"Must see" railroad items in Eastern PA

[Anonymous]

I'm taking a trip to Eastern Pennsylvania this fall, and wondering what railroad items I should attempt to work into my trip plan. I'm traveling with non-railfans, so hardcore trainwatching like Horseshoe Curve is probably out of the question, unless you think it's really a must-see. My main railroad interest is photography, if it helps direct your recommendations.

- Steamtown has been considered, but I'm not all that into a historic train ride as it's just like the commute I do every day...except in a different train! Do they still have shop tours in the fall, and is the schedule different than the summer? I'm specifically interested in B&M 3713, which is undergoing restoration. I emailed Steamtown via their website a week ago but so far haven't heard back.

Thanks in advance!

[tree68]

Steamtown is more than just a train ride - but you'll have to check with them on shop tours and the like.  A trolley museum is next door, and if you have to entertain the non-railfans, there is a mall right across the tracks.

Strasburg RR and the PA museum (and Toy Trains, IIRC) are in the Pennsylvania Dutch country.

Just an hour or so south of Strasburg is the B&O museum in Baltimore.

I believe there is a tower preserved in Harrisburg.

Slightly further afield are Starucca and Tunkahannock viaducts.  Not much else there tourist-wise, but both are awe-inspiring.

Enjoy your trip!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input!

tree68

Steamtown is more than just a train ride - but you'll have to check with them on shop tours and the like.  A trolley museum is next door, and if you have to entertain the non-railfans, there is a mall right across the tracks.

I visited Steamtown few years ago (early 2000s, I think) and the static displays didn't do much for me. Interesting stuff to see, but I didn't have a personal connection with anything so it didn't mean much to me. I tried contacting them about 3713 and the shop tour, but they never got back to me...hopefully they will soon, or someone else here will know.

Our trip plans will most likely include the Pennsylvania Dutch country, so Strasburg was one of the places I'd like to look into more. Is it really touristy (lots of photographers, crowded) or is it more open and laid-back? I don't really enjoy crowds, especially when trying to take photos.

Traffic on Starucca looks pretty light, but maybe there is some on Tunkahannock...would I be right to assume that?

Thanks again!

[Bruce Kelly]

When I lived in the Northeast, more than a decade ago, traffic over Tunkhannock (aka Nicholson) Viaduct was pitifully light. I have a friend who moved from the Northwest to the outskirts of Scranton about a year ago, and he tells me the traffic there is still very minimal.  He says there's a daily southbound out of Binghamton in the afternoon that's pretty reliable, but beyond that he says it's pretty hit and miss.

Last time I checked more closely on the operations there with some local sources, it sounded like the kind of place where you really get only one or two chances for a daytime shot of a train on the bridge. Just showing up there and waiting for something could result in a very long wait, unless you actually saw something getting re-crewed and ready to depart from Binghamton or Scranton/Taylor.

[tree68]

AFAIK, traffic over both bridges is sparse at best.

My visit to the Strasburg RR was exactly that - a visit to the SRR.  I did wander across the street to the PA Museum.  As for the rest of the Lancaster area, I have no clue, but I suspect is it rather touristy.  Again - a diversion for the non-rails.  You can visit SRR and the museums, and they can shop...

[henry6]

Yeah...what do you want to see?  See trains move?  Passenger? Freight? Ride?  History?  Steamtown is quiet different than when you saw it last.  Altoona is great, too.  The Curve is most interesting for train watching, 99% freight of course, but the Railroaders Museum in Altoona has a unique perspective in that it reflects the human aspect, how railroaders worked and lived, and not about nuts and bolts.  Strasburg would be good too...the Strasburg Railroad plus the Pennsylvania State Railroad Museum plus the National Toy Train museum--and if no one is a railfan, you're deep in Pennsylvania Dutch Country with something for everybody else.  Jim Thorpe is a great town filled with stuff: the untouched Asa Packer (LV Pres.) mansion,  gravity railroad museum, lots for the whole family.  OR Honesdale/Hawley area for the D&H gravity railroad, the D&H Canal, and lots of other neat stuff..follow the canal bed all the way to Kingston, NY if you wish!  Ride trains?  Amtrak from Harrisburg east or go to Philadelphia and ride trains, light rail and trolleys-above or underground!   Narrow guage?  East Broad Top.  Several coal mines and museums, several caves,...there is a lot for everybody, anybody,   Just decide what you want to see, look it up, and see it and do it.

