My wife and I will be traveling from Poughkeepsie NY to Honesdale PA in mid October. We will be visiting the Stourbridge Line tourist railroad. (The next day we will head for Steamtown, then after a couple of days, on to Strasburg.)
Does anyone have any suggestions for railfanning locations along this drive. We are somewhat flexible as to our actual route, but don't want to wander too awful much.
Obviously, the Hudson River lines are busy, and that area is a natural for actual modern train-watching. But I am wondering more about interesting places along the way west of there. Towns or sites with interesting railroad infrastructure, regardless of how few trains run there now, or even having no trains anymore. Museums, historical societies that might have decent railroad content, etc.
Also, if you know of a quaint town roughly half way along that route where we might want to get a room for the night, we might decide to split that leg into two days. My wife and I like almost anything old, even if it's not railroad related.
Tentatively I am planning to pick up US Rte 6 near Middletown NY, then follow it all the way to Honesdale. (But I am open to other routes.) I know that sometimes I follow a highway, only later to find out that if I had taken a short diversion down some nondescript road I could have found some hidden gems like long-abandoned stations, rusting stranded rolling stock, etc. You folks know what I mean.
All suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Still in training.
Jim Thorpe, PA is nice.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thorpe,_Pennsylvania
"+1" to Jim Thorpe. Lehigh Gorge Scenic Rwy. runs out of there, leaves should be nice at that time of year: https://www.lgsry.com/
Lehigh Gorge is the tourist operation of the Reading & Northern, which runs through Jim Thorpe - NS is on the other side. Reading & Northern runs excursins to the Hauto Trestle every once in a while.
Several nice rail-trails along the way.
Starrucca Viaduct: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starrucca_Viaduct
Tunkhannock Viaduct: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunkhannock_Viaduct
Both still in use, with a couple trains a day running over them.
Delaware-Lackawanna out of Scranton and its all-ALCo locomotive fleet. A couple of old stations and good views down a tangent main at Gouldsboro and Tobyhanna (ex-DL&W). Also a nice station at Cresco, PA. The first two are just a few minutes off I-380, Cresco might be 30 minutes going through Mt. Pocono. Not far out of your way - get on I-80W for a few miles to get back to the PA Turnpike I-476, which is the best way to go towards Strasburg.
Trolley museum in Scranton, too: http://ectma.org/
Wanamaker, Kempton, & Southern at Kempton, PA: https://www.kemptontrain.com/
Allentown & Auburn at Kutztown, PA: http://allentownandauburnrr.com/
Middletown & Hummelstown (a little west of Strasburg): https://www.mhrailroad.com/
Colebrookdale Railroad, Boyertown, PA: https://www.colebrookdalerailroad.com/
Rockville Bridge, Harrisburg - very busy NS line (also Enola Yard nearby).
Bridgeview B&B - regular advertiser in Trains - has nice views of Rockville.
Lehigh Gap once had 3 railroads running through it (now only 1, NS). Lehigh Gap Nature Center is basically on the ex-LV roadbed, has photos from back in the day.
If you can find the time, take the Amtrak Pennsylvanian west from Harrisburg (mid-afternoon departure) to Johnstown, PA - ride over Horseshoe Curve on a busy NS main. Stay at the Holiday Inn (has a shuttle), then come back the next day early afternoon at Harrisburg, so a little less than 24 hrs. round trip. If you're inclined, see what you can find on-line; any further questions, post here and I'll try to answer them. Or you could also do that from Strasburg (Lancaster or other nearby station) - just another hour or so more on the train each way.
zugmann who posts here is within a few miles of Strasburg, might have some other suggestions.
- PDN.
In Middletown thee is the old NYO&W station/HQ and shop buildings. The station was damaged by fire about 15 years ago, and may be living on borrowed time. It's on Wickham Ave (NY route 211) about 2 miles west of NY 17. Shortline tracks run in front of it.
https://www.recordonline.com/news/20190729/middletown-seeks-developer-to-rehab-ow-station
Thanks so much, Backshop, Paul and Mike. Great info. We will be adding the Middletown sites, Jim Thorpe and the LGSR, and Tunkhannock Viaduct to the itinerary.
