Tag Archives: #Lancaster Junction

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H23 at Lancaster Junction

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been exploring the old Reading & Columbia lines that were once on the periphery of the Reading Company network.

I’ve paid several visits to Lancaster Junction, where lines to Lancaster and Columbia one diverged, but until Wednesday I’d not seen a steel wheel turn at this relatively obscure location in Lancaster county.

South of the old Junction, the line heading toward Columbia via Landisville is now a trail. While the route to Lancaster is a Norfolk Southern branch.

Shortly after I arrived on this most recent visit, I heard a whistle blast for a distant grade crossing and after a few minutes Norfolk Southern local freight H23 made an appearance. This was on its way to Manheim and Lititz, Pa. Clouds danced across the sky as I made a series of photographs

I made these images using my Nikon Z6 with 24-70mm lens.

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Announcements, photography, Rail transit marathon, Tips and Technique

Lancaster Junction

There’s no junction at Lancaster Junction anymore.

Reading Company’s Reading & Columbia route split at Lancaster Junction. One line continued toward Landisville where it crossed the Pennsylvania Railroad on the way to Columbia. The other line, curved to the left and went into Lancaster, Pa.

Today, the railroad is operated by Norfolk Southern, and only the branch to Lancaster remains. The route beyond Lancaster Junction is now a trail.

I’ve made a couple of visits to this spot in recent weeks. I wished I’d seen this location in it heyday, but I’m happy there’s still some trackage here. Maybe someday, I’ll catch an NS local freight on its way to or from Lititz.

Lancaster Junction looking toward Lancaster; the old route on the right is now a trail.
Looking toward Lititz.

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