[nik .n]

Bruce Kelly

When I lived in the Northeast, more than a decade ago, traffic over Tunkhannock (aka Nicholson) Viaduct was pitifully light. I have a friend who moved from the Northwest to the outskirts of Scranton about a year ago, and he tells me the traffic there is still very minimal.  He says there's a daily southbound out of Binghamton in the afternoon that's pretty reliable, but beyond that he says it's pretty hit and miss.

Last time I checked more closely on the operations there with some local sources, it sounded like the kind of place where you really get only one or two chances for a daytime shot of a train on the bridge. Just showing up there and waiting for something could result in a very long wait, unless you actually saw something getting re-crewed and ready to depart from Binghamton or Scranton/Taylor.

Currently, I'd say about 7+ trains a day come though here at minimum. I live about 4 miles north of the bridge, and I can watch the trains go by on the same line.

[MikeFF]

Difficult parameters.  If you hit the Curve right, you can see a lot of trains in a short time and head into Altoona to the Museum.  The East Broad Top is not all that far away.  Strasburgh and the PRR Museum are going to take a while. The good news is that there are lots of other attractions in the area and your companions could drop you off and pick you up later.  Steamtown is good and the optional ride is very short.  I see a suggestion for Kingston, NY and, if you get that far, don't miss the Walkway Over (Across?-I can never remember) the Hudson on the old NH bridge.  A spectacular vantage point and good for everyone.  Plus you can see the old NYC water level route at Poughkeepsie with Metro-North and Amtrak action and a fair amount of traffic on the CSX River Line...from several hundred feet above.

[zugmann]

Eastern PA is a big area.  Altoona is central PA.  Scranton is northeastern PA.  Strasburg is southcentral/eastern.  All of the above are hours away from each other.  Is there a particular place in PA you are going to?

[tree68]

zugmann

Eastern PA is a big area. 

I'll say!  Driving I-81 from one end of PA to the other (N-S) takes what seems like days...

[MP173]

It looks as if the wife and I will also head for Eastern Pa later in the month.  A couple of years ago this trip was planned and then cancelled. 

This will probably be a shorter duration, with family stuff in the evenings.  We will be in the Allentown area and I am also looking for a little action.  Hard core train stuff is probably out of the question, but a mixture of trains, scenery and shopping will work.

What about Jim Thorpe?  It is up on the old LV mainline and if memory serves me correctly that is quite scenic up there.

Any other suggestions?

Ed

[nik .n]

MP173

It looks as if the wife and I will also head for Eastern Pa later in the month.  A couple of years ago this trip was planned and then cancelled. 

This will probably be a shorter duration, with family stuff in the evenings.  We will be in the Allentown area and I am also looking for a little action.  Hard core train stuff is probably out of the question, but a mixture of trains, scenery and shopping will work.

What about Jim Thorpe?  It is up on the old LV mainline and if memory serves me correctly that is quite scenic up there.

Any other suggestions?

Ed

Jim Thorpe is ok, but it is geared as a tourist trap. I've been there twice on the Tunkahonnok-Jim Thorpe steam excursions the RBM&N does. They have a good pizza place and a good restaurant/bar with a covered deck. There is also a model railroad there where you can watch all sorts of non-prototypicalness go on, and a nice penny candy store. The coalmining museum is a neat look at, and the town itself looks like a slice of Europe. But still, the town hires people to drive old restored cars around. XD

Well, other than that, no. If you do end up in Scranton, the Anthracite Museum and Coal Mine Tour is a cool look, and if you swing around to Ashly PA, you can see the Huber Breaker. 

[henry6]

I believe anyplace you've never been is worth the trip...and Jim Thorpe is no exception.  Yeah, touristy.  But some neat stuff for everybody.  The Asa Packer mansion (LV President) is untouched from the day he died.  There is a museum with a fantastic model of the gravity railroad which brought the coal down the hill to the canal boats and rail cars.  The old CNJ station is a museum.  The town is old, Eurpeanish, unique in its ownright, and less than an hour's drive from Allentown.  Nearby is the Weatherly Miner's village and Ashaland mine isn't that far away either. And there are still a few trains up and down the gorge over on the LV side of the river.  A gorgeious drive by all means!

 

[MP173]

Thanks Henry....that is what I am looking for.  Quick trip, interesting stuff for both the wife and I with scenery.

Then return to Allentown area in the late afternoon for family time.

Anyone know anything about Hotel Bethlehem or Bethlehem Hotel?

