See what others are saying about Abandoned Rails.com!
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There is abandoned train tracks in the delaware city refinery, it was just recently shut down and all the tracks were abandoned.
Christian
Bear, DE
3/27/2010
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There is an abandoned rail roadbed that probably prior to 1940's was under construction and had to be abandoned due to lack of financing. It is located a few miles northwest of McNabb, IL.
Bud Heider
East Peoria, IL
3/24/2010
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I stumdled apon this site looking for information regarding large sections of old rail beds around the pymatuning lake area. the lake is located at the Ohio/Pennsylvania border and with the help of the satellite overview I can clearly pinpoint miles and miles of terrain which are used for atv, snowmobiling, hiking, and crosscountry skiing. I am not sure if these particular areas have been mapped out yet or possibly they are not known ?
kurt
linesville, PA
2/21/2010
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I'm not sure if this the place to post this question, but I am unable to find the answer anywhere. I once read of a section of railroad that ran through a very narrow canyon pass with rushing water below, in AZ. The railroad company had a difficult time trying to figure out how to get the tracks through this pass, until a man came up with the idea of steel beams wedged into the rock walls of the pass and suspend the tracks, below the beams. I visit AZ yearly and would like to visit this area. It may now be a tourist attraction. If anyone knows of this area, I would like to visit and write a report about my experience. Thanks!
Joe
Michigan, MI
2/12/2010
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Thank you so much for creating this website! I've always had an interest in old railroads ever since I traveled to Wildwood via directions from my Aunt which stated, "Cross over the railroad tracks" and there were no railroad tracks there. It's near 3 Bridges Road and Island Road and I've always wondered what railroad track it was and where it went to. I believe it's the track from Glassboro to Bridgeport. I've also wondered about the railroad that crosses Goshen Rd. in South Dennis. Thanks so much for the information and pictures.
Doreen
Boothwyn, PA
1/28/2010
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This is as neat of a web thing as I have seen, good job.
rocketbob
Dadeville, AL
1/20/2010
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So much has disappeared from the railroad landscape over the years. Yet, it's impossible to take a drive, or use online maps without noticing the scars of progress left from so many rail lines. I am glad to see a site like this that supports both the railroads that built America, and the individuals who keep their memory alive.
Brad Sherman
Goshen, IN
1/14/2010
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It is nice to Know that people are takning the time to remember fallen flags of the railroad industry. Thanks to Abandonedrails.com i now know more about the areas the use to have rail service around my area which inspires me to get out there and do articles on railines the are no longer in existence. this site is definently a favorite.
Kyle Nugent
columbia, LA
1/4/2010
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We are new to FL and much intrigued by the abandoned FEC lines, especially the one running through the swamp near Hastings. Looking for any rails to trails. Are there any available in the St. Augustine to Palatka abandoned lines?
Scott and Jill Harmes
Riverdale north of Hastings, FL
1/3/2010
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I love this website and i am glad there is something like this out there because most of theses railroads would be forgotten.
Andrew Christopher
Knoxville, TN
12/26/2009
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Great website Greg!; I originated from western NY and didn't see an abandoned line from Brocton,NY south into PA. It was the Pennsy and I think it led to Corry,PA and Titusville. My grandfather was a fireman on that line from 1915 to I believe the late 30's. To see an abandoned railway makes me want to re-lay the track and bring it back to life!
Dave Mathews
Hilton Head Island, SC
11/10/2009
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Thanks for the reference point. Now I that have an area to research, I can continue building the Lower Juniata and Southern RR. Yes, it's an HO layout but I can use all the help I can get. I figure it could have been a feeder line into the PRR. I grew up watching GG-1's along the Susquehenna.