I’ve been to Starucca, and Horseshoe Curve and other Altoona area sites. Will ride the Pennsylvanian someday, hopefully. Special thanks, Paul, for all that effort.
This trip will conclude with me “running” NW 475 in Strasburg. I scored the last remaining engineer’s seat for that weekend. NW 611 will be there too. I am really psyched for the whole trip. We are taking more than a week (from Maine), so we’ll have time to enjoy ourselves. Will also go to the PA RR museum, of course, and other area sights. We’ve been to Strasburg before. I have never been on a fired-up steam engine before (and I’m almost 70), much less operate one (well, with heavy supervision). Bucket list!
It sounds like you are not from the Poughkeepsie area, so I will mention a local point of interest. It is the former NYNH&H high bridge over the Hudson, which is now a popular walkway about 150 feet above the river.
https://walkway.org/
MidlandMike It sounds like you are not from the Poughkeepsie area, so I will mention a local point of interest. It is the former NYNH&H high bridge over the Hudson, which is now a popular walkway about 150 feet above the river. https://walkway.org/
Paul_D_North_Jrzugmann who posts here is within a few miles of Strasburg, might have some other suggestions.
I know some good bakeries close to Strasburg. *shrugs*
Honestly, if there's time and interest I think it's worth it to go east (how far east depends on how close one wants to get to Philly) along the former PRR instead of west. There's still PRR position signals out east of Parkesburg along the main. Plus interlocking towers (a few manned), and a couple old stations (Parkesburg and Christiana are pretty close to Strasburg, for example). Everything west is pretty much sanitized and losing its character.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
Regards - Steve
+1 Fun and easy walk. Great view of Poughkeepsie train station, Hudson Line and West Shore (River Line), to boot!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zjZtj3m3gCiTV4fG8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/9mX33saf3fbJPf798
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
Partway from Scranton to Strasburg only a few miles off I-81 SB on PA Rt. 309 is the former coal town of Tamaqua, PA. The former Reading RR statin there has been retsored as a restaurant:
http://www.tamaquastation.com/tamaquastationrestaurant.html
https://www.facebook.com/tamaquastationrestaurant/
Haven't eaten there yet so I can't provide a review. However, there are other sources for that.
Thanks Steve, Oltmannd and Paul.
As you go over the hill from Honesdale to Scranton, you'll see remnants of the original D&H gravity railroad. At Keene's RV Park there is a wel preserved bridge.
Mike
Scranton and bananas that very likely originated from the B&O Fruit Pier at Locust Point, Baltimore.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
If you are a beer drinker Pottsville Pa is the home of Yuengling beer and a short drive away is Minersville home of the CNJ 113 a large 0-6-0. Not too far from Tamaqua.
MikeFFAs you go over the hill from Honesdale to Scranton, you'll see remnants of the original D&H gravity railroad. At Keene's RV Park there is a wel preserved bridge.
https://keenlake.com/our-campground/about-us/ - see Keen Lake History
https://keenlake.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/keenlake_map-new-2019-website.pdf
Hard to find some of those places on the map, though.
Nobody has mentioned the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in Hamburg, PA. http://www.readingrailroad.org/
If/when you go to Steamtown, try to get there jsut as they open. It used to be that they had a small tour thing where you went to the roundhouse when they pulled the steam engine (in this case it'd be BLW 26) out, cleaned the ash pan, watered and coaled (is that a word?) it. Was worth it. I don't know if they still do that or not.
zugmann If/when you go to Steamtown, try to get there jsut as they open. It used to be that they had a small tour thing where you went to the roundhouse when they pulled the steam engine (in this case it'd be BLW 26) out, cleaned the ash pan, watered and coaled (is that a word?) it. Was worth it. I don't know if they still do that or not.
