Ron's Lehigh River Valley 8b - Bethlehem and other topics of interest to Ron

Ron continues with more vintage pictures of the Bethlehem PA area and takes us on a few side trips exploring his interest in model making, railroading and vintage automobiles.

[@yrunaked4]

Rons work and pictures are amazing, a life's labor and passion reflected in all these videos.

[@markrabenold]

I've been enjoying these videos ever since I first discovered them nearly a year ago. Though a native of Allentown, I had a very good rail-enthusiast friend who lived in Forks Township. In 1980, he gave me a very thorough tour of rail lines serving the Easton area, especially the Easton & Northern branch of Conrail (at that time). Unfortunately, I had no camera with me that day and though I returned to the Easton/Forks area to visit my friend countless times in the decades which followed, only once did I have my camera along when I spotted a pair of EMD GPs sitting on the E&N's main track in front of the old Dixie plant while the crew was off having lunch. While I'm glad I was able to capture two pictures of those engines on now long-gone branch trackage, I often regret not spending more time photographing the E&N between 1980 and the year of the line's abandonment and removal. I can still envision (in my mind's eye) periodic boxcars full of newsprint sitting outside the Express-Times' warehouse along Wood Avenue, just west of where the branch ducked under Route 22. In fact, I was thrilled to see the photo you included in your 3rd video of a Conrail SW preparing to cross N. 13th St. on its way over to Easton Iron & Scrap Metal, for in the countless times I crossed the track at that location over the years, I was never lucky enough to see a train on it... until now, thanks to your photo! Having grown up within a mile of the western end of the Lehigh Valley Railroad's West End and Barber Quarry branchlines, I've always preferred seeing locals moving slowly along weed-covered and rusting rails. In fact, a while back, I created a thread on Railfan.net (under Fallen Flags, Lehigh Valley) on which I posted most of my extensive slide collection showing very complete coverage of both of those now-gone Allentown branches. I would love to see more images of locals servicing the E&N, especially the leg which ran along the Bushkill Creek to Easton Iron & Scrap and, if I understood things I've read about that part of the branch correctly, at one time headed all the way down to near the edge of Easton's downtown area. If you (or anyone in your group of friends) ever photographed E&N locals working that part of the line, I'd appreciate hearing about it. And, PeterInPA, I still have two of your older videos on my "favorites" list.... specifically those tastefully done videos you made of action on the NJ side of the Delaware River, both north and south of Phillipsburg. Very well done videos and well-chosen music to accompany them. Kudos! -- Mark

[@Porschedude8]

Brilliance! 👏😊

[@mikedc3]

Another great one!! Thanks!!!

[@luvindemtrains]

Your videos keep me intrigued from beginning to end.

[@tedtuttle6527]

I hired out in1972 on UP. When I went to work there were still quite a few Engrs Conductors Brakeman that worked in the30' forward & they were of the old timers really, mean & didn't like us youngsters much. They would tell stories of the old days & I'd say those were the good old days& they would spout back kid these r the good old days. It was a hard job back then unlike now. I still watch these vids & think how cool it would have been to work that era but soon realize that there was WW2 Korean War bad recession & then it reminds me of what those old timers said yes these r the good old days. Retired now but still have that desire to hear that clicky clack of that old jointed rail, station agents in every town u went through, full crews 5 members: Engr Firearm Conductor Head Brakeman Rear Brakeman. Yes when I worked those were the best days to be a railroad train man or engr not now it is a business & they treat there employees as unwanted tools forced on them by government to continue to operate there New Era RR. I'm glad I'm gone never would have made in today's RR enviorment. Computers took over & the need for humans diminished rapidly. Now 2 man crews quickly going to 1 man, every thing is automated. When the computers showed up that was the beginning & end of being proud to say I work for the RR.

[@doyourememberme2904]

Love the History of the Valley and Railroad is there any way Ron can do a video on Lehigh Valley Allentown Yard, I just because I've been researching everything in the area found a lot but trying to figure out track plans as pictures really don't tell time I've been trying to build an exact replica of the area for a couple years now.