Steve Davies
Sumter, SC
11/2/2009
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Great site - I found it on trains.com. I too have a meloncholy interest in abandoned rails and rail beds. The population may be sparse here in Montana, but there have been plenty of railroads - many of which are gone. I often imagine the many trains and travelers who once traversed these routes in another place and time! I saw one picture on here of the NPs Homestake Pass route just east of Butte, Montana. That is by far my favorite, having traversed the route a number of times as a kid on the North Coast Limited. But there are many other abandoned routes in Montana as well that have yet to be mentioned on your site. There is the old Milkwaukee Road, with it's stunning route through Montana Canyon and the famed "Eagle's Nest" tunnel and trestle north of Bozeman - over Pipestone Pass south of Butte, and eventually over St. Paul pass on the Montana/Idaho border. Much of the St.Paul Pass area of the route is now a preserved bicycle trail with numerous trestles and tunnels. The same goes for the Iron Horse Trail portion of the Milkaukee Road just west of Snoqualmie Pass in Washington State. There, the Hyak Tunnel was opened for pedestrian and bicycle traffic a number of years ago - and leads across a number of impressive trestles as well. Another obscure route is the old spur line of the CB&Q which headed south from the old main line between Billings and Hardin, MT and extended to the Lovell and Cody, Wyoming areas. Of special interest is an old tunnel carved out of rock near Pryor Gap on the Crow Indian Reservation. The tunnel is a few hundred feet long and partially filled with falling rock, but as a kid, we ventured through it a number of times. I too have gotten on Google Maps - and can still trace much of the old route! Even time, fields and farms can't completely eliminate the old railroad grade! Railroads will always be an important part of our past - and with luck, a more valued part of our future! Thank you for a site where we can come, see and learn about railroad days gone by! ABANDONED RAILS Abandoned rails, forgotten trails In secret places hide Ghosts of the past are all that last Where thousands used to ride. The lonesome mourns of distant horns Still haunt the hills and vales The sweet refrains of long lost trains Still drift upon the rails. With grace and ease they chased the breeze Beneath a big blue sky Through valleys grand, green forest land And mountain ranges high. Through canyons deep, on ridges steep Around the curves and bends Past farm and town, up hill and down And on like rushing winds. Through tunnels long, on trestles strong Above the creeks and streams Through night and day, they made their way Atop the iron beams. Like restless winds that wander in Their spirits still remain And dreams still flow, from long ago When travel was by train. That wonderous thrill is with me still Of Vista Domes up high And sitting there with wide-eyed stare As scenes went rolling by! But time moves on, those trains are gone Just memories left - and tales Of journeys grand, across the land On now abandoned rails. Randall Steffan Copyright 2005
Randall Steffan
Billings, MT
10/4/2009
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I currently work on UPRR and have 3 brothers that all work for different RR's. My Dad worked for the Milwaukee. My brothers work for BNSF, CPRail, DM&E(sub to CPRR). I guess it's in our blood. Anyway I think your site is great! And there are quite a few of lines that my brothers know about that have been abandoned. 1. There was line of CGW that went north of Hanover IL, West of that was Winston Tunnel that had a fan system for the smoke from steam engines. My brother my have some pictures I'll see if he'll send them. Great site.
Shawn
Savanna, IL
9/17/2009
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Like most of the comments, I too stumbled upon your site accidentally. I won't soon forget you now... I'll be back with tons of stuff from the 80s and 90s between Oakland and Stockton (mostly Altamont and Tracy). Sure wish I'd have thought of this concept. It's nice to see other fans of fallen flags....
Mark C.
Oroville, CA
7/22/2009
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I've been tracking ghost railroads since 98, but this is my first visit to your site. (ironically, i found it listed at disused-rlys in england). love the site, will send what i have as soon as i get it organized. (WA,AZ,NM,CA,and the Quanah, Acme, and Pacific).
robert arch
bothell, WA
7/19/2009
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This is a nice site with much more work to be done. I have been trying to trace the abandonment of the CNW Jewell - Wall Lake, Iowa branch line so far without success. I grew up in one of the towns served at a time when passenger/freight service was at its peak in the late 30's early 40's. Not only was the branch abandoned, the tracks were all pulled. Keep working on the site.
Jerry Lundgren
Magnolia, DE
5/31/2009
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Excellent website, glimpses of an America from better times
Harvey Henkelmann
Brandon,
5/11/2009
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This is a great site. I've been an abandoned rail hunter for years and never knew this site existed. Although I'm always on the hunt in Texas, I also do a great amount of rail hunting in the northeast looking for remnants of many of the smaller regional lines that cris-crossed NY, NJ and PA. My most recent hunt was for the Lehigh and Hudson River RR. I'd love to contribute to the site at some future date. Great job!
Bill D.
Dallas, TX
4/10/2009
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This website is great! I can't believe it took me this long to stumble upon it. When was it launched? Is there a system for visitors to become contributors?
James
Atlanta, GA
3/8/2009
[Yes! Just send me an email at with any information you'd like to contribute. —Greg Harrison]
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You have some really good stuff. In the early part of my RR career, I ran on the line from Riverdale to Belle Plain, Kansas. This on the Mopac and we were running from Conway Springs to Dexter, Kansas. We ran over the Santa Fe RR from Belle Plain to Mulvane and then to Winfield where we got back on the Mopac. Our goal was to make connection with the train out of Coffeyville, Kansas.
Ron Kiser
Oklahoma City, OK
2/27/2009
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I really enjoy this site. It has good information along with nice photos. Is there a way that people can contact each other or trade E-Mail addresses so that we could communicate with one another or exchange information with out causing disruption to this site? I would like to contact some of your guests to help answer questions and exchange information.
