Washington Run Railroad Explained

Railroad Name:Washington Run Railroad
Marks:WRN
Locale:Perry Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Start Year:1899
End Year:1931 [1]
Length:4 miles

The Washington Run Railroad was a branch line in Pennsylvania.[2] Starting at a junction with the B&O Railroad in Layton, the line crossed the Youghiogheny River on a bridge (Layton Bridge) and passed through a tunnel (both built by the A.P. Roberts Construction Company) to continue to Perryopolis. From there, it continued to Star Junction on a track that ran parallel to today's Pennsylvania Route 51.

The railroad had a passenger car that it used for passenger service, but it was primarily a freight carrier, transporting coke produced at Star Junction and coal for the Washington Coal and Coke Company and the Cochran Coal Company. It also served the brickworks in Layton and had a stop in Victoria.

The railroad ceased operation in 1931. Layton Bridge and the adjacent tunnel still serve as a single lane part of Layton Road (State Route 4038).

Washington Run Railroad Tunnel
Location:Pennsylvania
Coordinates:40.0883°N -79.7317°W
Status:last train March 12, 1931, converted to automobile use August 1933
Start:near Layton, Pennsylvania
End:Perryopolis, Pennsylvania
Startwork:1899
Closed:1931 as a rail tunnel
Owner:Washington Run Railroad
Construction:rock bored, masonry arch entrances
Length:208 feet
Notrack:single

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: John . Tremba. Hidden Architecture . Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 25 December 2005. 7 March 2009 .
  2. May 1914. Railroads of the Connellsville Coke Region . 52 . Connellsville, Pennsylvania . 2009-03-06.