Delaware River and Lancaster Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Delaware River and Lancaster Railroad, known locally as the Sowbelly Railroad, was a short-lived rail line rail line along French Creek
between Kimberton
and St. Peters.
at Point Pleasant, New Jersey
to Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, as part of a more or less direct route between New York City
and Lancaster. However, the company was unable to raise funds for construction and the charter languished for some time.
. In 1890 or 1892, he laid track over a short portion of the route, between a connection with the Pickering Valley Railroad (a Reading
subsidiary) near Kimberton, at a point called French Creek Junction, to St. Peters, where it connected with the Warwick Branch of the Wilmington and Northern Railroad. The line largely followed French Creek north of Kimberton, passing through Wilsons Corner, Sheeder, Pughtown
, Coventryville, and Knauertown
before reaching St. Peters, where it connected with the Wilmington and Northern in a switchback via the spur serving Knauer's black granite
quarries.
The line was very lightly graded and built, and its undulations gave rise to the local sobriquet of "Sowbelly Railroad". Knauer intended it as another outlet for black granite from his quarries, and to attract residents of Phoenixville
to make outings to his hotel in St. Peters. However, it was operated by the Wilmington and Northern, using a leased Reading engine. Traffic was low, and the railroad proved unsuccessful: service ended on December 1, 1893. The rails remained in place for about a year, but service was never restored. The company was dissolved in 1895 and the rails removed to be sold to John T. Dyer, a railroad contractor and quarryman.
Stations:
French Creek (Schuylkill River)
French Creek, once known as Saukanac Creek, is a tributary of the Schuylkill River in Berks and Chester counties, Pennsylvania in the United States.French Creek travels through French Creek State Park and joins the Schuylkill in Phoenixville...
between Kimberton
Kimberton, Pennsylvania
Kimberton is an unincorporated community in East Pikeland Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The zip code is 19442. Originally settled in the late 18th century, it was not named until 1817. Like many surrounding villages, Kimberton developed around a tavern; in this case, the...
and St. Peters.
Planned interstate line
The railroad was originally chartered on March 24, 1868, to run from a railroad bridge crossing the Delaware RiverDelaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
at Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Point Pleasant is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,392...
to Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, as part of a more or less direct route between New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Lancaster. However, the company was unable to raise funds for construction and the charter languished for some time.
Local railroad
Control of the company eventually came into the hands of Davis Knauer, a successful local entrepreneur in northern Chester County, PennsylvaniaChester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
. In 1890 or 1892, he laid track over a short portion of the route, between a connection with the Pickering Valley Railroad (a Reading
Reading Company
The Reading Company , usually called the Reading Railroad, officially the Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road and then the Philadelphia and Reading Railway until 1924, operated in southeast Pennsylvania and neighboring states...
subsidiary) near Kimberton, at a point called French Creek Junction, to St. Peters, where it connected with the Warwick Branch of the Wilmington and Northern Railroad. The line largely followed French Creek north of Kimberton, passing through Wilsons Corner, Sheeder, Pughtown
Pughtown, Pennsylvania
Pughtown is a town in Chester County, Pennsylvania located on Pennsylvania Route 100 just south of Bucktown, Pennsylvania.-References:* *...
, Coventryville, and Knauertown
Knauertown, Pennsylvania
Knauertown is a village in Warwick Township, Chester County, at 40°10'17"N 75°43'38"W, along Pennsylvania Route 23. Its zip code is 19465. The land in and around present-day Knauertown was bought and settled by Johann Christopher Knauer in 1753. Just east of Knauertown on Route 23 is the Seven Day...
before reaching St. Peters, where it connected with the Wilmington and Northern in a switchback via the spur serving Knauer's black granite
Diabase
Diabase or dolerite is a mafic, holocrystalline, subvolcanic rock equivalent to volcanic basalt or plutonic gabbro. In North American usage, the term diabase refers to the fresh rock, whilst elsewhere the term dolerite is used for the fresh rock and diabase refers to altered material...
quarries.
The line was very lightly graded and built, and its undulations gave rise to the local sobriquet of "Sowbelly Railroad". Knauer intended it as another outlet for black granite from his quarries, and to attract residents of Phoenixville
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of French Creek with the Schuylkill River. The population is 16,440 as of the 2010 Census.- History :...
to make outings to his hotel in St. Peters. However, it was operated by the Wilmington and Northern, using a leased Reading engine. Traffic was low, and the railroad proved unsuccessful: service ended on December 1, 1893. The rails remained in place for about a year, but service was never restored. The company was dissolved in 1895 and the rails removed to be sold to John T. Dyer, a railroad contractor and quarryman.
Stations:
| Name | |Length | |Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| mi | km | ||
| French Creek Junction | 0.0 | 0.0 | Connection with Pickering Valley Branch |
| Hiestand | 0.5 | 0.8 | |
| Wilson's Corner (Lockart's) | 3.7 | 6.0 | Water tank and siding |
| Vincent | ? | ? | |
| Sheeder | 5.1 | 8.2 | |
| Boraef | 5.8 | 9.3 | |
| Roberts | ? | ? | |
| Pughtown Pughtown, Pennsylvania Pughtown is a town in Chester County, Pennsylvania located on Pennsylvania Route 100 just south of Bucktown, Pennsylvania.-References:* *... |
7.5 | 12.1 | |
| Coventryville | ? | ? | Sidings to graphite mines, Chrisman's gristmill |
| Knauertown Knauertown, Pennsylvania Knauertown is a village in Warwick Township, Chester County, at 40°10'17"N 75°43'38"W, along Pennsylvania Route 23. Its zip code is 19465. The land in and around present-day Knauertown was bought and settled by Johann Christopher Knauer in 1753. Just east of Knauertown on Route 23 is the Seven Day... |
10.8 | 17.4 | |
| French Creek Falls | 11.7 | 18.8 | |
| Saint Peter's Saint Peter's Village Saint Peters is a community located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The village is a historic 19th century industrial 'company village' at the Falls of French Creek in Warwick Township.... |
? | ? | Connection with Warwick Branch |