Special thanks to Joe Sharretts for the pictures and information on this line.
"PRR Chester Creek Branch and the Octoraro Branch"
Large trestle over Chester Creek and PA 452. This section was abandoned in 1971. The fence was put up on the trestle to discourage trespassing.
This line was built in the late 1860s by the Pennsylvania RR. It connected with the main PRR line SW of Philadelphia at Chester, and traveled through Upland, Ashton, Lenni and then linked up with what today is SEPTA's West Chester route. The line diverged again and traveled along US 1 through Wawa, Concordville, Brandywine, and into Chadds Ford. Total route length was 15.2 miles. In 1971, a hurricane washed out portions of both lines, and it was decided that the cost repair was not worth it, and the lines were abandoned. Approximately 90% of the entire line remains intact.
Octoraro Railway operates the remaining part of the branch to the W of Chadds Ford out to Nottingham. The rest of the PRR Octoraro Branch extended from Nottingham to Sylmar, MD, Rising Sun, Colora, Liberty Rock and joining with the existing former PRR line at Rock along the Susquehanna River in Maryland. The Octoraro Railway also operates a former Reading line from Wilmington, DE, through Chadds Ford Jct (intersecting with this line) and then to Coatesville, PA, on the Philadelphia to Harrisburg main.
The grade crossing at Dutton Mill Road in Ashton, PA.
Flooded cut with rails still remaining on the Octoraro Branch at Concordsville, PA.
The RR grade is very evident as it approaches a grade crossing of Ring Road at Chaddsford, PA.
Abandoned track and signal pole at Ring Road in Chaddsford, PA.