Ed

[zugmann]

TrainManTy

I'm taking a trip to Eastern Pennsylvania this fall, and wondering what railroad items I should attempt to work into my trip plan. I'm traveling with non-railfans, so hardcore trainwatching like Horseshoe Curve is probably out of the question, unless you think it's really a must-see. My main railroad interest is photography, if it helps direct your recommendations.

- Steamtown has been considered, but I'm not all that into a historic train ride as it's just like the commute I do every day...except in a different train! Do they still have shop tours in the fall, and is the schedule different than the summer? I'm specifically interested in B&M 3713, which is undergoing restoration. I emailed Steamtown via their website a week ago but so far haven't heard back.

Thanks in advance!

Horseshoe curve is a great place to take non-railfans.  No, they probably won't want to spend all day there and the photography sucks, but it's kind of set up for the non-hardcore railfan. 

 

[RudyRockvilleMD]

The Lancaster area is a good bet if your party will include non-railfan friends. They can either drop you off to visit or photograph things of interest to railfans or you could drop them off at a sightseeing  attraction in the Lancaster area while you get some photos, or visit the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum in Strasburg.

Photographically speaking a good location is Christiana, PA, and the vantage point is the NRHS Lancaster  chapter's freight house. The freight house has a deck on the track side from which you can photograph the "Keystones" rounding a reverse curve through the town. The "Keystones" are Amtrak's  Harrisburg-Philly or New York trains which are hauled by AEM 7's, and they run about every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The Christiana freight house is on the east side of the tracks so it is a morning shot; the "Keystones" are a push-pull operation, and you don't know from one train to the next, or for any given train from one day to the next, whether it will be pushed or pulled. Of interest is the control cab car is a former original Metroliner car which might be worth while photographing itself.. 

[samfp1943]

RudyRockvilleMD

The Lancaster area is a good bet if your party will include non-railfan friends. They can either drop you off to visit or photograph things of interest to railfans or you could drop them off at a sightseeing  attraction in the Lancaster area while you get some photos, or visit the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum in Strasburg.

Photographically speaking a good location is Christiana, PA, and the vantage point is the NRHS Lancaster  chapter's freight house. The freight house has a deck on the track side from which you can photograph the "Keystones" rounding a reverse curve through the town. The "Keystones" are Amtrak's  Harrisburg-Philly or New York trains which are hauled by AEM 7's, and they run about every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The Christiana freight house is on the east side of the tracks so it is a morning shot; the "Keystones" are a push-pull operation, and you don't know from one train to the next, or for any given train from one day to the next, whether it will be pushed or pulled. Of interest is the control cab car is a former original Metroliner car which might be worth while photographing itself.. 

TrainManTy (Tyler) and Valpo Ed(MP173).

Rudy RockvilleMD, is a local and I am sure his info is correct and current!  I would also hope that Paul North could weigh in on the Easter Pa area.   I really like the area of Eastern Pa. Most generally, their is plenty to see and lots of reasonable place to stay, depending on what your preferences and needs are(?)

Found the following link by Googling "North American Touridst Railroads of Eastern Pa."   http://www.touristrailways.com/namerica/PENNSYLVANIA/more2.html

I think it is pretty current except for the Knox& Kane has gone away. and the Stewarts town Railroad is I think in some kind of death spiral with lawsuits likely to lead to it being taken up.

 The site has a number of links:  The WK&S RR) was a particular favorite of mine some years back, but I have no current info. Their website is within the sites linked above.

Would also mention you are not that fra from Cumberland Maryland ( I-69 runs East and West though there)  Very scenic and fairly convenient through there it is also convienient to the WM Scenic Railroad.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! I'm a little overloaded with information so I won't get around to answering everyone individually or exploring every option.

I'm mostly interested in the photographic opportunities of Lancaster County (and need to narrow all this great information down) so I think I will stick to that area for now.

What I'm mostly looking for is moving trains in a picturesque location - ruling out Horseshoe Curve and Christiana. I'll probably look at Strasburg and the East Broad Top.

How are the along-the-line photos of these two? I'm not big into train chasing (too stressful to be fun, IMHO) but I'd love to walk around and shoot some photos at a few locations. The more laid-back, the better. Alternatively, are there any high-density freight or passenger lines running through the area that I could set up along a little country road to photograph?

Thanks everyone for all the great information!

[MP173]

The plans are pretty well solidified for next week.  We will be staying at the Hotel Bethlehem, which appears to be fairly close to the NS mainline.  From the satellite shots, it appears this line crosses the river en route from Allentown Yard to the intermodal facility (old Bethlehem Steel facility???).

This will work well as I can walk over in the morning while the wife is drinking coffee.

