Beech Creek Railroad
Encyclopedia
Beech Creek Railroad
In 1890 the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad took out a long term lease
of the Beech Creek Railroad yet the Beech Creek maintained independent operations until July 1899. The NYC & HR Railroad became part of the New York Central Railroad Company by 1914.West Branch Review, April 2006, pge 6
An April 29, 1951 a New York Central Timetable listed the line as the "Pennsylvania Division" while an October 30, 1960 Timetable listed it as the "Syracuse Division."
The following details concerning the abandonment, closing and removal of this rail
line can be confirmed by the below sources of information. The Centre Daily Times
of July 23, 1965 has a story briefly mentioning that the railroad is seeking to formally abandon their line between Mill Hall, PA and Snow Shoe, PA
. On June 29, 1967, the Centre Daily Times printed a large full-page story titled"Historical Rail Unit on Way Out." By then the only remaining rails being removed were in or around Kato, PA, one of the points on the line past Orviston, PA. Traffic World Magazine lists an "Abandonment Note" in their January 8, 1966 issue.
History of the Beech Creek Area of Clinton County Pennsylvania, by Harry A. and Vera A Lingle, says that the last through freight
on this line occurred on April 23, 1966, “with its whistle blowing continually as it moved through town.”
All rail and track had been removed in and through Beech Creek
by June 1967, based on a picture of the empty railroad grade in the Centre Daily Times. Rail in the opposite direction, between Beech Creek, PA and Mill Hall, PA as well as between Beech Creek and Orviston was gone by that date as well.
According to the Centre Daily Times, no rail remained in place along the entire Mill Hall to Orviston route. It indicates removal of the track took place during 1966.
Two maps show the abandoned New York Central Railroad as intact past 1970. The first is a township
map titled “Map of Clinton County,” dated May 1972. It identifies the line simply as "PC RR," all the way to from Avis Borough, where they had a small yard, all the way to and past Monument, PA
. It also shows a small intact segment to Salona, PA. The other map is a 1:50,000 US Geological Survey map of Centre County
, West Half, dated 1975. On this map the Beech Creek Railroad track is clearly shown in place by track markings. “Conrail” is printed alongside the track on the map. This map indicates that the track was intact all the way from Orviston to Clarence, PA
in 1975. The track from Clearfield
to Munson and on to Clarence was still operated by the Penn Central Railroad and Conrail until the early 1990s. The Penn Central Railroad, (Railroad Color History) by Peter Lynch (Motor Books International, 2004) says "the Penn Central Railroad continued to use some "New York Central and some PR RR trackage to access Pennsylvania
coal mines. There is five hundred miles of PR RR and New York Central coal branches were intertwined, mostly in shabby condition and some out of service. These lines served the areas around Clearfield, Cherry Tree
, and Snow Shoe.”
Although the Centre Daily Times states that rails were taken up all the way to Clarence, a small section from Snow Shoe to Kato continued to be used by a pulpwood customer until at least January, 1968. Officially though, this little section was considered "abandoned".
Passenger service of the Beech Creek began dropping off as early as
the 1920’s. To reduce costs The New York Central Railroad began
cutting trains back by mid 1923. Upon the Great Depression era service
was reduced to one train daily between Clearfield and Williamsport, PA.
{West Branch Review, same story, Feldmeier Jeff, April 2006, pge 7}
By 1932 the New York Central requested application to discontinue
passenger service citing losses of $24,000 a year. {West Branch Review,
Part II, NYC RR Passenger Service “West Branch Valley Lines”, Nov-
Dec 2006, Pge 4} Passenger service was further lost on the Beech Creek
section a short time later. Between May 1, 1931 through July 31, 1932 costs of operation were $42,841 while revenue was $23,319. The last
passenger service over this line from Clearfield, PA to Jersey Shore, PA
took place on February 18, 1933 from Clearfield using a NYC gas-electric
motorcar “doodlebug”, ending 47 years of passenger service. {West Branch Review, Same story, Feldmeier Jeff, Nov-Dec 2006, pge 5}
After that time the line became freight only daily operations. Personal
photographs show the rails to Clarence still intact and in place but officially
abandoned in early 1993. {Personal on-sight observation,Spring 1993}
Other personal photographs show all rails and roadbed removed to a point near the Viaduct Bridge. But same pictures of these August 1998 photographs show portions of the line from past the Viaduct Bridge to near Munson with places of rail and ties still fully intact but in isolated sections. At the Munson “Y” at that time all rails had been pulled up and removed. But some piles of ties were in this immediate area, with some still in place. However, it was clear it was all in the stages of final removal. A rail overpass of a roadway had also be removed.{Personal on-sight observation, 8-16-1998}
A long spur track from the main between past the Viaduct Bridge to ending
just short of this “Y”, lead to “Browns Coaling Station” and as of that time 1998 all rails, ties, crossings, bridges, etc were fully intact. {Personal on-sight observation 8-16-1998 & letter from Mike Bezilla, March 15, 2010}
All rails, hardware, and ties were later removed and now form a “Rails
To Trails” right of way from Clarence to a point past the Viaduct Bridge. There is a proposal to reactivate and reestablish rail service on this line to a past point of this line once called Gorton, where a landfill is being proposed.
