R-5 Landsdale platforms

Was on the R-5 the other day going to Philly from Colmar and while stopped at Landsdale I noticed tracks that branched off behind the station. They had platforms and cantenary. I am pretty sure this is the line that heads for Quakertown but I thought only freight goes that way. Why would they have platforms there when the R-5 runs the ROW that I was on?

SEPTA still owns and dispatches that portion of railroad. Sometimes during the day they route the R5 Lansdale turns on those tracks. One is the Bethlehem running track (towards the station) and the adjacent track is the Bethelhem industrial (furthermost track). The catenary wire runs about 500' north of Main st. at Lansdale on those tracks.

The trains that terminate at Lansdale use the real station tracks rather than the branch to Doylestown.

http://www.transitspot.com/gallery2/v/u ... -25+42.jpg

Bob

The track closest to the station (between the platforms in Bob's picture) also connects to a lead into the MU yard. The yard lead and Bethlehem running track are used by Septa into the station. The Bethlehem industrial track hasn't been graced by a passenger train in years, probably not since the Blue Mtn & Reading excurions of the early 90's.

Actually, the lead to the MU yard is off of #2 main (not visible in Bob's picture). #1 main goes over Claire crossing northbound to Lan interlocking to merge into a single track for the Doylestown Line. Sometimes, though rarely, SEPTA does use the industrial for Lansdale turns, but it requires a funky move a Dale to gain access.