A while back I was told that there was some interesting remains along the old DL&C Right-of-Way near my house. This was part of the original Lebanon to Dodds section that was torn up in 1952. I finally had some time to follow this up the other day and made some fascinating discoveries back in the woods. It was a short walk to the other side of my neighborhood where the tracks used to run. On the way, I couldn’t help but notice the old grade crossing sign in the front yard of my neighbor (pictured above). This had been there for years and I had wondered for a long time if it had been found along the original rail line.
Eventually I made it back to the tree line. I stumbled through the brush for what seemed like ages looking for any sign of the old route. This wasn’t easy as overgrown as everything was. But soon I spied the familiar sight of cinder ballast on the ground. Thank goodness for me it takes a long while for cinders to disappear. Once I found this I could make out the rest of the ROW. There were not a lot of large trees that have grown up in the intervening time and I could make out most of the path. The DL&C was never exactly over-engineered and the drainage ditches and such you would see on a class one just don’t exist on this light route.
Before long there were more clues that gave the land’s history away. Abandoned ties littered the area, some still in neat rows along the former roadbed. Old rusty barbed wire marked the boundaries of the old farm fields the line pasted through. This segment of the line was originally laid as part of the original Cincinnati Northern (TD&B) line through Dodds. It was graded in the 1870′s and was completed with rail around 1881. Later on it was bought and made standard gauge by the DL&C, eventually being purchased into the CL&N system.
I had found the roadbed, but had not completed my goal. I pressed on, looking for the spot where the roadbed crossed a small creek I knew to be in the area. I followed the roadbed south until I finally saw the ground dropping away. The roadbed was on a fill nearly 8 or 10 feet high. Dropping down into the creek, I could see the broken masonry of a bridge abutment. I had found what I was looking for.
I could only imagine the age of this stone. It could easily be 100 years old. Rushing water had knocked much of it down into the bed, but parts still held together without mortar. The creek bed itself had some old pipes laid into it. I’m guessing that was added in later years to help manage the flow of water.
It wouldn’t be the last of my discoveries. Above is pictured one of two former telegraph poles I found along the abandoned ROW. The two bolts show where the cross-beams would have been secured, the iron strap hanging loosely on the side is one of two that would have been fastened as braces to help secure each crossbar. In addition to these I was able to find only 1 spike. I imagine the other spikes were either taken up with the rail or since buried, but I’m guessing it could be over anywhere from 60 to 90 years old.
One thing I found was quite odd. A piece of rail that was not scrapped, but instead was buried vertically in the ground next to a tree. It would not budge and I have no way of guessing how long the buried piece actually is. If anyone has any idea what it could be for let me know.
Near the end of my journey I confirmed my suspicions about the old grade crossing sign, finding this post laying a long the ground. Nearby was an old farm path used for getting from fields on one side of the track to the other. I figure this was the rural path the sign was protecting.
I had followed the ROW to the point where the forest made it impassible and decided to cash out on my success when I could. It was fascinating to explore a roadbed so close to my home. I could almost hear the steam locomotives as they passed a lonely farmhouse 57 years ago; chugging slowly by along the highlands of Warren County.
I’ll be on vacation this weekend so don’t expect any new posts. Also, if you email me I won’t be getting back to you until Tuesday at the earliest.
by John A. Rehor (also featuring some CL&N history).