Personal photographs taken at same time 1998 give evidence of a
short spur with much rails and ties still in place and intact. It went to a
brickyard operation by J.H. France that was shut down in the 1980’s.
{personal letter from Mike Bezilla March 15 2010, & personal on-sight observation 8-16-1998}
Some buildings and various “Beehive” Ovens remained but were in decay. Forest growth over the rails and ties had began in earnest. {Personal
on-sight observation 8-16-1998} Also a local from Beech Creek Has
CONFIRMED that the “B C” sign that I obtained IS from the NYC RR
Beech Creek Station. {personal phone call, 4-8-2011}
In 1890 the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad took out a long term lease
Lease
A lease is a contractual arrangement calling for the lessee to pay the lessor for use of an asset. A rental agreement is a lease in which the asset is tangible property...
of the Beech Creek Railroad yet the Beech Creek maintained independent operations until July 1899. The NYC & HR Railroad became part of the New York Central Railroad Company by 1914.West Branch Review, April 2006, pge 6
An April 29, 1951 a New York Central Timetable listed the line as the "Pennsylvania Division" while an October 30, 1960 Timetable listed it as the "Syracuse Division."
The following details concerning the abandonment, closing and removal of this rail
line can be confirmed by the below sources of information. The Centre Daily Times
Centre Daily Times
The Centre Daily Times is a daily newspaper located in State College, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is the hometown newspaper for the Pennsylvania State University, one of the most well-known and largest universities in the country with more than 40,000 students attending the main...
of July 23, 1965 has a story briefly mentioning that the railroad is seeking to formally abandon their line between Mill Hall, PA and Snow Shoe, PA
Snow Shoe, Pennsylvania
Snow Shoe is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. On June 29, 1967, the Centre Daily Times printed a large full-page story titled"Historical Rail Unit on Way Out." By then the only remaining rails being removed were in or around Kato, PA, one of the points on the line past Orviston, PA. Traffic World Magazine lists an "Abandonment Note" in their January 8, 1966 issue.
History of the Beech Creek Area of Clinton County Pennsylvania, by Harry A. and Vera A Lingle, says that the last through freight
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
on this line occurred on April 23, 1966, “with its whistle blowing continually as it moved through town.”
All rail and track had been removed in and through Beech Creek
Beech Creek, Pennsylvania
Beech Creek is a borough in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 717 at the 2000 census. It is the setting for Fun Home, a 2006 graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel, who grew up there...
by June 1967, based on a picture of the empty railroad grade in the Centre Daily Times. Rail in the opposite direction, between Beech Creek, PA and Mill Hall, PA as well as between Beech Creek and Orviston was gone by that date as well.
According to the Centre Daily Times, no rail remained in place along the entire Mill Hall to Orviston route. It indicates removal of the track took place during 1966.
Two maps show the abandoned New York Central Railroad as intact past 1970. The first is a township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
map titled “Map of Clinton County,” dated May 1972. It identifies the line simply as "PC RR," all the way to from Avis Borough, where they had a small yard, all the way to and past Monument, PA
Monument, Pennsylvania
Monument is a census-designated place in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 133 at the 2000 census....
. It also shows a small intact segment to Salona, PA. The other map is a 1:50,000 US Geological Survey map of Centre County
Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 153,990....
