Connecting Railway - Abandonment

Abandonment

The little-used Fort Washington Branch was de-electrified, and passenger service discontinued in 1952. In 1953, the middle of the branch, from Sunnybrook to Wyndmoor was abandoned. The remaining stubs were removed in the 1980s. In the 1960s, part of the right-of-way used for Pennsylvania Route 309.

The loss of industry in Philadelphia began to take its toll, and many of the freight branches became little-used. In 1973, the Oxford Road Branch was abandoned north of the Reading crossing. The Connecting Railway survived as a separate corporation through the Penn Central merger, but all its tracks were sold to Conrail and Amtrak in 1976 and the corporation was subsequently dissolved.

The main line became part of the Northeast Corridor, and the Chestnut Hill Branch was sold to SEPTA in 1983 (although Conrail continued switching industries along the line). The Bustleton Branch, Frankford Street Branch and Engelside Branch are still operated by Conrail. The Fairhill Branch, Oxford Road Branch, Midvale Branch and the Kensington and Tacony Branch were abandoned during the 1980s.

• Abandoned K&T Branch, Behind Frankford Arsenal, 2006 Note rails disappearing into roadway for river access point.

• Abandoned K&T Branch, Behind Frankford Arsenal, 2006 Switch buried in weeds is one siding leading into the old arsenal complex.

• Abandoned K&T Right of Way, looking North just above Frankford Arsenal. Power lines followed the branch from Port Richmond to Tacony.

• Abandoned K&T Bridge over Frankford Creek behind Frankford Arsenal, looking towards Kensington.

• Abandoned Tioga Street trackage linking the Philadelphia and Trenton to the Kensington and Tacony Branch (tank cars are on the old P&T)

• Tioga Street trackage curved to the right and up a ramp to the P&T. The old roadbed ramp is now weed-covered and new curbing and railing blocks the old right of way