The Chester Secondary begins south of CSX East side yard (RG Tower off the Philly Sub at Eastwick and heads toward SEPTA's Airport Line.
The line then encounters Wanamaker Yard near Darby Creek which is crossed using the former PRR bascule bridge, still active for water traffic (the adjacent Reading Company drawbridge, identical in design, was abandoned by Conrail and is permanently raised).
Here, the railroad line leaves PA 291 to pass behind the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution (SCI-Chester) and then proceeds behind some warehouses including those for Scott Paper.
The line continues through the former Sunoco refinery (now operated by Energy Transfer Partners) across the Pennsylvania-Delaware border before ending just short of Naamans Creek in Claymont.
There are plenty of warehouses that line the track for boxcar usage and a few chemical companies bring in tank car and covered hopper transport.