, West Half, dated 1975. On this map the Beech Creek Railroad track is clearly shown in place by track markings. “Conrail” is printed alongside the track on the map. This map indicates that the track was intact all the way from Orviston to Clarence, PA
Clarence, Pennsylvania
Clarence ,is a census-designated place in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 577 at the 2000 census. Most Clarence citizens can be found at the Clarence Moose...
in 1975. The track from Clearfield
Clearfield, Pennsylvania
Clearfield is a borough in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,631 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clearfield County.-Geography:Clearfield is located at ....
to Munson and on to Clarence was still operated by the Penn Central Railroad and Conrail until the early 1990s. The Penn Central Railroad, (Railroad Color History) by Peter Lynch (Motor Books International, 2004) says "the Penn Central Railroad continued to use some "New York Central and some PR RR trackage to access Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
coal mines. There is five hundred miles of PR RR and New York Central coal branches were intertwined, mostly in shabby condition and some out of service. These lines served the areas around Clearfield, Cherry Tree
Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania
Cherry Tree is a borough in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 443 at the 2000 census.-History:Cherry Tree is situated mostly in a valley near the headwaters of West Branch of the Susquehanna River where the river is fed by Cush Cushion Creek.Cherry Tree was originally...
, and Snow Shoe.”
Although the Centre Daily Times states that rails were taken up all the way to Clarence, a small section from Snow Shoe to Kato continued to be used by a pulpwood customer until at least January, 1968. Officially though, this little section was considered "abandoned".
Passenger service of the Beech Creek began dropping off as early as
the 1920’s. To reduce costs The New York Central Railroad began
cutting trains back by mid 1923. Upon the Great Depression era service
was reduced to one train daily between Clearfield and Williamsport, PA.
{West Branch Review, same story, Feldmeier Jeff, April 2006, pge 7}
By 1932 the New York Central requested application to discontinue
passenger service citing losses of $24,000 a year. {West Branch Review,
Part II, NYC RR Passenger Service “West Branch Valley Lines”, Nov-
Dec 2006, Pge 4} Passenger service was further lost on the Beech Creek
section a short time later. Between May 1, 1931 through July 31, 1932 costs of operation were $42,841 while revenue was $23,319. The last
passenger service over this line from Clearfield, PA to Jersey Shore, PA
took place on February 18, 1933 from Clearfield using a NYC gas-electric
motorcar “doodlebug”, ending 47 years of passenger service. {West Branch Review, Same story, Feldmeier Jeff, Nov-Dec 2006, pge 5}
After that time the line became freight only daily operations. Personal
photographs show the rails to Clarence still intact and in place but officially
abandoned in early 1993. {Personal on-sight observation,Spring 1993}
Other personal photographs show all rails and roadbed removed to a point near the Viaduct Bridge. But same pictures of these August 1998 photographs show portions of the line from past the Viaduct Bridge to near Munson with places of rail and ties still fully intact but in isolated sections. At the Munson “Y” at that time all rails had been pulled up and removed. But some piles of ties were in this immediate area, with some still in place. However, it was clear it was all in the stages of final removal. A rail overpass of a roadway had also be removed.{Personal on-sight observation, 8-16-1998}
A long spur track from the main between past the Viaduct Bridge to ending
just short of this “Y”, lead to “Browns Coaling Station” and as of that time 1998 all rails, ties, crossings, bridges, etc were fully intact. {Personal on-sight observation 8-16-1998 & letter from Mike Bezilla, March 15, 2010}
All rails, hardware, and ties were later removed and now form a “Rails
To Trails” right of way from Clarence to a point past the Viaduct Bridge. There is a proposal to reactivate and reestablish rail service on this line to a past point of this line once called Gorton, where a landfill is being proposed.
Personal photographs taken at same time 1998 give evidence of a
short spur with much rails and ties still in place and intact. It went to a
brickyard operation by J.H. France that was shut down in the 1980’s.
{personal letter from Mike Bezilla March 15 2010, & personal on-sight observation 8-16-1998}
Some buildings and various “Beehive” Ovens remained but were in decay. Forest growth over the rails and ties had began in earnest. {Personal
on-sight observation 8-16-1998} Also a local from Beech Creek Has
CONFIRMED that the “B C” sign that I obtained IS from the NYC RR
Beech Creek Station. {personal phone call, 4-8-2011}