Last week’s “WW #111” offered something a little different. Reader Jim Anderson is re-creating the Elmira Branch in digital format, and sent along this view of Marsh Hill Junction and the PRR’s Bergan tower. The SNY’s junction track can be seen just beyond the bridge over Lycoming Creek.
If I had to start over, would I build a virtual digital version of the S&NY, instead of in real-space HO scale?
Good question…
Screenshot courtesy James Anderson
Pursuant to a recent discussion on the PRR Elmira Branch Yahoo group regarding Bergan tower, and the junction of the S&NY with the Elmira Branch, I offer these scans:
Bill Caloroso – Cal’s Classics
First is this northward winter view of the PRR operator at Bergan tower “hooping up” train orders to the rear brakeman or conductor of a southbound SNY freight. In the background we see the PRR bridge over Pleasant Stream, and the roof of the SNY depot at Marsh Hill junction. The SNY train would have come out from the SNY yard to the right, on “our” side of the depot, entering the Elmira Branch at the junction switch at the far end of the bridge.
Bill Caloroso – Cal’s Classics
This view looks in the opposite direction southward, and of course was taken in a much warmer season. A northward bound SNY freight is leaving the Elmira branch onto home rails and will enter Marsh Hill yard in a moment. The SNY station is behind the viewer, and the PRR Bergan tower is on the south side of the bridge, hidden behind SNY #115.
Bill Caloroso – Cal’s Classics
Next, we have a very nice view from the PRR Pleasant Stream bridge looking northward at the SNY Marsh Hill station. We can see the SNY track curving off to the right to the Marsh Hill yard. The low target lamps appear to be controlled remotely from Bergan tower via the wooden rail-side relay cases seen in the second photo above, and hidden by the left side of the bridge in this view. In the distance we can see the position-light signals controlling a passing siding on the south end of the bridge, which extends southward from Bergan tower.
Update 8/7/2014: Northward-looking view of Bergan tower, PRR Lycoming Creek bridge, Marsh Hill junction, and S&NY Marsh Hill station in the distance. Photo courtesy Mr. Jim Anderson.
Photo Courtesy Jim Anderson
PSU – Penn Pilot
Last is an aerial view of the Marsh Hill area circa 1938. The SNY Marsh Hill station is in the lower middle, above the Pleasant Stream bridge hidden by the nearby trees. A shadow cast by a structure in the lower center south of the bridge I believe is the location of Bergan tower. The SNY Marsh Hill yard curves off to the right, while the PRR Elmira Branch runs generally north-south along the meandering Lycoming Creek.
Today, this area is private ground and is fairly heavily wooded. One would be hard-pressed to find any traces of either railroad that once crossed this bridge, and even the bridge itself is long gone.
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