by Statkowski
Charlie,
At the eastern end of the Pennsylvania Division, there were two classification yards, one at Avis just west of Jersey Shore (handling Beech Creek District coal traffic) and one at Newberry Junction, in Williamsport (where the New York Central, Pennsylvania and Reading all interchanged). There was a wye at JR Tower just west of Jersey Shore, so coal traffic heading north on the Fall Brook District could depart Avis Yard and head north.
In steam days, since the Clearfield Bituminous Corporation (C.B.C.) owned so many mines, and the New York Central Railroad owned the C.B.C., much of the railroad's company coal originated from the Beech Creek District. That traffic ran eastward to Avis, then northward to Lyons, N.Y. For the export coat, that traffic ran eastward to Avis, on to Newberry Junction, and the Reading took over for moving it to the port of Philadelphia.
But, since much of this trackage, especially the Beech Creek District, was not part of the Boston/New York/Chicago main line, it didn't receive the photographic coverage, so we are truly left to only imagining what it was like once upon a time.
At the eastern end of the Pennsylvania Division, there were two classification yards, one at Avis just west of Jersey Shore (handling Beech Creek District coal traffic) and one at Newberry Junction, in Williamsport (where the New York Central, Pennsylvania and Reading all interchanged). There was a wye at JR Tower just west of Jersey Shore, so coal traffic heading north on the Fall Brook District could depart Avis Yard and head north.
In steam days, since the Clearfield Bituminous Corporation (C.B.C.) owned so many mines, and the New York Central Railroad owned the C.B.C., much of the railroad's company coal originated from the Beech Creek District. That traffic ran eastward to Avis, then northward to Lyons, N.Y. For the export coat, that traffic ran eastward to Avis, on to Newberry Junction, and the Reading took over for moving it to the port of Philadelphia.
But, since much of this trackage, especially the Beech Creek District, was not part of the Boston/New York/Chicago main line, it didn't receive the photographic coverage, so we are truly left to only imagining what it was like once upon a time.
Ex-NYNH&H SS Opr