by curiouscamper
Hello,
I know this thread is a few years old now, but I just stumbled upon it in a Google search, and hoping someone may reply.
Starting in the late 1960's, we would visit my grandparents that lived on old route 5S (now Southside Road) in West Frankfort, near the old San-Bro plant. The old West Shore line was directly across the road. I was always excited when, every other day or so, a small freight (pulled by a switch engine) would come by. I'd normally get a wave and a short horn blow from the crew as they passed by. Before I could even hear the engine approaching I would hear the "CLANK CLANK CLANK" of very old rails that looked like they were ready to fall apart! In the late 70's the trains became far more infrequent, and then in '81 (I think), the tracks were used to store old flatbed cars. I didn't visit again until '86 whereas I saw that the tracks were gone. Sad for me indeed.
In any event, I used to walk the tracks with my grandpa or my dad and notice things that I never found an answer for. Maybe one of you folks may know? Here goes.....
* The line had a switch just west of the old San-Bro plant that snaked down to and through the Crash's Auto Parts yard and onto the main Conrail line. It looked to me that the West Short didn't always connect there as there was evidence on either side of the Conrail Line of an old bridge (old concrete supports). Is it possible that this portion of the West Shore actually went over the Conrail Line, over or under Dyke Road, and on into the Utica Yard?
*Did the old bridge that is still in place over "new" 5S span the Erie Canal instead of a road when built?
* The smaller bridge over the old 5S had the word BAGUTE spray painted on the east side of it (some spray paint.....it lasted for well over 25 years!). Anyone remember seeing it and any guesses on what that meant?
* Directly across from the San-Bro Plant along side the tracks was a small and very old concrete foundation of sorts. Any idea what this may have been? Was there a switchhouse there perhaps when there were 2 tracks all those years ago?
* Any idea when the 2nd set of tracks were pulled up in that area?
Thanks very much!
Derek
Littleton, CO
I know this thread is a few years old now, but I just stumbled upon it in a Google search, and hoping someone may reply.
Starting in the late 1960's, we would visit my grandparents that lived on old route 5S (now Southside Road) in West Frankfort, near the old San-Bro plant. The old West Shore line was directly across the road. I was always excited when, every other day or so, a small freight (pulled by a switch engine) would come by. I'd normally get a wave and a short horn blow from the crew as they passed by. Before I could even hear the engine approaching I would hear the "CLANK CLANK CLANK" of very old rails that looked like they were ready to fall apart! In the late 70's the trains became far more infrequent, and then in '81 (I think), the tracks were used to store old flatbed cars. I didn't visit again until '86 whereas I saw that the tracks were gone. Sad for me indeed.
In any event, I used to walk the tracks with my grandpa or my dad and notice things that I never found an answer for. Maybe one of you folks may know? Here goes.....
* The line had a switch just west of the old San-Bro plant that snaked down to and through the Crash's Auto Parts yard and onto the main Conrail line. It looked to me that the West Short didn't always connect there as there was evidence on either side of the Conrail Line of an old bridge (old concrete supports). Is it possible that this portion of the West Shore actually went over the Conrail Line, over or under Dyke Road, and on into the Utica Yard?
*Did the old bridge that is still in place over "new" 5S span the Erie Canal instead of a road when built?
* The smaller bridge over the old 5S had the word BAGUTE spray painted on the east side of it (some spray paint.....it lasted for well over 25 years!). Anyone remember seeing it and any guesses on what that meant?
* Directly across from the San-Bro Plant along side the tracks was a small and very old concrete foundation of sorts. Any idea what this may have been? Was there a switchhouse there perhaps when there were 2 tracks all those years ago?
* Any idea when the 2nd set of tracks were pulled up in that area?
Thanks very much!
Derek
Littleton, CO