Frazer to Phoenixville

Link: http://a-r.us/k2c

• Quick Info:
• States: Pennsylvania   
• Railroads: CR, NS, PC, PRR   

The Frazer Branch

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The Frazer Branch crosses Warner Road. Interstate 76 crosses above. Photo by Joe Sharretts.

Built in 1883, this connecting line branched from the Pennsylvania Railroad mainline at Frazer and meandered 6.2 miles northeast to Phoenixville, where it connected with another PRR mainline. Within Phoenixville, the line actually crosses over the PRR mainline before connecting to it south of town.

The line was abandoned in various segments at different times: The southern portion in Frazer in 1941; the middle segment of the route was abandoned in 1950; the segment that branched from Frazer was abandoned in 1975; the remainder of the line was abandoned in 2004. Of these, only the tracks from the final abandoned segment still remain.

Both former PRR mainlines at Frazer and Phoenixville are still in use today by Norfolk Southern.

Thanks to Joe Sharretts for contributing information about this route.

Historic ICC Abandonment Filings

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD
Docket Number: 13507	Date: 12/23/1941	Section: 1
App. for permission to abandon a portion of Phoenixville Branch from Devault Station to Swedsford Road Station, all in Chester County, Pennsylvania, a distance of 3 miles.
Length: 3 miles	Citation: 249 ICC 567

We are putting together a history of Charlestown. My assignment is the ice dam on Route 29. When was it built by the American Ice Company? Are they still in business? I looked up a dozen of Am. Ice but none seem to be the one that owned the dam. I'm looking for history of dam, the conveyor that carried the ice over Route 29 onto the train that then took the ice to Philadelphia. I'd like as much info as you can tell me about the dam. i know it blew out in 1942 and was owned by Frank Foster at that time, it is now owned by Charlestown Township, we have a nature tail there next to Pickering Creek. Please help and you'll go down in hostory. Thanks,

Paul Hogan
Charlestown, Chester Co., PA
4/29/2010

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Actually, the remaining 10-mile segment between Phoenixville and Devault is officially "out of service." Thankfully, NS has no plans to abandon the line outright, as it is being considered for new Greenline passenger service between Oaks and Paoli. (http://www.citizensforthetrain.com/)

Paco
Phoenixville, PA
6/10/2010

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The portion of the line north out of Frazer was abandoned well before 1975. As a child in the mid '60s I used to visit a friend of mine along PA 401 (they lived adjacent to where the line had a grade crossing) and the tracks were long gone at that point.

RK
downingtown, PA
1/31/2011

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The map above is highlighting the Reading Company connecting track betweem the PRR's Devault line and the Reading's Chester Valley line. The line in question was not a branch, but rather a connecting loop between the Schuylkill Valley line and the Main Line. The 1941 abandonment severed the line between Sedley Road/Devault Station and Swedesford Road Station in Frazer, PA. Hope this helps.

Robert
Phoenixville, PA
5/26/2011

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The tracks at the grade crossing at PA Route 29 and Charlestown Road were removed in late 2010 or early 2011.

Richard L. Lindberg
Pottstown, PA
7/18/2011

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This line from Phoenixville to Paoli is not in use right now but still belong to NSRR I have walked a small portion of it. Today it is vert overgrown and impassable.

Rick Wolf
Phoenixville, PA
6/24/2012

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This line was a big part of my life as a kid growing up around Pville. From the trestle bridge over 29 to the steel mill my brother and friends used to hop the train at Bader's market crossing at Charlestown Road and Pothouse Road, riding past the Little League Fields down to DeSanno Field. One side note, the bridge that used to cross 202 near the terminus at Cedar Hollow (Unisys/Vanguard) was recently removed during the widening of 202.

CH
Coatesville, PA
8/16/2012

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i am writing this post to find out what is being done with this line.is it going to be a rail to trail project or is it going to be an eyesore for years to come?does anyone know for sure?please let me know because i think norfolk/southern must believe in pipe dreams.this line will never be resurrected and should either be taken out permanently or flipped to a rail to trail project.anyone with any information about this rail line please let me know.thank you.

george oakley
reading, PA
12/3/2012

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ANY IDEA WHERE THE FRAZER TRAIN STATION USED TO BE?

BRIAN HARDCORE
MALVERN, PA
3/3/2013

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both railroad stations were removed many years ago.let me know if any rail or equipment is still in place and where.thanks

george oakley
reading, PA
3/3/2013

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