Officially known as "The Atglen & Susquehana Branch", the Pennsylvania Railroad's line from Atglen to Enola passed through Lancaster County. Abandoned by Conrail in 1989, this double-tracked electrified route was part of the Pennsy's route that bypassed cities and steeper grades for freight trains between the East Coast and Enola Yard west of Harrisburg. The route dates from the turn of the 20th century. The low-grade rumbled and hummed with the high horsepower of P-5, GG-1 and E-44 locomotives until the end of electric freight in 1981.
Today, the tracks have long disappeared but the steelwork for catenary support remain. The route has been transferred from owner Norfolk Southern to the various municipalities along it. Having no grade crossings in Lancaster County, many stone overpasses remain, often throttling the highways that use them.
The high voltage distribution lines above the abandoned right of way are owned by Amtrak who uses them to transmit power from the Safe Harbor hydroelectric plant to its main line at Atglen. One would-be copper wire salvager has been electrocuted by assuming the lines were dead.
Near Martic Forge an impressive steel trestle spans Pequea (PEK-way) Creek. My photos here show the growth of grass and small trees that are reclaiming the right of way. The lower photo, showing the trestle from below, shows a form of local transportation not subject to pressures of the market.
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