The Norfolk Southern Last Train over 19th St, Erie PA Street Running.

[@bullfrog1954]

Now this is a good clip! I know street running has its dangers but there's something interesting and unique about it! When much of the street trackage was laid the population was only a fraction of what it is today, and street running therefore wasn't as risky as it might be today. And that track looks like it's been there for a while...

[@markjl261]

The rail line through the middle of the City of Erie was removed a few years ago, it was in service for over 120 years and it was part of the mainline route that runs from Chicago Illinois, Cleveland Ohio to Buffalo New York. The takeover of Conrail made it possible to reroute the trains by building a line that follows along side the former New York Central rail line (now part of CSX) through Erie.

[@lequory]

I think the send off should have been a regular freight train with a commerative caboose.

[@bmp720]

Miss the old 19th street tracks, now just a part of Erie history!

[@AEM7andthomasfan]

i was really young when this trian went past 19 street

[@markjl261]

A few more side points concearning the removal of the street running trackage. Over the years there were many grade crossing accidents with automobiles and pedestrians on the tracks. Even though I personally miss seeing the trains run through the center of the street. Im sure the railroad is glad this part of the line was rerouted. The speed limit for trains on this part of the line was 15 mph for about a mile and a half of street running trackage.

[@phildoethedildoe]

Man i miss the old "Nickel Plate Road" line through Erie. I used to live there off Rudolph Ave and would usually find myself walking down to the NS/ConRail line at Erie Strayer Inc. Hell when i was in Middle school there-(Roosevelt Middle School) i used to walk down to 19th street, talk with the NS crossing guard and get a ride west to where i lived by train! They used to only run 15MPH max and the local crews knew me quite well. Sad that NS removed the line from 19th. Street through the east side of Erie, but to be honest it was a dangerous neighborhood with kids all over and NS didn't want the liability from the possibility of parents or the city sueing their company if someone got hit.

[@joetarantine4075]

The last train over 19th St. was featured in the video "The Great North American Rail Safari Volume 1".

[@rileyodonald3034]

And yet we continue to throw away and destroy heritage and history like this

[@Panzermeister36]

Nothing says heritage like a train on a road /s

[@AEM7andthomasfan]

i was at least 7 years old when the last train went on 19 street

[@bnsffreighttrain]

That was awesome!!!!!!! Thanks

[@williamh.jarvis6795]

I recall my visit to Erie, PA back in September of 1996, so to see this operation, using my 1977 yellow Datsun B210 and videotape this footage with an 8mm video camera. Also visited Presque Isle Peninsula out on Lake Erie, which almost resembled being oceanside! Afterwards,, I went as far west as Conneaut, OH, visiting a pub nearby the railroad, before returning home to Winchendon, MA.

[@thenekom]

NS/CSX still has street running trackage in West Brownsville, PA and it it used daily, almost exclusively coal drags.

[@awesomemcawesomeshorts9531]

thenekom You can get the West Brownsville street running section as part of the Norfolk Southern Coal District add on for TS 2018.

[@deloreanman14]

Awesome video!! There are still areas in Oregon with street tracks but I'm sure they too will eventually be removed.

[@rcsrailfaningproductions1225]

Great video! I’m planning on doing a video showcasing the 19th street tracks aswell. Would you mind if I used this clip in the video with credit?

[@markjl261]

Sure thing! Enjoy!

[@BudmanPackfan]

it's like the parade that nearly no one came to! lol great video. Thanks for posting.

[@SirHeadly84]

My first thoughts when getting a good look at the loco were "Is that a NEW GEVO, Made right there in Erie?" Then i saw the rest of thos amazing cars. Thought they might have been pensys, until i say the NS logo. Does anyone know if NS 3376 is an in-servicce freight now, made shortly before that day?, or is 3376 a "special loco"?

[@BNSFBJ]

We are seeing America at its finest right here. What a beautiful sight. What a no better way to say goodbye to 119yrs of excellence then with a great soundin Leslie RS3l on a nice looking old school locomotive...Yah can't go wrong with that. So glad u were able to capture this historical event on video for the last time. U are one lucky Railfan my friend. Take it Easy Now and Great Video! Bryan

[@TrainTrackTrav]

I'm sure the people that lived in the houses near by came to hear that as a comforting sound.

[@robertgift]

Why the police escort? Thus was a special train? Not the actual last revenue train over this track. When was the last REAL (revenue) train over the track?

[@pashhunter5965]

My grandpa owned some apartments right there

[@markjl261]

We lived at 19th and Walnut many years ago. Our house faced 19th Street we could watch trains go by from our front porch. Definitely enjoyable for a kid back then who loved watching trains go by.

[@microbusss]

still got street running in Ft Collins Colorado on South Mason Street

[@geoffreylee5199]

Why did the town build a road beside and around the track?

[@StewartLucrative]

I'm assuming that the train track was there first, and as the city expanded they had to build around the track. Also, I'm assuming a long time ago there were a lot left cars on the road, and safety was less of a concern, so they didn't think much of driving along with trains.

[@dtruitt281]

Thats pretty cool.. Theirs a rail in the middle of Commerce St. in Houston and it's abandon as well.. Would like to see it run very interesting

[@laurad2483]

Wow! I feel really old now! I was a Senior in High School when this happened! Very cool!

