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Welcome to the revised
Pike to Bike / South Pennsylvania Railroad
web page
On November 15, 2001 the old abandoned section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, an 8.5 miles of old highway was transfered over to Southern Allegheny Conservancy (SAC). I was glad to be present for that transfer. The Pennsylvania Turnpike representative was receptive to what I was doing and helped me gain access to many sites not permitted by other means. With this help I was able to freely gain more knowledge of the history of the South Pennsylvania Railroad.
In 2004 I contacted SAC and was told I was being sought out because Sac was trying to acquire rails to trails funds to improve the trail. I was also told a TV station from Johnstown was at that meeting where these funds were being decided upon. At first the request was going to be turned down and a heated dispute ensued. While it was decided upon to remove the TV cameras, a decision to use my research I supplied SAC with was produced into evidence. It would seem because of my research, the funds were granted and they were trying to contact me to inform me of this ruling. Because they used my material they wanted to know what they could give me in return. I suggested that I would just like to use the trail as a camp site to jump off and explore more South Pennsylvania Railroad sites on as well as off the property.
Because of this I am able to save precious traveling time and I am able to do more research.
http://southpennrailroad.blogspot.com/2009/01/south-pennsylvania-railroad.html
TOURS
Pike to Bike / South Pennsylvania Railroad
web page
On November 15, 2001 the old abandoned section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, an 8.5 miles of old highway was transfered over to Southern Allegheny Conservancy (SAC). I was glad to be present for that transfer. The Pennsylvania Turnpike representative was receptive to what I was doing and helped me gain access to many sites not permitted by other means. With this help I was able to freely gain more knowledge of the history of the South Pennsylvania Railroad.
In 2004 I contacted SAC and was told I was being sought out because Sac was trying to acquire rails to trails funds to improve the trail. I was also told a TV station from Johnstown was at that meeting where these funds were being decided upon. At first the request was going to be turned down and a heated dispute ensued. While it was decided upon to remove the TV cameras, a decision to use my research I supplied SAC with was produced into evidence. It would seem because of my research, the funds were granted and they were trying to contact me to inform me of this ruling. Because they used my material they wanted to know what they could give me in return. I suggested that I would just like to use the trail as a camp site to jump off and explore more South Pennsylvania Railroad sites on as well as off the property.
Because of this I am able to save precious traveling time and I am able to do more research.
http://southpennrailroad.blogspot.com/2009/01/south-pennsylvania-railroad.html
TOURS
Just in time for Fall,
Winter and Spring
We at southpennrailroad.com can provide you with a tour of the real history of the route. Yes, often I have met with people who only want to go back as far as the turnpike history (that's fine and we are happy to dicuss that), but with our extensive railroad research I am able to give you a much deeper view of the history associated with this area. Hiking and biking or strictly hiking, since so much of the railroad grade exists off the turnpike itself. We can also give tours of the railroad grade in other areas, office sites, quarries, cuts fills etc... since the turnpike followed the grade loosely between Carlisle and Irwin.
The Pike to Bike trail enables me to provide a new, unique view of this piece of Pennsylvania's hidden history. About my tours.
I offer tours exploring the right of way of the railroad leading up to the Pike to Bike route as well as on the Pike to Bike trail.
It is best to call and give me an idea as to what you may be interested in. Are you interestd in the large fills, the unfinished cuts, Stone work. How about where the offices were located. Hold the maps made by the railroad surveyors. be a part of the discovery. Be a discoverer. Feel like the contractor did when he came upon the scene. Get a feel of the surroundings.
We at southpennrailroad.com can provide you with a tour of the real history of the route. Yes, often I have met with people who only want to go back as far as the turnpike history (that's fine and we are happy to dicuss that), but with our extensive railroad research I am able to give you a much deeper view of the history associated with this area. Hiking and biking or strictly hiking, since so much of the railroad grade exists off the turnpike itself. We can also give tours of the railroad grade in other areas, office sites, quarries, cuts fills etc... since the turnpike followed the grade loosely between Carlisle and Irwin.
The Pike to Bike trail enables me to provide a new, unique view of this piece of Pennsylvania's hidden history. About my tours.
I offer tours exploring the right of way of the railroad leading up to the Pike to Bike route as well as on the Pike to Bike trail.
It is best to call and give me an idea as to what you may be interested in. Are you interestd in the large fills, the unfinished cuts, Stone work. How about where the offices were located. Hold the maps made by the railroad surveyors. be a part of the discovery. Be a discoverer. Feel like the contractor did when he came upon the scene. Get a feel of the surroundings.
Don't forget to bring
one important thing with you. Your imagination.
It will be a very important tool.
My motto is:
" I try to give you more then what you expect".
" I try to give you more then what you expect".
Above: In this view you can see not only the abandoned turnpike ( Sideling Hill Tunnel and grade) but the railroad grade headed off to the right of the photo. This grade headed off into the woods is actually the South Pennsylvania Railroad grade complete with a stone box culvert.