Thanks for that tip. We will try to get there right when they open.
On a somewhat related note: I had a passenger on the train today who is something of a railfan, according to his wife (he readily agreed). I suggested that he could come volunteer with us, which he might have, but they live in Fort Wayne...
You know, I told them, that there is a group he could volunteer with right there in Fort Wayne (765). Before they left the train, I gave them a paper with that, and several other, rail attractions in the area, none of which they were aware of.
Doing my best to further the hobby!
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree, you look like a conductor in your photo, but it seems like you also work as an engineer. Is that correct? Other jobs also? And all as a volunteer? Do volunteers rotate among jobs?
Lithonia Operator tree, you look like a conductor in your photo, but it seems like you also work as an engineer. Is that correct? Other jobs also? And all as a volunteer? Do volunteers rotate among jobs?
I am qualified as both a conductor and engineer (for that matter, I am also a DSLE, meaning I evaluate engineers and conductors).
We have a few people who are only qualified as engineer or conductor, and some who were qualified as "trainmen/brakemen," but we now call them student or assistant conductors. It's kind of an apprentice/journeyman position.
There is a bit of seniority involved. Given qualification for both jobs, the senior person will usually get the throttle. I've been known to bring along my conductor garb when I'm on as engineer, "just in case."
I also do a bit of public relations for the railroad at train shows and the like. We have a show in Syracuse coming up, and I believe we'll be at the big Amherst show in West Spingfield, MA in late January.
tree68 I've been known to bring along my conductor garb when I'm on as engineer, "just in case."
I carry my trainman's lantern. Mostly because it's really nice (railtek LED one). Plus I've had to let more than a few conductors borrow it when theirs die. I also evaluate people, too. But mostly silenty.
Does that count?
zugmann But mostly silenty. Does that count?
Sure (don't we all?)
The ones I have to document keep the feds happy...
Ride the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway while you can - only about 6 more weeks.
News today is that it will close at the end of November due to a dispute over amusement tax with the Borough (town) of Jim Thorpe:
https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/poconos-coal/lehigh-gorge-scenic-railway-to-close-in-late-november-after/article_fad8bd02-f03b-11e9-9b60-8390d45053ad.html
There has to be more to this story, perhaps driven by personality conflicts - I can think of several different scenarios.
Paul_D_North_JrThere has to be more to this story, perhaps driven by personality conflicts - I can think of several different scenarios.
I mean, the RBMN has never been shy about accepting millions in state grants for their projects. So I'll skip the generic "big gov't hurting the small guy" argument that is so prevalent on the other sites, and chalk it up to, as Paul says, personality conflicts.
I believe (it's been 17+ years since I've been there) that at least part of the Lackawanna's erecting shop is still across the street from Steamtown. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. It's no Altoona, but they are getting harder and harder to find as they are being bulldozed. I remember going to Sayre and just seeing a pile of rubble, as they'd been leveled earlier.
I was there day before yesterday. The erecting shop building is still there, but it's being used for munitions work by some huge government contractor, and I'm told you can't get real close.
BTW, Steamtown is great! To anyone who has not been: GO!
Hopefully this isn't too late, but while you're at Steamtown, do be sure to allocate some time to "Dieseltown" meaning the Delaware Lackawanna. They are a nearly-all Alco road, the biggest remaining, and they run pretty often. Their shops are across town. They really do run RS3s, 4- and 6-motor Centuries and a few others (RS11, RS27 for sure).
We saw lots of action on the DL. They are right there; there is a tower, just a hundred yards or so down the tracks from Steamtown's parking lot, and we often saw four Centurys parked there. And there is what seems to be a display train there, with a pristine RS-3 and beautifully painted freight cars and caboose from Sranton area fallen-flag roads. We saw lots of passing trains and switching moves. We stayed at the Lackawanna Station hotel, and saw action from our window also. Ask for a room overlooking the tracks.
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