LIBERTY: The Jersey Central Lines Today

Underneath the Minsi Trail bridge in Bethlehem, is the location where the track resumes, although the eastbound main is removed. There are more than a few breaches, suggesting the line was to be completely removed. Around 1984, a shortline called Minsi Rail Corp. was formed to operate the Freemansburg Industrial Track and Minsi Trail Branch. But Conrail, who owned the line at the time, abandoned it on September 24, 1984. What remains is a short stub owned by Norfolk Southern and is ironically named their Freemansburg Industrial Track, used to store locomotives, and sometimes maintenance equipment around the area of the Bethlehem Station.

Ghostly image of westbound signal 831. At this point there is a break and about 50 feet of track is pulled up.

Eastbound signal 832 and battery box along Lehigh Canal.

Just before Bethlehem Station, there was a runaround track and siding to the freight house.

In this photo of bridge 84/24 over the Monocacy Creek, you can see where the old eastbound main was to the left of the current track which is the old westbound main. On the right side of the bridge is the siding to the freight house and station which is just ahead.

View of the CNJ Bethlehem station, built in 1873, which is now restored as 'The Depot', a fine restaurant. A set of Canadian Pacific Railway locomotives can be seen spending the day idling on the old CNJ just ahead.

Here is a vintage postcard view of the CNJ Bethlehem Station (at left) and Lehigh Canal, circa 1915. The station is located along Lehigh Street near Sand Island in Bethlehem.

2/1/73: Automatic block signal system from JU (Bethlehem Jct.) to PU
(Phillipsburg) abandoned.

2/1/73: Westward track from east end of JU to the westerly side of Monroe
Street Freemansburg is out of service.  Westward track from a point 100
feet east of Main Street Freemansburg undergrade bridge is redesignated as
the Freemansburg Industrial track.

Please continue to the next page, CNJ Bethlehem Jct.