MILEPOST = PD 38.3
ACCESSIBILITY = SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT
AMENITIES = NONE
PHOTO ANGLES = SOMEWHAT VARIED
From left to right: 37A as viewed from the A&S flyover bridge (eastbound track in the background); 37A again this time just west of CP CRES, with A&S catenary in the back- ground
Creswell is the site of a once prominent railroad junction. This is the location where the A&S Branch from Parkesburg joined up with the C&PD Branch. When the A&S was in service the junction was called CP PORT. The junction features a flyover typical of many Pennsylvania Railroad junctions in the area. Instead of having both tracks meet against the other, the westbound C&PD track crosses underneath the A&S trackage, then gradually climbs up to meet the westbound A&S track. From Rt. 441, in the wintertime, with no foliage in the way, you can see the westbound track descending. Of course, the A&S no longer exists, so the junction is no longer there, however, the flyover still is, albeit with abandoned trackage overhead.
There is only one way to get trackside here. As you travel south on 441, right as you start going up a hill you will see a small parking area off to the right. This is the start of the Turkey Hill Trail, which winds its way up the hillside. Take either path a few hundred feet to a clearing (the gated path is an NS service road-I think). You will notice that you are standing next to the old A&S branch, which still has catenary supports and cables. If you walk north a short distance, you will come to the flyover. In almost all cases, westbound trains will use the duckunder (this is track #2), while the eastbounds will take track #1. The area north of the flyover is pretty grown up, so I usually avoid it.
If you walk along the A&S south for a ways you will find a path down to the Port Road trackage. At this location you can really see how track 2 descends to the A&S bridge. If you walk even farther south, you will come to CP CRES, where tracks 1 & 2 join together. This is where the scenic, and remote, portion of the Port Road starts. Between here and Safe Harbor there are 3 flumes, which carry small creeks over the Port Road and empty into in the Susquehanna. This entire stretch is inaccessible, unless you take a boat down or walk the tracks (which is trespassing anyway).
I have heard that there are some great eastbound vantage points on the Turkey Hill Trail. I am not sure how far in you have to hike, but rest assured if you catch something from up there, you will have a very unique photo!
