The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-05-29
A Lumber Camp Railroad.
Twenty three Miles Of Unique Track In Penn
syIvania Mountains.

syWan'a W0untd'Hs.
There is a railroad in Pennsylvania
whose equipment George Stephenson,
if he were living today, would regard
as only slight Improvement over his
original experimental outfit. The
traveller who is weary OF speed trials
and trains run on nerve.wreckiug
schedules may find rest and recreation
on the Lewisburg and Buffalo Valley
Railroad, which owns just twenty
three miles OF the wierdest track that
ever was laid. Seven miles an houc
4 is the average speed when the loco.
motive is running at top speed, and
there are so many stops for water, re.
pairs and help of various descriptions
that if one asks the conductor what
time the return trip will be made he
will give 1t up.
The road has no passenger cars
but 1t carries passengers. 1t owes its
existence to the Kulp Lumber Cont
pany's desire TO get TO market the vast
quantities of heavy timber that clothe
the mountain side included in the
tract of land it owns. Munroe II.
Kulp, who for two terms represented
the XVIIth Congress District OF
Pennsylvania, is the principal stock
holder in the company and in the
road.
The railroad traverses the corners
of four counties, Clinton, Centre, Ly-
coming and Union, and its shape, In
consequence, is very like that OF the
letter S. While at present there are
only twenty three miles of track, this
number is variable, for the railroad is
advanced as the heavy timber falls
under the lumbermen's axes. AS
rule it takes train a full fourteen
hours to make the round trip from
Lewisburg, on the Susquehanna River
to the ''camp" and return.
When the road was built little AT
tentlon was paid 10 such trifes as
grading and road5eds. These were
left to look after themselves. As
result the unaccustomed traveller is
apt to get seasick while bounding up
and down over the blllowy Lewisburg
and Buffalo Valley. Three large
mountains, in the heart of the Allie
ghanies, are crossed or lodged by the
little road, some of the grades looking
nearly perpendicular when viewed
from distance by the horror stricken
passenger. 1t appears TO his fasci-
! mated gaze that the little engine must
leap across yawning chasms over pei
pendlcular trestle, while the curves
are so numerous and so sharp that
most of the time the engine would be
in full view from the windows of any
car in the train, if the cars had win
dows, which, as a rule, they do not,
nor any sides either, for that matter.
Intending passengers are advised to
take plenty of food along, in case of a
| breakdown.
Sometimes it happens that the con-
ductor desires to speak to the engl-
S neer. In that case he waits until a.
; propitous moment has arrived, then
he drops easily to the ground and runs
: across field, meeting tine engine on
t the other side, as it finishes descrlb-
S ing curve.
The engines employed upon this
# unique road are little plnion- geared
affairs about the size of those used on
o the elevated roads in New York
a No air brakes are used or provided
u for. On heavy grades substitute is,
+ however, employed. 1t consists OF
e two men who stand on the pilot and
: pour sand on the rails. 1t is job
). not in great demand with the employ
n es of the road. In many cases the
Il roadbed consists of solid stone, and
t the ties are blocked up with small
. pieces of stone.
), When the engine runs short o'
d water the train is stopped near q
I, mountain stream. A pipe is let down
. from the engine, small steam pump
d is set going, and in few minutes the
y machines thirst is slaked.
e The road penetrates region thai
5. is rich with game, such as bear ant
y deer, and there are great quantities o
!. smaller animals and birds. The
3 streams are full of trout, and when ;
- train is stalled the hands put in tht
time fishing or capturing rattlesnakes
W A station about halt way to tn,
s. ''camp" is called Kulpsburg. Th'
;, place is composed of one house AM
=, barn. The house is used mostly a
"a a stopping place tor hunters in tn
m fall, and the meals, and good one.
nc are IS cents each. The compan
i that owps the timber land has tur
-, nished material for coal mines an
ar railroad buildings in all parts of tn
TTnited Statec There ara. emo II G. an