Some photos from a brief excursion to the above this past weekend, and a walk on about 1.3 of its present 2 miles. See also: http://www.uppersaucon.org and http://www.uppersaucon.org/docs/UST_SRTRules.pdf
Trailhead - only one so far - leading from Community Park - N 40.53820 W 75.38700 - about 2 miles north of Coopersburg, and 5 miles south of Allentown/ 7 miles southwest of Bethlehem, just west of DeSales University, across from the Southern Lehigh Public Library, with lots of parking, restrooms (building in right background), water fountains:
Typical views along the trail - notice how wide it is, since the RDG line along here - former North Pennsylvania RR branch from Lansdale to Bethlehem - was double-tracks:
Crossing at Spring Valley Rd., at: N 40.55239 W 75.36973 - no parking available anywhere near here, though.
Note new type of trail crossing flashers - they’re solar-powered, and activate only when some kind of device senses a presence on the trail approaching the crossing area - see the bright strip under the left side of the diamond-shaped yellow bicycle symbol sign. Also, the famous and very exclusive “Members-Only” ex-Bethlehem Steel Co.'s Saucon Valley Country Club’s golf course is in the background behind the trees of this photo:
Remains of fo
…If we can’t have a current railroad productive…and it’s abandoned, the next best thing for the ROW is a well prepared Trail.
This one appears very nice.
Surprised the powers to be, would allow the non working batteries to remain in place…
Our Cardinal Greenway Trail thru Muncie, is now 30 plus miles in length and still expanding…and fully paved. Several Trail Heads. Muncie has the {$800,000} restoration of the old C & O depot structure here as our Trail Head…Also a generous amount of former railroad artifacts inside…Beautifully restored building.
Funny you should mention all that, Quentin/ Modelcar . . . this portion of the line was abandoned by ConRail in the early 1980’s, but it was sold to the SouthEasternPennsylvania Transportation Authority (“SEPTA”), which “mothballed” it until the rails were removed about 2 years ago, and which still owns it. SEPTA leased it to each municipality for something like 30 years, so if there’s a move in the future to restore service, the ROW will still be intact.
Speaking of which, there was an article in today’s Morning Call newspaper about how even the currently proposed extension/ restoration of passenger service north of Lansdale to this area is now to be cut back from the planned 20 miles to only 8, not even as far as Quakertown. Even that is apparently estimated to cost about $182 million or almost $23 million per mile, which I think is outrageously high and ‘gold-plated’, even allowing for the purchase of some additional equipment to use for the service. See “Planned Philly-Upper Bucks rail line shortened - Instead of almost reaching Lehigh County line, it’s cut back to Pennridge area” at:
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-passenger-train-service-quakertown20110426,0,1293419.story
That’s no small thing, either. I understand there were some significant encroachments, accessory structures and uses, etc. placed or established in the ROW by the some of the owners of the mini-palaces that are visible along the way . . . prudently, those are gone now.
Sadly, other than the name 'Rail" in the trail’s name and on some signs, there is no official or public acknowledgement or statement of the history or rail-relat
Nice report, thank you. Here’s hoping the trail gets a lot of use.
Will it be Silverliner VI or VII that stop in Coopersburg and Hellertown?
Jeff - You’re welcome. So far, so good - I understand that Phase II to the southwest/ Coopersburg area is going to be done by a developer of some kind.
[(-D] That’s too true to be funny ! Given the track record (pun !) for that line, I predict it’ll be the SL VI cars by the time service is extended to Coopersburg, SL VIII to Hellertown, and the SL X to Bethlehem . . . [:-^]
I found the 2007 studies to restore rail service on-line. I’ll post the links either here, or more likely over in the Passenger or Transit Forums.
I have to go to Lansdale sometime in the next month or so to take a photo of the curved turnout in the Doylestown track that leads to the ‘layover’ track there. I’ve also taken a few of other points along the R-5 line from there inwards. Seeing how you’re so far away - our daughter was in Tampa for 6 years, and my wife loves Stephen Foster State Park - is there anything in particular you’d want a photo of ? No promises, but if the opportunity presents itself, I’ll see what I can do.
Appreciate it, but no thanks. Unless you can back date to '65. 
Update - Next 2 Sections Open Tomorrrow, Sat., May 7, 2011 !
The next 2 sections of the “Saucon Rail Trail” (its official name) to the east - 1.4 miles in Lower Saucon Twp., and another 1.4 miles along the western side of the Borough of Hellertown, both in Northampton County, PA, for almost 3 miles additional, and almost 5 miles altogether - are scheduled to open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow at 8:30 AM.
There won’t be any public access or parking areas in the Lower Saucon Twp. portion for a while yet - apparently some land is needed to be acquired for that. However, there are 2 small parks in Hellertown that adjoin the Rail-Trail where parking and some other amenities can be found. They are about 1 mile south on PA Rt. 412/ Main St. from the I-78 interchange 67, and then west a few blocks. Specifically:
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The Water Street Park, along W. Water St./ Friedensville Rd., which is about 1.1 miles south of I-78 on 412/ Main St. and then west a little over 0.1 mile, at these Lat./ Long. coords.: N 40.57918 W 75.34349 See also: http://www.hellertownborough.org/waterstpark.html
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The Grist Mill Park, along W. Walnut St./ Skibo Rd., which is about 1.6 miles south of I-78 on 412/ Main St. and then west a little under 0.1 mile, at these Lat./ Long. coords.: N 40.57233 W 75.34270 See also: http://www.hellertownborough.org/gristmillpa