Re: Warren Silica Then and Now

I don't know about that. Last year I followed and walked portions of the McCauley Mountain Railroad in Columbia County, Pa. The MM came off the Catawissa Railroad near Mainville. It was built in 1856 to tap a coal vein, but the mine shut down about 10 years later. The MM was abandoned in 1869, and much of the grade, including cuts, fills and bridge abutments, is still with us today! I also recently followed the grade of the Lancaster Oxford & Southern, which was gone by 1920. Again, a fair amount of the grade remains, along with a couple of stations and the turntable pit and engine shed foundations at Dorsey, near the western end of the line. I've also followed the grade of the Allentown & Auburn, which was fully graded, including several stone arch bridges and a tunnel, but never received a rail. The A&A predates the Civil War and is still not difficult to find, even on Google Earth.

I'm not sure why these ancient roadbeds seem to remain mostly clear of trees and brush, while more recent abandonments seem to grow over much more quickly. It may be that the older grades were composed mostly of acidic cinders that stymie growth of plants.... Anybody else have a theory?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/2014 06:52AM by Wayne Laepple.