Keith Johns
San Diego, CA
2/26/2009
[Yes, there is the Abandoned Railroads group at Yahoo.com. I would suggest joining. Thanks Keith! —Greg Harrison]
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I'd sure like to get better detailed information about my one contribution to abandonedrails so far: The El Centro-Holtville SP line. I plan to submit photos and articles for the Eagle Mountain to Ferrum SP line and the Phoenix West SP line-both almost ready but I'm having a hell of a time battling unemployment and expenses etc. these days.
Bill Wilsford
San Diego, CA
2/23/2009
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Great job on this site. We need to get more of these published and maybe someday back in use.
Joey B.
, IL
2/13/2009
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Wonderful web site...........thanks
Rich
Crivitz, WI
1/17/2009
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Thanks for the great website. I frequent it often. I especially like the maps that accompany the pictures. I'm glad to have been able to contribute some pictures to the site.
Kent Madden
San Rafael, CA
1/5/2009
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You have an interesting website. I learned a lot.
Joseph Normand Grinnell
Grand Isle, ME
1/4/2009
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This is, as many have noted, a delightful collection. I am a historian of technology at MIT and would like to contact you about a web mapping project I am pursuing on abandoned infrastructure. See more about me at http://heptanesia.net and thanks again for your wonderful site.
Shekhar Krishnan
Cambridge, MA
12/30/2008
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I'm so glad to know that there are others out there who find this as interesting as I do. There are numerous abandonded lines all around my area. I am one of the few people I know who gets excited at finding a clue or remnant of railroading. I hope I can add to your collection.
Dave Ford
San Gabriel, CA
12/25/2008
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Abandoned railroads are something that most people don't even notice, let alone have a sincere interest in or passion for. Then, there's the rest of us! I really enjoy digging into history and taking a look at what once was in the formerly widespread and vitally important railroad industry. This site is the best comprehensive database of abandoned railroad content I've been able to find out there. I absolutely love it! Thank you Greg Harrison for all of your hard work, and to everyone who has submitted information and pictures!
Kevin M. Smith
Cicero, NY
12/16/2008
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One of the best abandoned railroad sites on the Internet, period. A true collection of wonderful relics from yesteryear that capture the history of one of the greatest forms of transportation ever invented. The information provided here helps to highlight the tremendous impact rail has had on the progression and evolution of our nation. Keep up the great work!
Jason Smith
Irving, TX
12/9/2008
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I am adding the routes of abandoned railroads in New England to Google Maps. You can find the index here: http://www.rubecula.com/RRMaps/
Robin Hillyard
Boston area, MA
12/8/2008
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This is a great site for railroad archaeologists. Merry Christmas and God bless.
Chris
Cleveland, MS
12/7/2008
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Great site....I also like tracking down old ROW.... Send me your email address....I'll send you 2 pics for your site...The Katy roundhouse in in Franklin, MO in 1928 and the same site in 2008 Thanx Ted
Ted Tyson
Originally Chicago, IL
11/22/2008
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I really like the site. I check it frequently, but wish you had something on the old Key System which provided rail service in the Bay Area until 1958.
Edward, Sr.
Lancaster [orig. Oakland], CA
11/20/2008
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Great site. I really enjoy using this along with Google Earth to look at where railroads existed and what has become of the ROW's. Very interesting. Would like to see more stories about abandoned railroads in Texas. One that comes to mind is the Port Bolivar and Iron Ore RR that ran from Longview to Ore City. Very little info is available on this short line and it would make a great model railroad layout if that info was available.
David Johnson
Forney, TX
11/19/2008
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I love the site, I've been actively hunting down some of the lesser known abandoned railways in California and Nevada.
Anthony Pinkerton
San Luis Obispo, CA
11/13/2008
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I love the site, i'm a big railroading fan. I wish you had more on Kansas, though. In Hutchinson, for example, are many abandoned sidings and interesting railroad finds. For instance, near the current BNSF office is an old building, maybe a shed or an old engine workshop that has the old Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe circle logo above the door. Currently both BNSF and Union Pacific have lines going through town and both are pretty busy. Amtrak also runs the Kansas City Chief passenger train through town. Anyway, i don't know if you do trips but the town and the area around it are pretty interesting. There are a couple old bridges around town, 1 by city hall in particular. Another crosses the Arkansas River, but the only thing you can see are the old pilings. Another old line that was torn up about 6-8 years ago used to go to a grain elevator in the middle of town. Finally, there also used to be a trolley line that ran from Hutchinson to Newton and back. Hopefully you can use this info somehow. Thanks for the site and keep up the good work!
Jaron Bowersox
Hutchinson, KS
11/12/2008
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Great site, I have enjoyed reading through the abandoned routes in Texas. Keep up the good work!
Booth Calloway
Fort Worth, TX
11/12/2008