of the
area. I believe the Diamond Branch trestle over the Lackawanna River was
removed for a recent flood control project. 
 
The Green Ridge Branch came off of the Diamond Branch after crossing the D&H
and before crossing the Lackawanna River. The Green Ridge Branch then
followed the east bank of Lackawanna River up to and through the Scranton
Lace works. The branch continued to Green Ridge Street where the freight
house was located. The line then forked at Green Ridge street going a short
distance both east and west along Green Ridge Street. When I was there last
fall the line was intact all the way to Scranton Lace, although heavily
overgrown and in places covered by the flood control levy.
 
Since last fall I have come across some maps that detail these two branches.
Wish I had them last fall to identify the numerous industries and the site
of the freight house on Green Ridge Street.
 
Brian
 
 
 
 
 
 -----Original Message-----
From: RAILDATA_@_aol.com [mailto:RAILDATA@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 5:21 PM
To: palmerb_@_toysrus.com; erielack@lists.railfan.net
Subject: Re: (erielack) DL&W/O&W in Scranton



The DL&W had a freight house on Green Ridge St. in Scranton. As I remember,
the Diamond Branch went that far after passing the Scranton Lace. Co. Theink
it crossed Green ridge St. to serve a copule of lumber yards, etc.

The Diamond Branch left Scranton Yard just east of Bridge 60 (track is still
there I think), went under Linden and Mulberry St bridges. Then there was
aswitch that conneted to the D&H track over to their freight hosue on
Wyoming Ave. This place was a major interchange between the DL&W and D&H.  

The Diamond Branch went off to the left and served the Pine Brook Colliery.
Then it descended a grade and crossed the double track D&H main line. This
was a signalled interlocking that probably was controlled from the nearby
D&H Carbon St Tower.  Branch then went due west crossing the Lackawanna
River on a truss bridge (still standing last time I was there).  Crossed O&W
at grade to reach the Diamnd Colliery. I think the Colliery was torn down
around 1940 but there was still some sort of a washery operation there. This
site was right along the DL&W main line but about 200' lower, hence the
complex branch to reach it.

At the O&W crossing there was a switch where the DL&W headed north parallel
to the O&W for about a mile. Then it recrossed the Lackawanna River went
past the Lace Works and wound up at Green Ridge St. Somewhere in this area
the DL&W went over on the O&W to reach some Glen Alden Coal Co. workings at
Olyphant (which at one time might have been reached via the Winton Branch).

To justify all this complex trackage you have to go back to about the huge
coal mining and indestrail complex that existed in the area. The Diamnd was
a huge coal prodcer for many years, along with the Pine Brook. The Scranton
Nut & Bolt Co. works and similar industries were located jsut south of the
Lace Co.  Incredible the number of bridges and other works the railroads
would put in to reach a coal mine!

Chuck Y
Boulder CO



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