CNJ Easton, PA Station Question

I was exploring the CNJ in Easton, PA the other day and came across an area just above MacDonald's that looks like it might have been the location of the CNJ Station. It was just on the western side of the abandoned rail bridge that crosses the Lehigh River. There was a long unused single track running past the partially paved open lot that was severely over-grown. Was that the location of the CNJ Easton Station? Are there any pictures on the station when it was operational on the web?

Also, (OT) while I was in Easton I visited the National Canal Museum and took a canal boat ride at Hugh Moore Park on the Lehigh Canal. The museum was a major disappointment - it was more of a children's museum. Being the "National" Canal Museum I was expecting a lot more than I got. On the plus side, I was pleasantly surprised by the canal boat ride. The woman that hosted the tour gave a nice interpretation and Hank the mule did a yeoman job hauling us back and forth in the 95 degree heat.

The station was demolished in the early 70's, after being burned, by vandals. here is a link, to info about that station, and surrounding area.

http://www.freewebs.com/jerseycentralli ... easton.htm

http://www.thebluecomet.com/cnjEastondepot1973.jpg

http://www.thebluecomet.com/cnjeaston.jpg

CGRLCDR wrote:I was exploring the CNJ in Easton, PA the other day and came across an area just above MacDonald's that looks like it might have been the location of the CNJ Station. It was just on the western side of the abandoned rail bridge that crosses the Lehigh River. There was a long unused single track running past the partially paved open lot that was severely over-grown. Was that the location of the CNJ Easton Station? Are there any pictures on the station when it was operational on the web?.

Please note that the abandoned bridge is the ex-Lehigh Valley bridge. The active bridge is the ex-CNJ. Would that be in keeping with your observations?

Ken,
I believe that the abandoned bridge over the Lehigh River is the ex-CNJ Bridge. Are you referring to the bridge ove the Delaware?

The bridge that I saw was on the PA side runs from the area by the old Lehigh Valley Station across the Lehigh River over to where the depot used to be. There is a chain link fence on either end of the bridge to keep trespassers off. The first picture on this link show s the bridge that I am talking about....

http://www.freewebs.com/jerseycentralli ... easton.htm

Does that make sense?

Chuck

CGRLCDR wrote:Ken,
I believe that the abandoned bridge over the Lehigh River is the ex-CNJ Bridge. Are you referring to the bridge ove the Delaware?

The bridge that I saw was on the PA side runs from the area by the old Lehigh Valley Station across the Lehigh River over to where the depot used to be. There is a chain link fence on either end of the bridge to keep trespassers off. The first picture on this link show s the bridge that I am talking about....

http://www.freewebs.com/jerseycentralli ... easton.htm

Does that make sense?

Chuck

Yes, I didn't pick up on the Lehigh reference. The CNJ Lehigh bridge may still be in service for one customer switched by BR&W? The Volunteer Railroaders Association cleared the brush there a year or two ago. Did the fence have gates or appear to open?

The fences on both ends of the bridge do not appear to have been opened in some time and the ROW is very over-grown. My guess is that nothing has rolled on those tracks in many years.

Hello,

I recently explored the abandoned passenger station below the active (north suffolk?) line. These tracks are basically parallel to the inactive line that goes over the McDonalds mentioned by the original poster.

I am a new member, though have spent quite some time on the forum reading any bits of history on this place that I could find. I still uncertain about a few things though, maybe someone can help me. Is this the station that used to have an addition on the platform that was burned down in the 1970s? Was this the station that was built in the late 1800s and modified in 1930, or was that a different station? I feel I am confusing two...

I have a video as a reference to which station I am talking about. I actually went inside too, I know some people were wondering the condition this one is still in. Tile walls, ticket booths, an ice water fountain, cargo scale, old newspaper clippings taped up on the wall from the 60s-70s.... kind of crazy what has withstood the test of time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi0oA-sIVbQ

I hope this post is in an appropriate thread. I remember reading another about this location but have recently been unable to find it again.

Any additional info on this place would be much appreciated. I am very interested in learning more. Thanks!

CGRLCDR wrote:The fences on both ends of the bridge do not appear to have been opened in some time and the ROW is very over-grown. My guess is that nothing has rolled on those tracks in many years.

It is my understanding this line gets used a few times per year. There is a Customer that gets a tank car 2 or 3 times per year. Infact they were just over there earlier this week.

runtrain wrote:Hello,

I recently explored the abandoned passenger station below the active (north suffolk?) line. These tracks are basically parallel to the inactive line that goes over the McDonalds mentioned by the original poster.

I am a new member, though have spent quite some time on the forum reading any bits of history on this place that I could find. I still uncertain about a few things though, maybe someone can help me. Is this the station that used to have an addition on the platform that was burned down in the 1970s? Was this the station that was built in the late 1800s and modified in 1930, or was that a different station? I feel I am confusing two...

I have a video as a reference to which station I am talking about. I actually went inside too, I know some people were wondering the condition this one is still in. Tile walls, ticket booths, an ice water fountain, cargo scale, old newspaper clippings taped up on the wall from the 60s-70s.... kind of crazy what has withstood the test of time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi0oA-sIVbQ

I hope this post is in an appropriate thread. I remember reading another about this location but have recently been unable to find it again.

Any additional info on this place would be much appreciated. I am very interested in learning more. Thanks!

The Lehigh Valley station's track level structure was demolished to increase clearance through the area. Other than the sections devoted to tickets, etc. and reaching the upper area to board trains; the lower section was the LCL unloading area for REA [railway express] and after the demise the track along the river was a team track. I remember my father working part time for a local TV & Appliance store would unload carloads of speed queen washers & dryers there.

The older station was a frame Victorian style building. The current remains were supplemented w/ the commissary and laundry facilities for Passenger service that were west of the Tower.

Going back to the OP the CNJ station was placed on the end of the bridge over 4th street while the freight house was between Washington St and the main along the west side of 4th street. There used to be steps from the 3rd street bridge to a walkway [visible above the Wawa strip of stores] to the station. Access was removed when the sides of the 3rd street bridge were rebuilt after the 1955 flood damage. The CNJ station stood where the west end of the walkway ends.