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Circa 1901. "Hanging rock on the Susquehanna near Danville, Pennsylvania." 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.
On 4 Oct 2011, agreed the road is much wider, the railroad would have been relocated, but they would've had to build up the river bank to fit the track where it is today.
Here's some shots I took on that day, heading southbound, shot through the windshield of my big rig.
The old picture looks so much more interesting. You have a neat old train, telephone/telegraph poles/an unusual fence, a freshly weathered rock, a beautiful view, etc. What boy or girl back in that time wouldn't remember the wonder of it all? In the modern picture, parts of the rock appear to have fallen and the whole scene is rather dull.
If the hanging rock hasn't changed position in the past century or so, the railroad has been relocated several feet closer to the riverbank, perhaps onto fill. (Note that the modern roadway is much wider than the dirt road in the older photo.) BTW, the railroad line is the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western's branch line between Scranton & Northumberland, PA. Current operator is the North Shore Railroad. There was a Pennsylvania Railroad branch line on the river's opposite bank, now owned & operated by Canadian Pacific.
The engine driver seems to be doing a full stretch to keep the camera in sight as a telegraph pole intervenes.
Initially, I confused Danville PA with NEW Danville, PA because of the 110 year difference. This photo reminds me of the Susquehanna bridge river crossing between Columbia and Wrightsville (railroad and all), near New Danville. As a bit of a history nut, I leap to point out that the Columbia Wrightsville bridge was the place where Union Militia burned the wooden covered bridge (longest in the world at one time) to prevent the crossing of Confederate troops under General Jubal Early during General Lee's Gettysburg campaign. This is also an area with Underground Railroad activity and a great place to visit for history lovers. I wonder if Shorpy has a photo of this famous old bridge.
There is a nice campground just up the road...they have a few vintage pixs on their site.
The road looks considerably wider now, either the railroad has moved further into the lake or the cliff has been trimmed back
Highway, railroad, canal. Four modes if you count canoes on the river.
I think that your turtle is actually a rock. Have another look.
I pass this rock formation every time I drive into Catawissa PA where a friend of mine lives! Very cool to see this on here. The previous poster is right, it's on rt 42
Believe it or not the rock and the railroad are both still there, on what is now PA-42. The railroad's best days seem to be long behind it, however.
Should be called Overhanging Rock.
I hope they don't run over that turtle in the road with that wagon. Can you find him?
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