Pike To Bike Tour |
This
tour offers you the chance to see what was going on in the 8.5
miles of the old abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike as well as the works
of the South Pennsylvania Railroad. Half of the railroad work still is
either used by the original turnpike or is found to the south of the
turnpike right of way. Visit tunnel ventilation sectors. CCC/POW Camp
site. Right: This view is showing from the abandoned turnpike road bed a large incomplete fill south of the old turnpike roadbed. |
$40.00 per person 412-607-9972 southpennrailroad@yahoo.com |
 |
Fulton County Tour |
Fulton
County is one of the best counties that has a great amount of
South Pennsylvania Railroad grade still complete as well as incomple
laying in its boarders. Find road changes, wooden bridge sites where
South Penn road bridges were built to pass over the railroad right of
way. Culverts large enough to walk through. School sites that once
stood on the right of way. Right: A map belonging to the railroad shows this south west corner of West Dublin, Fulton County as being the office of the Sideling Hill Tunnel. |
$40.00 per person 412-607-9972 southpennrailroad@yahoo.com |
 |
Somerset County Tour |
This
is one of the best tours as it climbs up the eastside of the Allegheny
Mountain to reach the original South Pennsylvania Railroad tunnel which
was not used by the Pennsylvania Turnpike. So much work is in
Somerset that it would take three books to show all the route. ( Note: This
does not include the tunnel site. There is an extra charge for the
tunnel site. ) Right: My wife stands on the South Pennsylvania Railroad grade just south of the Present Pennsylvania Turnpike. |
$40.00 per person Note an extra charge for on pike sites. Permit by Pa. Trpk. required. 412-607-9972 southpennrailroad@yahoo.com |
 |
You Choose Tour |
Call
about this one. If you want to see sites your curious about then call
for your own special tour. Here you can tell me what your interest is
and I can put together a tour to quench your curiosity. Right: A stone quarry with over seventy five cut stones is still found atop the east slope of the Allegheny Mountain. |
$40.00 per person 412-607-9972 southpennrailroad@yahoo.com |
 |
For
tours call Russ @ 412-607-9972 or e-mail me @ southpennrailroad@yahoo.com
Things to bring:
Wear sturdy footwear (Hiking boots) as the ground foilage is high.
Long pants. NO DRESSES. They will be shreadded. (Yes I did have some ladies want to be on a trip wearing dresses and I just froze when I saw that.)
Bring a pair of extra socks for crossing creeks. (Blisters on the feet)
Water, flashlight, bug repelant, sun screen, basic first aid kit. As with any forest setting, we may encounter mosquitoes, ticks, wildlife ( bear, fox, coyotes, snakes etc...). White or light colored shirts recomended. We generally make enough noise talking and so on to deter conflict with wildlife.
Bring a packed lunch and water there are no eaterys along the route. We practice TITO (trash in trash out) please do not litter. Be prepared to carry your trash out with you.
*Self Guided Tour*
1938-1939 Aerial Photos
Use the above aerial photos to see just what the valleys looked like outside the Sideling Hill Tunnel as well as the Rays Hill Tunnel. Things are a little bit different today besides the Pennsylvania Turnpike now abandoned.
*Mountain Craft Days *
Every year I travel sixty miles to the east up the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a great place north of Somerset to Mountain Craft Days. This year the event will be Fri/09/11-Sun/09/13. This year I will be focusing on the 1938-1939 aerial photos against the South Pennsylvania Rairload Survey Maps. You will be able to compare the remaing work on the aerial photos against the survey maps. I enjoy this event and even the day after the previous showing I look forward to the next year.
See you at Mountain Craft Days. Somerset, Pennsylvania.
Web
page designed by Things to bring:
Wear sturdy footwear (Hiking boots) as the ground foilage is high.
Long pants. NO DRESSES. They will be shreadded. (Yes I did have some ladies want to be on a trip wearing dresses and I just froze when I saw that.)
Bring a pair of extra socks for crossing creeks. (Blisters on the feet)
Water, flashlight, bug repelant, sun screen, basic first aid kit. As with any forest setting, we may encounter mosquitoes, ticks, wildlife ( bear, fox, coyotes, snakes etc...). White or light colored shirts recomended. We generally make enough noise talking and so on to deter conflict with wildlife.
Bring a packed lunch and water there are no eaterys along the route. We practice TITO (trash in trash out) please do not litter. Be prepared to carry your trash out with you.
*Self Guided Tour*
1938-1939 Aerial Photos
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Bedford
Co. Breezewood as well where the railroad grade ended just east of the
route 30 highway crossing. Also seen is the west portal of the Rays
Hill Tunnel Portal. |
Bedford/Fulton
Co. Line showing the Rays Hill Tunnel. Just west of the tunnel the
turnpike broke away from the railroad to the north at the curve leading
into the tunnel. Just South of the tunnel alignment is a house which
originally was the South Pennsylvania Railroad Office. |
Oregon
Valley showing the railroad grade that is today to the south of the old
abandoned turnpike and also shows the west portal of the Sideling Hill
Tunnel as well as the old CCC/POW Camp just at the curve leading to the
Sideling Hill Tunnel. |
Sideling
Hill Tunnel as well as the grade leading to it coming up from the south
to and across Wooden Bridge creek. The abandoned Turnpike would join
onto the railroad grade just to the outside of the railroad tunnel. |
Use the above aerial photos to see just what the valleys looked like outside the Sideling Hill Tunnel as well as the Rays Hill Tunnel. Things are a little bit different today besides the Pennsylvania Turnpike now abandoned.
*Mountain Craft Days *
Every year I travel sixty miles to the east up the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a great place north of Somerset to Mountain Craft Days. This year the event will be Fri/09/11-Sun/09/13. This year I will be focusing on the 1938-1939 aerial photos against the South Pennsylvania Rairload Survey Maps. You will be able to compare the remaing work on the aerial photos against the survey maps. I enjoy this event and even the day after the previous showing I look forward to the next year.
See you at Mountain Craft Days. Somerset, Pennsylvania.
southpennrailroad@yahoo.com