Railfan Attractions in our Region... Railfan Attractions in our Region...Erie, PA Area...
Located
about two hours north of The FALLSTON FLAGSTOP Railfan B&B
in Erie, PA is Liberty Iron & Metal. LI&M is
situated under the East Avenue Bridge along the CSX [former CONRAIL]
Chicago Line. About two years ago, LI&M picked
up this GE 25-tonner and a sister unit from Erie Forge & Iron. Both
units were originally General Electric plant switchers prior to
going to the EF&S. Steve took this photo with permission
in June, 2006.
Erie Coke Co of Erie, Pa operates four
locomotives inside the plant: an EMD SW-91200, a GE 80T,
a GE 45T and an Atlas coke quenching car/locomotive. Here
is 45 Tonner (GE 11-45 28519) in May of 2007 handling newly quenched
coke. The unit, possibly assigned #1 was built for
Buffalo Slag as their #8 at this same plant when it was a steel
plant operated by Interlake. Sometime, many years ago the
unit became property of Koppers, Inc when they operated the coke
plant. When Erie Coke took over, the ownership went to them.
Nearly 63 years at the same location. Photos can be
obtained from the parking lot adjacent to the tracks.
B&P Railroad, Butler, PA
The Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad
at Butler is accessible from a public roadway bridge [PA Rt. 68]
right over the shop area, and is less than an hour's drive from
our location. Brad Conant obtained this view while
a guest at The FALLSTON FLAGSTOP Railfan B&B.
B&P
922 is an ex-N&W GP18. Photographed in September,
2007 on the B&P mainline by Barry Householder.
Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad...
With the decline of the American steel
industry, the Bessemer & Lake Erie has likewise become less
active. No longer an American-owned railroad, the B&LE
continues to fascinate railfans with its powerful orange diesels
and copious supply of hopper cars. Their hoppers are
everywhere... many still wearing remains of their original Rock
Island paint. One must drive perhaps an hour or so
from The FALLSTON FLAGSTOP Railfan B&B to access the B&LE. But
it can be done! Robert Shook caught Bessemer &
Lake Erie 'Tunnel Motor' [SD40T-3] 906 at the Hulton Road Crossing
in Plum, PA.
Sharon-Farrel Area...
Steve Timko favors us with #9 from
Duferco Farrell Corp. in the Sharon-Farrel area of Pennsylvania--less
than an hour's drive from The FALLSTON FLAGSTOP Railfan B&B. Duferco
is the former Caparo Steel and Sharon Steel plant. Duferco
operates five EMD switchers, all former Monessen Southwestern
units that were sold to Sharon Steel when MSW closed down. DFC
#9 is an EMD SW-900 that was originally MSW #30. Steve
took this photo in Farrell, PA on December 6, 2007. Note
that this photo was taken on plant property with permission. This
does not imply that permission will be granted to photographers,
nor does it imply that units can be photographed without permission. There
are some public roadways surrounding the plant, but visibility
of these units is generally marginal. Thanks, Steve!
Youngstown, OH Area...
Youngstown Sheet & Tube purchased
a 23-ton Model 'EL' diesel electric locomotive from Plymouth Locomotive
Works for its Campbell Works in Youngstown, Ohio in 1940. The
locomotive was transferred to the Brier Hill Works when Campbell
closed in the late 1970's. After the Brier Hill Works
was closed, the unit sat abandoned inside a bulding at Hunt Steel
and later North Star Steel. North Star donated the
locomotive to the Mahoning Valley Railroad Heritage Association,
still carrying its original #320, and it is presently parked at
the east end of Brier Hill on what appears to be Ohio Central
Railroad property. The unit carries Plymouth builder's
#4015, making it definitely a 'one-of-a-kind.' Brier
Hill is located about an hour northwest of The FALLSTON FLAGSTOP
Railfan B&B. Both CSX and the Norfolk Southern
Youngstown Line are located in the immediate area.
New Castle, PA Area...
New Castle. PA is about a half-hour's drive from The FALLSTON FLAGSTOP Railfan B&B and is rich in both contemporary and historical railroad interest. CSX has a division point yard there which can be viewed from several perspectives [we provide our guests with plenty of information]. The B&P interchanges with CSX there, adding additional interest. The Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical Society is based there as well. They own several pieces of rolling stock which are at various levels of restoration and repair. The New Castle Industrial Railroad provides short line interest, and the ISSR repairs hundreds of freight cars there every year. We offer an ideal nearby location from which you can access the area.
Barry Householder provides a rather
sad sight--the 3003 Alco owned by ISSR [on Industrail Drive] is
being dismanteled apparently because of high scrap prices. It
has originally been painted and restored by the Beaver-Lawrence
Railway Historical Society, which has a large collection of equipment
on ISSR property. The chapter also owns the former
West Pittsburg, PA station just outside of New Castle. The
station, likewise, is undergoing restoration. Barry
Householder provided this photo.
