Branch line in Slatington?

Was there a branchline that left the LV main at Slatington and went south to somewhere? I was exploring the LV main and just past the main street xing in Slatingon the row is now a walking trail, but there is still a rail siding in place that left the main and headed south. It must have crossed right in front of people's houses. Then on my car's GPS (which still shows long abandoned tracks) it actually shows a branch line heading south along the stream that goes n-s thru town. Anyone have any history on this branch?

Just checked google maps and it seems the branch is now a rail trail called "slate heritage trail".

Just doing some snooping on Google maps the track seems to pick up again at the intersection of Rt 143 & Hamm Ct in Wanamakers, PA. Looks like track is double track in the area but track looks in terrible shape.

Any info on this line?

Former Reading Company branch!

Here's a little something that might be of interest....

http://www.ctevans.net/SNews/Materials/ ... ington.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Charlie

Map of Slatington 1876 calls it the Slatedale Branch of the Lehigh Valley
http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/ ... nsylvania/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
IIRC the Schuylkill & Lehigh branch of the P & R which joined the Slatedale Branch at Emerald as of at least 1900
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/pen ... n-1900.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Berks County Railroad was incorporated in 1871 and would run about 44 miles between Reading and a connection with the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Slatington. In 1875 the company was reorganized as the Reading and Lehigh Railroad with close ties to the Philadelphia & Reading. The company was quickly leased to its former arch enemy and became known as the Berks & Lehigh branch of the P&R. The Reading & Lehigh was again reorganized around 1880 as the Schuylkill and Lehigh Railroad.
The actual Schuylkill and Lehigh Railroad was chartered in 1880 and ceased operations in 1923. In that year the S & L trackage and rolling stock was taken over by the Reading Railroad and became the Schuylkill and Lehigh Branch of the Reading Railroad.
Map of the S&L Branch. The line was abandoned from Wanamaker to Slatington in 1962
http://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/1 ... 3/-75.8221" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Some photos
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archiv ... x?id=15785" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Part of the S&L now the Wanamaker and Kempton tourist railroad
http://www.kemptontrain.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;