Martins Creek was an agricultural area along the
Delaware River on the eastern edge of Pennsylvania's cement region. The
towering chimneys and cement silos of
the Alpha Portland Cement Company were in sharp industrial contrast
to the otherwise bucolic setting.
- northeast view, April 1986 - Robert F.
Fischer/Warren C. Gearrick
The yard office was on the western edge of
Alpha Portland Cement Company and officiated movements into and out of
cement company tracks as well as interchange with the PRR and DL&W.
- northeast view,
November 12, 1960 - William T. Greenberg, Jr.
The Martins Creek switcher, L&NE No. 613, idles
alongside the Alpha Portland Cement Company's office building at the
west end of the plant.
- northeast view, November 12, 1962 -
William T. Greenberg, Jr.
Eight-coupled steam switching locomotive, L&NE No. 101,
backs a cut of cars from the cement company siding past the Alpha
Cement office building.
- northwest view, circa 1936, photographer
unknown
Portland cement was invented in England and exported to the United States prior
to the turn of the 20th century. Its qualities were superior to regular
concrete. Resources for its manufacture were available in eastern Pennsylvania,
and many plants like Alpha Cement sprang up from the fertile farmlands -
coining the area with the label Cement Belt.
- northeast view, April
1986, Robert F. Fischer/Warren C. Gearrick
This odd assortment of freight equipment sits alongside
Alpha Cement awaiting spotting by the Martin's Creek switcher. The presence
of the covered hopper car for bulk cement and box car for packaged cement
shipments is apparent, the coal hopper is destined for the coal chute at the end
of the track.
- northwest view, March 10, 1962 - William
T. Greenberg, Jr.