GAP JUNCTION
MP
32.3 The L&NE's riveted, skew, deck, truss bridge
across the Lehigh River at Lehigh Gap was completed in July 1912. It was part of
a project called the Tamaqua Extension whereby the mainline at
Danielsville was extended 31.85 miles westward across Pennsylvania to connect
with the LC&N's Panther Creek Railroad in Tamaqua. In this
eastbound view, the gradient of the Palmerton Branch is visible across
the river running on a high ledge (left of the bridge). -
eastward view, May 16, 1939 - Richard S. Loane
MP 33.5 The Palmerton Branch opened in April 1914. It split from the mainline at
Gap Junction, near the east of the Lehigh Gap bridge, and ran 1.23 miles
to a connection with the Chestnut Ridge Railway at East Palmerton (Palmerton).
In this scene a Chestnut Ridge Railway steam switcher and transfer
caboose work in New Jersey Zinc Co. (of PA)'s East Palmerton plant.
The New Jersey Zinc Co. also operated a huge plant in Franklin, New
Jersey.
- circa mid-1940s - Robert Guthlein collection
In addition to owning all of the
outstanding capital stock of the Chestnut Ridge Railway,
New Jersey Zinc Co. (of PA) operated their own
locomotives and cars for shifting materials within their sprawling complexes. NJZX
No. 627 is spotted at the entrance to the Palmerton facility. Although this car
was not used in interchange, the New Jersey Zinc Co. (of PA) did own a
small fleet of tank cars. - May 3, 1967 - Reverend A. W. Kovacs
In addition to a road-size diesel, New Jersey Zinc
also operated a small Whitcomb industrial locomotive. In this view it is
spotted near the entrance to their East Palmerton plant yard.
- November 1, 1967 - Reverend A. W. Kovacs
New Jersey Zinc No. 20, a 1945 vintage ALCO S-2
diesel switching locomotive, pulls a string of tank cars to the interchange yard
at Palmerton. - May 3, 1967 - Reverend
A. W. Kovacs
Left - The Chestnut Ridge Railway operated a 1923
vintage MACK gasoline motor car in passenger service. No. 51 is seen here
near the entrance to the East Palmerton New Jersey Zinc plant.
-April 25, 1966 - Reverend A. W. Kovacs Right
- In this scene No. 51 is spotted on the Chestnut Ridge Railway
service track. circa 1965 - Randolph Kulp
In addition to a vintage rail-bus, the
Chestnut Ridge Railway also operated an ALCO S-2 diesel switching locomotive. In this
view it is pulling a string of DIFCO side dump cars into the Palmerton
interchange yard. - May 3, 1967 - Reverend A. W. Kovacs
Chestnut Ridge Railway No. 10 rests alongside
caboose No. 602 at the Palmerton interchange yard.
- May 3, 1967 - Reverend A. W. Kovacs
Caboose No. 602 got left at the entrance while
Chestnut Ridge Railway No. 10 delivers a short cut of cars to the New
Jersey Zinc Company East Palmerton plant yard. - April 25, 1966 -
Reverend A. W. Kovacs
New Jersey Zinc (of PA) operated
two large facilities in Palmerton. The East Palmerton plant was situated on the
east bank of the Aquashicola River in the valley formed by Stony Ridge and Blue
Mountain. The Hazard plant was at the west end of Palmerton along the east bank
of the Lehigh River. The Chestnut Ridge Railway shifted cars between the
two plants and interchanged with the L&NE at East Palmerton and the
CNJ at Hazard. - northward view East
Palmerton, March 28, 1988 - Robert F. Fischer/Warren C. Gearrick
The Lehigh Gap bridge soared over 100 feet
above the Lehigh River, crossing Pennsylvania Route No. 248 (Lehigh Drive), the
CNJ mainline, the Lehigh River and canal, and the LV mainline. In
this view taken from the vicinity of CNJ milepost No. 107 (107 miles to
Jersey City, NJ), one of the L&NE's ponderous F-1 class 2-10-0s
makes a reverse move across the river. - northwestward
view, circa 1945 - Robert Guthlein collection
The forlorn L&NE bridge stood unused until it
was dismantled during 1967. The Ashley (PA) wreck train, hauled by CNJ No.
1604, is en-route to a LV mishap on CNJ track1 at
Treichlers, PA. - northward view, October 4, 1967 - Reverend
A. W. Kovacs
1CNJ/LV Joint Use of Facilities Traffic Agreement.