Pictures from Bethlehem PA on Oct 25, 2003

I finally made a trip up to Bethlehem in the daylight, to get some pictures of the Bethlehem Union Station, now that it is reworked as a St. Luke's medical facility. The building is quite beautiful, but it's a shame to see the lack of the Bethlehem Branch tracks in front. The diamond over the ex-LV main is removed, and I'm not sure if the Eastbound switch to the Bethlehem Branch was removed, as I didn't venture over there. (I guess that I should have.) The signal by the station is still standing and in great shape, but the lights are dark and it stands in the grass. The tracks disappear under the dirt, but they may still be intact. I know for sure that they are ripped out where the new road crosses the ROW. Heading South, there is lots of plant debris on the tracks, as a contractor apparently cleaned up and placed it on the tracks. Norfolk Southern still owns the ROW, and the City of Bethlehem is still planning to by it as a walking path (which would have to cross many busy roads.) The "greenway" is a stupid idea if you ask me.

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North_across_road.jpg Looking North towards the new road and that station. Full size image is 128 kB	north_side_of_new_road.jpg The torch-cut ends of the track on the south side of the new road. Full size image is 144 kB	north_side_ROW.jpg Looking towards the ex-LV interchange. Might the tracks be buried under here? Full size image is 75 kB
station_far.jpg Here's a look at the South side of the station. It looks nice! Notice the signal in the grass on the left. Full size image is 63 kB	lettering_close_up.jpg Here's a closeup of the lettering on the South side. Full size image is 60 kB	northwest_side.jpg Here's the Northwest side of the station. I'd like an office up top please. Full size image is 59 kB
just_north_of_the_signal.jpg Just North of the now dark signal, the tracks appear out of the ground. The electric powered switch is still there. I think that all of the tracks may be buried, except for the new road crossing. Full size image is 141 kB	no_more_diamond.jpg The diamond is definitely gone. Looking at the bridge which goes over the Lehigh and towards the ex-CNJ yard. Full size image is 137 kB	where_the_diamond_is_now.jpg Here's where the diamonds are laying now. Full size image is 297 kB
looking_south_towards_signal.jpg Looking South towards Hellertown. The tracks disappear into the earth, and the signal stands dark. Full size image is 121 kB	east_side_of_station.jpg Here's the East side of the station. Full size image is 51 kB
ns6580_cr8306_east_of_beth.jpg NS6590 and 8306 in CR paint (and three other NS locos that I didn't get the numbers of). The PB&NE switchers brought over this stack train about ten minutes earlier, then disappeared. Full size image is 207 kB	beth_steel.jpg Here's a Bethlehem Steel blast furnance. Wow! I was awestruck. I wish that I had visited this place when they were still in operation. I can only imagine. Full size image is 123 kB

Index created on Sun Oct 26 00:19:10 2003.
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