The Perkiomen Branch linked Allentown with Philadelphia, connecting the mainline between Reading and Allentown with the mainline between Philadelphia and Reading. It was never considered a mainline itself, despite it’s ability to function as a through route, with the Reading favoring two other more heavily built routes linking the regions. The line relied primarily on local freight and passenger business and was operated as a branch line.
In 1972, Hurricane Agnes devastated the region, damaging portions of the route. With the Reading already struggling, the decision was made to abandon the affected segment between Oaks, PA, and Pennsburg, leaving a small portion between Perkiomen Junction and Oaks to link with a former PRR industrial track (itself a former mainline) which crossed the Perk via a diamond at Oaks, and the segment from Emmaus (near Allentown) to Pennsburg.
Today the segment between Perkiomen Junction and Oaks remains in place and is technically still operated by Norfolk Southern, however it has been inactive for over a decade, along with the former PRR industrial track, and is heavily overgrown. The Pennsburg to Emmaus section is now operated by the East Penn Railway and sees semi-daily freight use. The segment between Oaks and Pennsburg has mostly been converted into a trail.
25 авг 2024
