Bethlehem. Looking across the canal at the Central of New Jersey Railroad station at Bethlehem in the background. The city of Bethlehem maintains the canal within it's city limits.

 

A photograph of the Central of New Jersey Railroad Station, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania from another era. As it was in its heyday.

 

From the towpath looking east down the canal just above the Monacacy Creek Aqueduct and lock #42.

Lock #42 and the Monacacy Creek Aqueduct are shown in this archival photograph taken in 1882. The view is looking west. Note that the canal is full of water from side to side and that the towpath is clear of undergrowth and debris. The railroad tracks in the foreground are those of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The CNJ station at Bethlehem can be seen in the upper right.

 

Monacacy Creek Aqueduct across Monacacy Creek just before lock #42 at Bethlehem, PA.

 

Another view of the aqueduct across Monacacy Creek.

 

Aqueduct at lock #42 looking back upstream across Monacacy Creek. It should be noted that the current aqueduct is of recent construction and is not representative of the original structure. This aqueduct was built merely to provide water to the remaining portion of the canal and is much smaller then the original aqueduct which was of the same width as lock #42 immediately below it.

 

Lock #42 and the Monacacy Creek Aqueduct are shown in this archival photograph.

 

Looking through the lock in the downstream direction. Lower gates are missing. Lift for lock #42 was 8.2 feet.

 

Lock #42 looking upstream from the towpath wall. The upper gates have been replaced with a wooden spillway. The foot bridge across the upper part of the lock is a recent addition. The proper location of the footbridge is at the lower end (see period photograph below).

 

Lock #42 looking at the lower end of the lock (looking west). Note the white locktender's house to the left of the lock. The 'Hill to Hill' bridge can be seen in the background. The last building on the right, before the bridge, is the CNJ railroad station at Bethlehem.

 

Across the Lehigh River from lock #43 the railroad tracks of the once proud Lehigh Valley Railroad follow the river on the south banks. Also, along the river banks stands the blast furnaces of the once 'mighty' Bethlehem Steel. The Lehigh Valley Railroad ceased to exist in 1976. Bethlehem Steel's operations in Bethlehem have been idle for years and just this year, 2003, the once powerful and seemingly invincible Bethlehem Steel, passed into history.

 

Lock #43 looking through the lock in the downstream direction. Lock is of composite construction. The upper gates have been raised to serve as a spillway. This lock is located approximately one mile west of Freemansburg, PA.

 

Lock #43 looking at wood cribbing at upper end of the lock.

 

Lock #43 looking back at the lower end of the lock from the towpath, downstream.

 

Lock #43 looking back upstream at lower end of lock. Lower gates are missing. Lift was 7.9 feet.

 

A tinted photograph of Lock 43 on the Lehigh Canal as it appeared in yesteryear.

 

Canal boat docked near residence on the Lehigh Canal

 

    Continued