Steve Timko photographed the ISSR 'BUG.'
It is there for 'safe keeping' and gets 'exercised' now
& then. It was one of three such battery-operated
animals constructed for CONRAIL to be used as [level ground] shop
shifters. The "BUG" is owned by the Beaver Lawrence Railway
Historical Society [former Beaver Valley Junction Chapter NRHS].
Steve Raith of the society tells us that the 'BUG' was originally
from Selkirk Yard in New York and was transfered to Conway Yard
in the late 1990's. It saw little action in Conway because
Conway has a roundhouse. Roundhouse tracks have a very slight
grade away from the turntable pit to keep locomotives from rolling
into the pit. The little unit was not able to overcome the
weight of newer units and the grade, which would on occasion cause
it spin its wheels. Selkirk and Collinwood are both flat
'run-through' shops where these 'Bugs' were more effective. One
is reportedly still in use by CSX at Collinwood Yard in Cleveland...
in a dry indoor environment where it can get enough traction to
pull a diesel unit a short distance. Located in the
Mahoningtown area of New Castle, just off Rt 18, Interchange Specialty
Services--Car repairs and rebuilds railcars for owners.
?
Kasgro Rail...
Barry Householder continues our tour
of the New Castle/Mahoningtown area with these photos of part
of the Kasgro Rail facilities. There is some question
as to the exact heritage of this roundhouse.
Interesting
rolling stock can always be found just outside, like the KRL Red
'n Ready Line flat cars. All of the photos in this
series were taken from public roadways which adjoin Kasgro property.
Kasgro
Rail's Furnace Street Plant is host to one of the Red 'n Ready's
tiny critters. The KRL's freight rolling stock is generally
much bigger, including some of the largest heavy-duty flat cars
in the world. Kasgro services the one-time Westinghouse
depressed center flat cars, which can often be seen waiting for
their next 'high-and-wide' journey, as well as a fleet of KRL
wide-vision cabooses. Check that critter's drawbar! Photo
by Steve Timko.
New Castle Industrial Railroad...
The New Castle Industrial Railroad [NCIR] is essentially
an industrial switching operation utilizing most of the remaining
trackage of the four major mainline railroads which once served
that community. Barry Householder was in Mahoningtown
[New Castle], PA on August 12th and shot this photo. The
Ohio Central heritage of NCIR 4032 is obvious. The
Nickel Plate caboose is owned by Beaver-Lawrence Railway
Historical Society [former Beaver Valley Junction Chapter NRHS] based
in West Pittsburg, PA [just outside New Castle]. The trailing
caboose is owned by an NCIR employee.
Wampum, PA
Alaron Corporation
is located in Wampum, PA on Rt. 18, about 25 minutes north of
The FALLSTON FLAGSTOP Railfan B&B. This GE 25-tonner
handles inbound cars from the Norfolk Southern's adjacent Koppel
Secondary. Steve Timko photographed it in June, 2007. Steve
cautions against trespassing on plant property due to the nature
of Alaron's business. They decontaminate large machinery
from power plants and other nuclear operations. If
you venture that way, stay on the public roadways which access
the local industries.
Koppel, PA...
IPSCO #48 is based
just a few miles north of The FALLSTON FLAGSTOP Railfan B&B
in Koppel, PA. Steve Timko reports it is a former P&LE
NW-2 sold to Babcock & Wilcox for their Beaver Falls plant
in the late 1960's, then later moved to their Koppel plant and
sold with the plant to Koppel Steel in 1991. Koppel
Steel numbered the unit KS-048. After many years of
service, it was stored a couple of years ago when a newer diesel,
#35211, was purchased. But the veteran EMD was recently
refurbished, repainted, and renumbered for IPSCO. Steve
took this photo with permission in February, 2008.
Horsehead Zinc Corp., Kobuta, PA...
Horsehead Zinc Company is located in
Kobuta, PA, along the Ohio River. They use this NW-2,
#8821, as a plant switcher. Steve Timko took this photo
from the PA Rt. 60 bridge which spans the Ohio River just a few
miles from The FALLSTON FLAGSTOP Railfan B&B. Although
the Beaver Valley suffered greatly when the local steel industry
collapsed, plenty of other industrial operations are still active
here. As we've been showing you--often with Steve's
photography--that means there are numerous privately-owned diesels
of every description operating right in our area. Railfans
use our facility as a 'base camp' for railfanning this great variety
of power and rolling stock.
Pittsburgh Intermodal Terminal...
