Montour Area Recreation Commission
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J. Manley RobbinsTrail
The missing link
Ok, so now we have arguably the oldest rail to trail in the world, but it really doesn’t go anywhere. The bicycle path trail is merely the narrow gauge rail line and one part of the overall trail system at the Hess field complex. Running parallel to route 54 is the old Reading rail road line. Between the two lines is Mahoning Creek and an old trestle bridge that was in poor condition and passable to only the bravest of trail hikers and bikers. MARC (which at that point was Montour County Recreation Authority (MCRA), had an idea.
By obtaining a grant from the Merck foundation, MCRA was able to design and construct the covered bridge currently spanning the Mahoning creek. The bridge is a 70’ wood and steel structure that serves as a link between trails, a fishing spot for local anglers and a symbol of the power of partnership in the area. The bridge creates a loop trail utilizing both the old Reading line and the narrow gauge path.
The next column deals with the new bridge, and it’s history. Read on to continue to learn about historic Hess field and the J. Manley Robbins trail.
On this page you will find information and the intriguing history of the J. Manly Robbins trail at the Hess Field / Robbins trail complex. Locally referred to as, “The Bicycle path” this trail has history, beauty and various recreational opportunities. Everyone from organized teams to individuals of all ages, shapes and sizes can find something to do on the grounds. The park offers a place for history, science, nature, athletics and just plain goofing off if that is was suits you; so come enjoy! The Hess Field / Robbins Trail park was the first property managed by MARC.
Lucille Roberts bridge
From the newspaper a interesting piece of trivia
Eight-year old Lucille Roberts of Danville miraculously escapes injury on her way home from school. While crossing the Reading Railroad bridge over Mahoning Creek, the girl discovers that a train is rapidly bearing down upon her, and that she is too far from either end of the bridge to escape. The youngster therefore throws herself down between the tracks in order to lie flat on her stomach, and the train roars over her. The engineer of the train certain that he has killed the child, brings the locomotive to a screeching stop – but sees the plucky lass arise from the tracks to continue on her way home.
The current covered bridge is probably the third at that location. The first was built about 1853 or 1854 by the Catawissa, Williamsport & Erie Railroad Company, which started passenger and freight service over its entire line, 68 miles from near Tamaqua to Milton in September 1854.
The Catawissa, Williamsport & Erie Railroad Company briefly -from 1855 to 1857 - ran sleeping car service from Philadelphia to Buffalo along this route. The trains with sleeping cars probably passed over the bridge in the middle of the night and few of the sleeping car passengers ever saw it or were aware of it.
The Catawissa, Williamsport & Erie Railroad Company went bankrupt in 1859 and was reorganized as the Catawissa Railroad Company in 1860.
The Philadelphia & Reading Railroad ("Reading" for short, as on the Monopoliy board) obtained a lease of the Catawissa Railroad Company in 1872, and fully merged the Catawissa Railroad Company into the Reading Company in 1953. Passenger service ended in 1936.
The Interstate Commerce Commission conducted a valuation survey of the Reading Company's properties in about 1917 which revealed that the bridge was then called Bridge 20. It was a deck girder bridge, built at a date not known, that probably was a replacement for the original bridge, which might have been made of a combination of wood and stone.
In later years, the Reading Company re-designated its bridges. By 1955, the bridge was known as Bridge 156.84 to indicate that it was 156.84 miles northwest of Reading Terminal in downtown Philadelphia. It was and is 481 feet above sea level.
All service came to an end on the Catawissa branch of the Reading on March 31, 1976, the day before the Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail") assumed operation of the Reading and several other northeastern railroads, all bankrupt. Conrail decided to operate only some bits of track at the eastern and western ends of the Catawissa branch, but the vast majority of it, over 55 miles, in the middle, including everything in Montour County, was officially abandoned on April 1, 1976.
It took some time before the actual physical objects of railroading were removed. The crews that remove the rails did not come to this area until the winter of 1978-79.
Thus, the bridge served as an active structure for railroad traffic for 122 years.
So: the four owners were:
CATAWISSA, WILLIAMSPORT & ERIE RAILROAD COMPANY
CATAWISSA RAILROAD COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA & READING RAILROAD COMPANY (READING COMPANY AFTER 1923)
CONRAIL (NEVER OPERATED OVER THE BRIDGE)
The sleeping car service mentioned in the earlier e-mail was in cooperation with four other railroads:
Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company,
Sunbury & Erie Railroad Company,
Williamsport & Elmira Railroad Company and
New York & Erie Railroad Company
The Oldest Rail to Trail in the Country!
THE “MONTOUR”
10 ton narrow gauge (40”) locomotive built in the machine shop of the Montour Ironworks on Northumberland Street in Danville, PA. This little “Dinky” engine, as it was known, ran the mine run along with its “sister” engine, the “Pennsylvania”, hauling limestone and iron ore from the company's quarry and mines in Valley township to the furnaces in Danville. The little railroad was abandoned in 1892. Today you can walk on the “little railroad” line by walking on the Robbin’s trail.
Park Amenities brief
Buildings: 20’ X 50’ Pavilion under roof w/ fire pit.
Sanitary: BRAND NEW 15’ x 20’ stone bathrooms w/
two outdoor shower stalls.
Playing fields: One hardball field
One softball field
Two flexible use fields
On site Trails: 2.4 mile outer loop trail around the park
boundary which includes a covered bridge
and historic sections.
1 mile inner trails the circle the athletic
fields and connect to the meadow and
birding areas.
Connecting and associated trails: Geisinger Stewardship
Forest trails are within 1/2 mile of the park.
These trails offer top notch mountain
biking and hiking challenges.
Montour Counties Greenways trail is also within
walking distance. Stroll along the beautiful
Susquehanna river on flat, level ADA
accessible ground.
Birding: one 12’ X 15’ bird viewing blind in wetlands
Camping: Rustic sites for nominal fees (call first)
Food: Perkins restaurant at the entrance to the
park. Town within walking distance (1/2
mile)
Water: The park is bordered on 3 sides by the
Mahoning creek which offers cool scenic
beauty and fishing opportunities to anglers.
To purchase a replica of
these original bike trail badges
and show you support for Montour Recreation CLICK HERE and send me an e-mail. I’ll get one to you.
Navigation
Local - Travel on Rt. 11 until the intersection of Rt. 11 and Rt. 54. Turn north on Rt. 54 toward Rt. 80. About 1/2 mile turn left at the Perkins restaurant and gas station. Make a right onto Meadow lane and follow into the park. The winter was hard on the road, so drive slow.
Distant - Travel on Rt. 80 toward Danville, PA. Get off at the Danville exit. This will put you on Rt. 54. Turn toward Danville (south). In about 1 mile look to your right for a Perkins restaurant. Make the right just past Perkins. Make a right onto Meadow Lane and take that road to it’s end. See local directions for road conditions.
Directions to the park & trail