Here’s a question I pose to my fellow posters: What’s your favorite obscure branchline or secondary mainline route currently in operation today? You know; the one that might see one or two trains tops, has some pretty interesting scenery, and goes through a smorgasboard of quiet towns. For me, I’ll nominate the CN’s Manchester (IA.) to Cedar Rapids branch and also the CN’s branchline between Mona Jct. (Cedar Falls) and Glenville, Minnesota.
P.S.
I’m hesitant to put “My Mainline” (the CP/ICE mainline between La Crescent, MN. and Sabula, IA.) in this group as I think it’ll see more traffic in the not too distant future.
I had a great time last spring chasing a weekday local on the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern’s Illinois River branch. It’s definitely off the beaten path, but the operation is unique, the orange locomotives (now being distributed to various parts of Canadian National) looked fantastic, and it was impressive to see the railroad-promoted industrial park near the end of the branch, which attracted quite a few chemical shippers.
Ever been to New England? There are 6 states full of such lines, followed by NY, Pennsylvania and New Jersey in my book… Best shot from me is what the Long Island Railroad calls the Lower Montauk from Long Island City to Morris Park, Jamaica…double & single track, PRR position light signals, freight yards and sidings, abandoned stations and station platforms, draw bridges, industrial, harbor, warehouse, freight yards, ghetto, family duplexes, sylvan park setting, automatic gates, hand operated gates, hand thrown yard switches, passenger yard (small), passenger yards (big and huge), approximately 11 miles long, one revenue passenger round trip weekdays only, several deadhead and equipment moves, whatever freight the NY&A has…perhaps two rts total a day. See the Empire State Building and a beautiful Manhatten skyline; see harbors facilties, superhighways, subways (elevated), ghetto housing and beautiful neighborhoods with duplexes and yards, Forest Park, …It is to me the most amazing piece of railroading in the New York City Metropolitan market…step back to 1950’s era railroading aboard a 21st Century BiLevel car pushed or pulled by 21st Century diesel engineering. If you are a railfan and ever go to The Big Appel, this is a must…4:54PM from LIC, arr. Jamaica 5:13P (stay aboard all the way to Oyster Bay if you want, but, whatever, buy your ticket before boarding from the Ticket Vending Machine on the platform riight next to the rear coupler of the Cab car!) If you go to New York City and don’t ride this train, you are cheating yourself!
Delaware Coast Line, in Sussex County, Delaware - about 15 miles from the PRR/ CR/ NS main at Georgetown, the county seat in the middle of the state, to Lewes, a very old beach community - oldest town in the state. Mainly serves the former Bar-Croft plant that makes Maalox. Runs through mostly farm country, some ‘suburbs’, past a winery, crosses a canal about 1/4 mile from a marina on a hand-operated deck-girder swing bridge, then across some marshes, along Rt. 9 and the Cape May - Lewes ferry terminal to its terminus, which is right at the entrance to Cape Henlopen State Park, and within sight of the Delaware Bay beaches.