[@robertgift]

Why the police? To commemorate the sad occasion? Did they take up the track, or does it remain in case a problem on the other track (derailment)? When was the last REAL (freight) train on thatrack?

[@Z1CAUSEDEATH]

i used to catch trains in Erie every month i went up there. but i cant remember what street they ran along.

[@BessemerLakeErie902]

+Jared Carter It was along 19th street

[@iceman977th]

Was that a special business train or something?

[@treverpritts7326]

Nice to see the high society in the rear

[@DetroitLove4U]

A true esoteric moment in time. Mystifying to know that line had been in service for some 119 years!!! You know in my area when they have removed railroad lines, wig-wags, merged railroads whereas a previous railroad goes defunct, no longer haul a certain type of manifest, and the like it hits me. As a child I remember things different about my local railroad lines as what happens on them nowadays. But as an American - there is nothing more American to me than just that - I Love TRAINS!!

[@CSX2665]

Why did they remove this track??

[@Dalts1985]

Was this railway line relocated out of the Town Centre to the outskirts of the town, or totally closed altogether & this the route cut back a bit? Pity were don't have such "Stately" cars for such uses over here in Aust. Theirs only 2 places in Aust, where dwn the Main St Running can be observed: Rockhampton QLD just after Stn as you head Nth, for Townsville & Cairns. The other location, Wychieproof Vic, a Sml Country Town... Running down centre of Main St's Centre Reservation to Stn!

[@BessemerLakeErie902]

+Dalts1985 It was relocated to run along the CSX railroad.

[@TyyeahBStoo]

Yeah those tracks had been there for many many years

[@conraillock666]

will it ever retune to that

[@donconklin1770]

Cool that they got a police escort, but sad that its gone now. The SD70M's (4054 and 4050) looked sharp leading.

[@amtraktom3223]

Don Conklin why is there a police escort with a train

[@donconklin1770]

Amtrak Tom Not sure

[@markjl261]

This was the last train to travel over that part of the railroad before the track was removed. Local politicians were on board the train to announce the removal and relocation of this track at a news conference that took place at a location about a mile and a half further down the track. Also the at this time all crossing signals and crossing gates had been taken out of service that is another reason for the police escort.

[@jstoli996c4s]

Pretty cool to check out on Google Maps

[@markjl261]

Thanks for the Compliment! I have other videos on this KZbin channel when this part of the former NKP mainline had NS Trains pass over the former 19th street line in Erie, Pennsylvania!

[@jstoli996c4s]

@@markjl261 I grew up in Silver Creek NY, and the same NS and Conrail/CSX mainlines pass through there, lots of trains when I was a kid.

[@markjl261]

@@jstoli996c4s I lived in Erie, Pennsylvania my entire life until age 49, I moved to Texas in 2010 to fulfill my life time dream of getting a job on a railroad as a shortline locomotive engineer. This April 29th makes 13 years if being a engineer for me and I still enjoy it. That part of the Country in New York and Pennsylvania are Great Places to be a railfan and watch trains! Awesome that you are from that area, I definitely enjoyed the Conrail days from the time Conrail came about and up to the pre takeover of Conrail by NS and CSX.

[@tiffanydouglas2686]

What in the world is going on here? The police sirens sounded and now there is a train on the street in Erie. That was pretty darn weird. Are you kidding me?

[@TyyeahBStoo]

Yes it is goes right pass my old job lake shore marker,s west 19th st

[@NSSD70MAC]

Sorry TheGondorian, but the tracks have been removed sence.

[@Cnw8701]

Would've been more symbolic if they had an ex-CR GE unit leading instead!

[@1111KLK]

Goosebumps!

[@lequory]

hopefully I'll get to see a street running train before they are all gone. I'm in ohio can anyone point me to the nearest location.

[@thebrantfordrailfan]

Only a few months after i was born.....

[@CSX2665]

The Train Looks Awesome!!.

[@ALS2001]

Well damn, complete with Police Escort! NICE

[@600joe]

No kids tagging along for the final time.

[@lonemonaro1455]

I bet the residents of the street are happy, as it will push their home values up.

[@HyperActive7]

I bet that crew felt like they were transporting the President. Now that's what I call class!! The only time in recorded history where dimwit driver had to stop for a train or face a ticket!

[@CONRAIL1991]

great video, knowing my fictional RR company, the tracks would have been relaid for decoration, historical preserve and would only be used if, main line traffic was backed up or if wasen't granted rail-rights to use the new right of way. my company is all about a place for railfans and Preserve, Restore, and Rebuild historical things. A police escort would be cool for the return rail action, buts its not real, only fictional

[@ericsimmon9308]

What's the name of your railroad?

[@branchlinebuff]

they bettr leave those no turn signals in place!

[@BessemerLakeErie902]

+branchlinebuff They’re gone.

[@markgorney3325]

So sad.

[@ericgriswold1268]

Should have been done with NKP 765!!

[@RailPreserver2K]

Absolutly

[@BessemerLakeErie902]

+Railroad,Preserver,2000 Sadly, it wasn’t running at the time.

[@amtraktom3223]

I know them police officers scared behind them of that train

[@markgorney4268]

What?