MILEPOST = PD 38.3
ACCESSIBILITY = SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT
AMENITIES = NONE
PHOTO ANGLES = 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 CRES, with A&S catenary in the back- ground; A Conrail SD60M leads 33A past the signals at CRES, viewed from the old A&S roadbed
A LATE 37A HEADS WEST IN THE LATE AFTERNOON (PIC ABOVE) 2:14 - 7.99MB
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 featured a flyover typical of many Pennsylvania Railroad junctions in the area. Instead of having both tracks meet against the other 2 at grade, 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). You will notice that you are standing next to the old A&S branch, which still has catenary supports. 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.
Taking a walk south (railroad east) along the old A&S yields some great photo spots that are somewhat remote and also very scenic. Since the sale of the A&S property to its adjacent townships, all trespassing signs on the catenary have been removed, with a few still visible on old electrical cabinets and such. It used to be very overgrown along the roadbed, but there is now a clear path. As you walk south, you will first come to a clearing where you can see CRES. The old caternary poles are tricky to shoot around, but it can be done. Waling about 30 minutes south will bring you the first of 3 flumes. The flumes carry streams over the Port Road and dump them into the Susquehanna. The first one (Mann's Run) will provide a nice overhead view in either direction with an unobstructed view of the river as well. The walls of the flume are a bit high (7 ft. or so) so you may need a small stool to get on top of them, or if you are able, you could hoist yourself up. I would be careful in these things...wet concrete is obviously slippery, so a misstep could send you 20 feet down to the river. The second flume is roughly another mile south and the third is about another 1/2 mile. While it is a bit of a hike, it is most definitely worth it, as the scenery along the river is fantastic.
