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Carney's Crossing
The "Lilly" detector is located at Milepost 253.1 (Carney's Crossing). There is a dragging equipment detector and a hot box detector.
To get to Carney's Crossing, proceed south on Rt 53 out of Cresson. Cross over new PA Rt 22. Continue south until you reach Carney's Crossing Road (about a mile on your right; marked by an orange traffic sign). Turn right.
Photographs from Carney's Crossing
| A view to the West. (6/26/98) |  |
A view to the East. Note the signal bridge and the (Cresson) Rt 22 Overpass in the background. (6/26/98) |
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| A view to the East. Note the signal bridge and the (Cresson) Rt 22 Overpass in the background. (5/23/97) |  |
History
Lilly is located about 3 miles south of Cresson on PA Rt 53, on the western slope of the Alleghenies along the headwaters of the Little Conemaugh River. The present site of Lilly was originally land densely forested with hemlock, spruce, and oak. Lilly was known at various times as "Dundee", "Foot of Four", "Hemlock", "Lilly's Mill", and "Lilly's Station." The borough was incorporated June 11, 1883 and named "Lilly" for Richard Lilly.
"On August 16, 1802, Joseph Moyer settled here on a 332 acre tract. Aided by his large family, he built a log cabin, cleared land for crops, dug a mill race and erected a water powered grist mill.
Joseph Liilly, whose family fled England because of religious intolerance, purchased this mill on March 23, 1823. Following his death five months later, his son, Richard Lilly assumed ownership. During this period, new settlers (mainly Scotch and Irish) arrived, forming a little village.
Lumbering became an early industry with construction of a water powered (later steam driven) saw mill. Added to the growth of the village in 1825 was coal mining, developed first by Matthew and Michael Myers. This coal was transported in sacks by pack horse over the Alleghenies for use by blacksmiths in the Juniata Valley.
In 1832, the Pennsylvania State Canal Commission authorized construction of a unique canal boat portage over the Allegheny Mountains. Here, Sylvester Welch, principal engineer, set up tents, established local headquarters, and from this village, began forest cutting and clearing for construction of the Allegheny Portage Railroad.
With its location at the foot of Incline Plane No. 4, the community flourished. In succeeding years, Lilly continued to prosper not only with extensive mining of the area's rich coal resources but also with the location thought the community of the Pennsylvania Railroad's east-west, all rail line."(1)
Photo locations:
Looking East from Railroad Street & Grant Street. The overpass is visible in this photo. (6-13-00) Looking East from the West end of Railroad Street. (6-13-00) Looking West from the West end of Railroad Street. (6-13-00) Looking West from the West end of Railroad Street. (6-13-00) RR Street and Washington Street. Looking West. 12-7-00 
Looking East from the West end of Railroad Street. 12-7-00 By Matt Fultz. Looking west from the West end of Railroad Street. 12-7-00 By Matt Fultz.
- At the north end of town, (railroad East), turn off of Rt 53 onto Church Street. This road ends at Railroad Street. You can find good locations anywhere along Railroad Street.
- In the center of town is a concrete overpass (Over Bridge Street) with views East and Westbound.
- At the south (railroad west) end of town, there is a signal bridge at the curve.
A telephoto lens view of the signal bridge at Lilly, PA. Looking East from the "island" located east of the Cassandra Bridge. (01/30/1998)
At milepost 255.8 is the abandoned iron bridge at Cassandra. Note that the bridge is closed to vehicles.
To get to the iron bridge, continue on Rt 53 from Lilly. When you reach the bottom of the hill at the Gas Station/car wash/convenience store turn right onto Cassandra Road/main Street into Cassandra.
To continue on to the Jamestown Bridge (located at Milepost 257.2) , follow Rt 53 until you reach Township Road 406 (Jamestown Road}. Turn left.
The "Portage" Dragging Equipment detector is located at milepost 258.8.NY tower once stood at milepost 259.1 and controlled train movements on several branches between Wilmore and Lilly.
Photographs are
by Chris Behe unless otherwise noted.
(1) from an article titled "Lilly - How it
was named". Author and publication unknown.
