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| The switchbacks Image Retrieved From: Railroad Museum of PA Archives |
The attached photos give a glimpse into one of the region's pioneer railroads, the Bellefonte & Snow Shoe (B&SS). Construction of the B&SS began in 1858 and was completed a year later. Running between its namesake communities, the railroad was primarily built to access the rich coal fields around Snow Shoe. To reach the mountaintop community, the tracks switch-backed up the Allegheny Front at Gum Stump, a small village north of Runville.
The B&SS remained independent until 1881 when it was folded into the Bald Eagle Valley Railroad that ran from Tyrone to Lock Haven (the B&SS connected to the Bald Eagle Valley at Wingate). In 1908, the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) officially absorbed both the Bald Eagle Valley and the former B&SS into its empire.
Now known as the Snow Shoe Branch, the tracks fanned out in all directions to reach the numerous coal mines atop the mountain. Many local business received coal from these mines, including Penn State University.
The onset of the Great Depression forced many of the mines to close and inflicted financial wounds upon the railroad. WWII saw a brief uptick in production, but this would only be temporary. Following the war, trucks became the preferred method for hauling the mined coal. With this decrease in demand, fewer and fewer trains were being run over the line.
Another detriment was the route itself. Though a marvel of engineering, the switchbacks were an operational nightmare that required expert handling by the crews and limited the length of trains. One-hundred years after its completion, the line was abandoned in May 1959. Scrapping of the tracks commenced the following year.
Below is a photo of a track car at Runville (probably in the 1950's). Track cars were often used to transport workmen along the line.The photo was scanned from the Centre Daily Times.
Information Retrieved From:
The onset of the Great Depression forced many of the mines to close and inflicted financial wounds upon the railroad. WWII saw a brief uptick in production, but this would only be temporary. Following the war, trucks became the preferred method for hauling the mined coal. With this decrease in demand, fewer and fewer trains were being run over the line.
Another detriment was the route itself. Though a marvel of engineering, the switchbacks were an operational nightmare that required expert handling by the crews and limited the length of trains. One-hundred years after its completion, the line was abandoned in May 1959. Scrapping of the tracks commenced the following year.
Below is a photo of a track car at Runville (probably in the 1950's). Track cars were often used to transport workmen along the line.The photo was scanned from the Centre Daily Times.
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| A maintenance track car at Runville Imaged Retrieved from: The Centre Daily Times |
Information Retrieved From:
Rails to Penn State: The Story of the Bellefonte Central by Michael Bezilla and Jack Rudnicki
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