As you ride along Pa 65 as you drive along the river by the YMCA and Hanks and look high up into the hillside you will see a strange assortment of Railroad Hoppers dug into the hillside and filled with dirt. ,a rather strange looking situation but then look again closely and you will also see old wooden trestles way high up there at an angle as well.
So whats the story?
Well at the top of the hill was the one time H.C.Fry Glass and other factory's which needed Railroad Siding Service .
But as high up as they where on top of the hills side approx 800-1200 feet The railroads felt it was not worth the effort to get their engines up their do to the costs and dangers of such an elevated track.
Often only one car at a time could be taken up and down the tracks due to being made slick from natural springs and water from abandoned coal mines . But despite it all the railroads and businesses made millions of dollars with the completion of this switch . Which had its own special maintenance crew to keep it operating due to constant landslides , trees down and water flooding
The switch Operated from the early 20s into the 80's when the whole beaver valley was badly hit by closing down of steel industry and demand for products no longer existed. Much of the old right of way can still be explored including whats left of Morry's Speakeasy an old rock n roll club at top of the switch.
Which started out as Graystone Gardens
For more pictures and information check out the face book group Beaver County Past, Present and Future
