This view shows the Atglen & Susquehanna branch tracks in the process of relocation prior to electrification through Columbia in 1938. Scene is looking north fromLocust Street. "LG-42" tower is in the distance.
Provenance
From box labeled Pennsylvania RR Main Line, Columbia Br., A & S Br.
The almost forgotten era of steam returned momentarily when a fan trip out of Baltimore powered by two former Canadian Pacific steam locomotives puased at the Locust Street crossing in Columbia in May of 1969
Provenance
From box labeled Pennsylvania RR Main Line, Columbia Br., A & S Br.
Pictures aren't always what they seem to be. Looking for all the world like the old "York-Philadelphia Express" of years gone by, it is in truth the Strasburg's former P. R. R. classic #7002 at Columbi's Front Street crossing on November 11, 1988 being towed westward to Gettysburg to participate in a reinactment of Lincoln's trip to Gettysburg. A diesel at the other end of the train is providing the power.
As long as the baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia outshopped locomotives for western roads, Columbia usually had a grand stand seat to see the new locomotives en route. An early Southern Pacific "Cab-in-Front" mallet #4017 lays over on Manor Siding in Columbia in 1911. The man by the cabin si the "escort" who accompanied the engine to California.
The Pennsylvania Railroad was wont to refer to its signal towers as "Block Stations." Columbia's "COLA" block station controlled operations on three busy lines. It was closed in February 1987 when dispatching was moved to Harrisburg. This interior scene during "COLA's" last days show left to right Gordon Peters, retired long time operator observingoperator Joseph Sacrepont registering a passing train.
This copy of a 1908 view card shows a Philadelphia & Reading "camel-back" type locomotive blowing off steam along the side of the ornate passenger station that graced the entrance to Lititz Springs Park. The plant of the old Ideal Cocoa & Chocolate Company is in the background. The station was later demolished but years later historic-minded Lititz buildt an accurate reproduction on almost the same site.
A trainman waves from the baggage door of the Pennsylvania's York - Lancaster, one car gas-electric run during one of its last evening departures from Front and Walnut Street in Columbia. A few days later on January 4, 1954, the car made its final farewll trip from Lancaster to York.
The Philadelphia & Reading hauled a considerable volume of anthracite coal from up-state Pennsylvania mines to Columbia where it was trans-shipped to the canal boats of the Susquehanna & Tidewater Canal which reached Havre De Grace, Maryland where ocean going tugs pulled the canal boats down the bay to Baltimore and as far as the coal bunkers of the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. This stereo scene shows at P&R locomotive switching at the coal wharf in the 1880's.
Any visit of "top-brass" railroad officials usually produced shock waves of paranoia among the station staff. When the Reading's president Ravelle W. Brown made a March 1944 inspection of the Reading & Columbia branch, a Reading Baldwin-built ten wheeler No. 602 did the honors. The official train consisting of a crew coach and business car No. 156 is shown by the Reading freight station in Columbia. As soon as the train pulled out of town there was a collective sigh of "Good God... they're gone!"
"Zeamer the Druggist," was an early producer of Columbia view cards. This late 1890's view shows the commercial center at Front and Walnut Streets. From left to right is the gabled Adams Express office, the stone Pennsylvania Railroad station and the imposing columned Tremont House. The Tremont as a hostelry in its grander days was known throughout the Philadelphia Division for its planked shad dinners and the potency of its Christmas Wassail bowl.
