Short lines and branch lines play a vital role in the movement of merchandise. And are often colorful railroads to follow! We look at three shorts and some branch action.

The 1980s were an exciting time in the development of the railroads and for railroad preservation. We take a look at a couple of Pennsylvania successes, the Blue Mountain & Reading and Steamtown.

Chase a DMIR train to Dock-#5 and back to Proctor. Then follow a northbound from Proctor to the Fairlane Pellet Plant. We also see the GB&W and CNW. Shot in June 1982.

Railfan the Conrail Pittsburgh Line for three days in June of 1985 from Cove to Cresson, Pennsylvania. We’ll see coal, mail and auto parts trains, plus Amtrak’s Broadway limited and the Pennsylvanian are also featured.

In volume 2, we’ll revisit the busy operations of the Southern, RF&P, SCL and other railroads in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina in June of 1981.

It is June of 1979 and we travel to Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina to railfan the busy operations of the Southern, RF&P, L&N, Clinchfield and other railroads.

The Lehigh Valley Railroad was an Anthracite coal hauling railroad which extended from New York City to Buffalo New York. Volume 1 looks at steam and first generation diesel operations between the mid 1940’s and the mid 1960’s.

Volume 3 of Lehigh Valley’s Buffalo Division covers the Lehigh’s west end mainline operations from Sayre to Buffalo and the Niagara Branch to Suspension Bridge. Part of the program is in the cab.

Volume 2 of Lehigh Valley’s Buffalo Division covers operations from Geneva to Coxton and picks up where Volume 1 left off at Geneva. We will also take a brief look at operations under Conrail. Much of the trip is as a cab ride.

Filmed between 1954 and 1961, we’ll view operations in the cement belt from Bath to Martins Creek, including joint switching of the Northampton & Bath, Lackawanna and the Erie Lackawanna railroads.

The Lehigh & New England was a rarely photographed hometown railroad which traversed a tumultuous scenic route through Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York states. In Volume 1 we’ll look at operations between 1949 and 1961.

Revisit the treacherous Sand Patch route between 1982 and 1984. Though under the umbrella of CSX, the Chessie System maintained its identity at this time and the busy train operations remained largely unchanged.

The Conrail Lehigh Line is former Lehigh Valley and CNJ joint trackage from Oak Island Yard to Sayre and connection with the Southern Tier line. We’ll view Conrail and D&H trains on the Lehigh Line between 1979 and 1986.

Known for its “Lady Liberty” herald and unique paint schemes, the Jersey Central was a favorite among railfans. Volume 1 looks at steam and first generation diesel operations between the late 1940’s to the early 1960’s.