Pennsylvania Railroad bridge during construction at Safe Harbor. Charles A. Sims and Company, contractors. South side of the Conestoga River looking north.
Caught on the bridge with two trains passing! A group of intrepid individuals cling to the guard rails of the massive steel bridge that carries the Atglen & Susquehanna freight line over the Conestoga Creek where it breaks through the river hills and into the Susquehanna River. This winter scene from the 1920's before the erection of Safe Harbor Dam shows the great bridge and the tracks of the Columbia & Port Deposit branch far below.
Rugged hills dropping abrubtly to river level and the commanding expanse of the Susquehanna made the ride over the "Port Road," one of the most beautiful rail trips in the state and some even compared the scenery to that along the Rhine. A July 1949 steam powered fan trip out of Philadelphia waits while passengers take in a tour of the Safe Harbor Dam.
The massive steel supports of the Atglen & Susquehanna Branch's imposing bridge at Safe Harbor, PA forma back drop for the Pennsy's classic GG-1 class electric No. 4923 during a stop of a May 1957 "Port Road" Excursion to view the dam and the scenery along the Susquehanna at Safe Harbor.
The date is April 18, 1903 and Safe Harbor, PA would never be the same. Excavation is already in progress on the hillside for the Pennsylvania's "Low Grade," or Atlgen & Susquehanna Branch. The steam derrick with the wrecking ball is about to demolish the "Port Road's" bridge over teh Conestoga along with the frame station.
Looking m ore like a Philadelphia suburban area commuter stop, this neat looking station served the community around the power dam complex at Holtwood. As late as 1928, a ticket agent was on duty to handle the business of the "Port Road's," four passenger runs.
This view dating abkd to the day sof the oil headlight and link and pin coupler shows a southbound locomotive steaming around the curves north Pequea, Pennsylvania and gives an idea of the rugged terrain that still abound along the "Port Road". Photo, James A. Tshudy, Ephrata, Pa.