A true classic belonging to the Pittsburgh
Intermodal Terminal at Ambridge, PA. The facility operates
two General Electric 65-tonners. This is stand-by locomotive
#3, photographed by Steve Timko on 10/20/07. Ambridge
was named for the former USS--American Bridge Division, once termed
'The Largest Structural Steel Fabricating Plant in the World.' A
huge percentage of the great bridges built in the early 1900's
were created at Ambridge. Many of them, such as the
Ohio Connecting [OC] Bridge on Pittsburgh's North Side, have gained
prominence in railfan books and other publications. Much
of the Ambridge property has now become the Port Ambridge Industrial
Park, and is located along PA Rt. 65 just a few miles south of
The FALLSTON FLAGSTOP Railfan B&B.
Here is Steve's photo of another of
their diesel units, taken in May of 2007. This same
diesel worked at the W.H. Sammis Power Plant at Stratton, OH prior
to its arrival in Ambridge. Although they remain somewhat
hidden much of the day, these fascinating diesels will from time
to time make their appearances alongside PA Rt. 65 where they
can be photographed from the adjacent PA Rt. 65.
Ambridge, PA Area...
Looking like something out of LGB,
this 16-ton Plymouth Model DDT works at Allegheny Petroleum on
Duss Avenue in Ambridge, PA. That's near the ISPCO-Koppel
Steel plant. Steve Timko caught it in July, 2007. The
'critter' is usually out in the early morning--before 10:A.M. It's
kept indoors when not in use. The little Plymouth originally
worked for Westinghouse at Trafford, PA and is equipped with dual
controls.
Steam in Sewickley, PA...
If you travel across
the bridge spanning the Ohio River at Sewickley, PA, you may have
spotted this rolling stock below. This is a Porter
0-4-0T 'fireless cooker' now located in Sewickley's Riverfront
Park, which is right beside the same busy Norfolk Southern mainline
that is across the Beaver River from The FALLSTON FLAGSTOP Railfan
B&B. This former U.S. Steel engine that was once
located at Station Square in Pittsburgh. It's coupled
to an ex-P&LE/ex-P&OV bobber caboose. Chris,
from Coraopolis, PA [across the Ohio River from Sewickley] sent
us the photo.
POHC, McKees Rocks, PA...
Railroads don't necessarily spot their power for our
lenses in either convenient places nor at convenient times. Steve
Timko had to indulge in some night photography to capture this
image of POHC 8702.
Located in McKees Rocks, theOhio Central System operates the Pittsburgh & Ohio Central RR serving Allegheny and Washington counties. The oadquarters are located at he old PC&Y office building in downtown Rocks.
Greater Pittsburgh Area...
The
Bellefield Boiler Plant is located in Pittsburgh's Oakland section
at 4400 Forbes Avenue, about an hour's drive from The FALLSTON
FLAGSTOP Railfan B&B. The plant supplies steam
for the hospitals, universities and other businesses in the area. Coal
arrives on CSX's P&W Sub-Division. Bellefield spots
the loads and pulls the empties. The plant operates
this rare 25-ton Plymouth diesel-electric which was built for
the U.S. Navy in October, 1942. The unit carries Plymouth
builder's number 4417. Steve Timko took this photo
on July 3, 2001 from private property, with prior permission of
the plant personnel.
West Mifflin, PA...
If anyone can find 'oddball' rolling
stock, it's Steve Timko. For example, here's an industrial
switcher seen at Tube City Iron Company in West Mifflin, PA on
April 19, 2007. Not much question as to where they
got it--it's former Union RR #566, an SW-9.
Even Steve isn't sure
about this one, however. It was also at Tube City Iron, but its
heritage so far is unknown.
Weirton, WV, Steubenville/Mingo Jct., OH Area...
In September, 2007, Steve Timko focused
his lens on Mittal Steel [formerly Weirton Steel] SW-1500 #306. This
is the former P&LE #1565, originally P&LE #9288. The
photo was taken in the 'Main Street' yard of Weirton Steel...
on private property... with permission. It is
possible, however, to obtain photos of Weirton Steel AND Wheeling-Pitt
Steel diesels from public property. Both steel
mills are located within about an hour's driving distance of The
FALLSTON FLAGSTOP Railfan B&B. Our model railroad
now under construction will include a suggestion of these mills
and trackage replicating that in nearby Mingo Junction, OH.
The Kiski Jct. Railroad, Schenley, PA...
The Kiski Junction Railroad is more
than a freight-hauler. It hauls passengers, too! Mostly
railfans and folks--including families--who want to take a ride
on a real working railroad. Visit their website, www.kiskijunction.com,
and see for yourself.
The KJRR is a
little more than an hour's drive from The FALLSTON FLAGSTOP Railfan
B&B and has been a destination for many of our guests. Photos
by Steve Timko.
Youngwood, PA
Steve Timko photograhed Buncher Rail
Car's GE 25-tonner in Youngwood, PA, along U.S. Rt. 119 in January,
2007. Much interesting freight rolling stock can be
found there. Be sure to also check out the nearby Youngwood
Historical & Railroad Museum. A former PRR branch
is the primary rail route through the area.
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