So, I want a day trip of sorts and recalled the columns in TRP (The Railroad Press) by Mike Bednar.  I have really enjoyed reading his columns about railroading in the Lehigh Valley area.  Looking at old columns tonight and also at Google Maps, I am thinking of the Lehigh Gorge State Park, just north of Jim Thorpe. 

What are opinions of that area.  It looks interesting from the maps and satellite views.

What railroad runs on the line thru there?  I have lost my Pennsylvania DOT map...packed away somewhere.  Does anyone know of an online guide to that area?

Any other suggestions.  I dont want to turn this trip into a "lets go chase trains" trip for obvious reasons, but a couple hours would be good, particularly with scenery involved. 

I have "Lehigh VAlley in Color" by Robert Yanosey and the Lehighton and Packerton areas look interesting also.

Any fish in the river?

Ed

[henry6]

You can do a lot of day trips from Bethlehem...for trains or for family.  Scranton with Steamtown and the Trolley Museum for you, the Steamtown Mall, the Antracite Museum, etc.  is one.  Jim Thorpe is good for you and the family...not much train action, yes a tourist trap, but beautiful and historical.  Head down to Strasburg and Lancaster as was suggested.  Or zip down to Philadelphia area to see and ride all sorts of train.  Same with NJ...ride from Hackettstown, Mt. Arlington, Dover or Denville; or from High Bridge or Raritan; or just watch trains around Bound Brook...drive RT 22, not 78, across NJ to get to Pattenburg Tunnel (west portal), too.  Reading has a lot to see, but much less than yesteryear.  Riding trains into Newark and New York Penn Sta will give you views of lots of trains, more passeger than freight.  Similar train riding on Philadelphia's SEPTA services.  My vote in order of appeal for most in the broad family satisfaction (including the railffan): 1) Jim Thorpe, 2) Scranton, 3) Strasburg and Lancaster Co. The rest I listed above is all railfan stuff.

 

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

MP173

The plans are pretty well solidified for next week.  We will be staying at the Hotel Bethlehem, which appears to be fairly close to the NS mainline.  From the satellite shots, it appears this line crosses the river en route from Allentown Yard to the intermodal facility (old Bethlehem Steel facility???).

This will work well as I can walk over in the morning while the wife is drinking coffee.

So, I want a day trip of sorts and recalled the columns in TRP (The Railroad Press) by Mike Bednar.  I have really enjoyed reading his columns about railroading in the Lehigh Valley area.  Looking at old columns tonight and also at Google Maps, I am thinking of the Lehigh Gorge State Park, just north of Jim Thorpe. 

What are opinions of that area.  It looks interesting from the maps and satellite views.

What railroad runs on the line thru there?  I have lost my Pennsylvania DOT map...packed away somewhere.  Does anyone know of an online guide to that area?

Any other suggestions.  I dont want to turn this trip into a "lets go chase trains" trip for obvious reasons, but a couple hours would be good, particularly with scenery involved. 

I have "Lehigh VAlley in Color" by Robert Yanosey and the Lehighton and Packerton areas look interesting also.

Any fish in the river?

Ed 

Partial response quickly:

Be advised Musikfest is in Bethlehem from this Fri. 05 Aug. through & incl. Sun. 14 Aug.  Hotel B has its own parking, but some of the venues are in the street out front, so vehicle access could be difficult.  Might be noisy until 11 PM or so - also a lot of fun, if you like that kind of thing. 

NS main there is on the south side of the Lehigh River - lot of roadwork on the south end of the Rt. 378 bridge, so I don't know if that one is walkable or not.    The RR bridge across the River is used only by those trains that need to go to the yard, or up along the Lehigh River - through trains (including all intermodals) stay on the south side of the River all the way to/ from the south Allentown junction at Basin St. ("CP BURN") to Bethlehem. 

NS Cement Secondary behind the Hotel B sees a daily local freight, usually northbound around 10 AM, back arouind 3 - 5 PM - but that may vary account of MusikFest (it runs past or right through several of the venues).

Lines along the Lehigh River are NS from Allentown to Scranton area, and Reading & Northern from Lehighton to Penn Haven Jct., which is about 7 miles up the Lehigh River Gorge State Park from Jim Thorpe - plus, CP has rights over NS, used 1 - 2 times a day, I beleive (also see CN run-through units).  Park is hike/ bike/ raft use only - access to 3 trailheads at Jim Thorpe, White Haven, and Weatherly.  Train traffic is not too busy, but Lehigh Gorge Scenic Rwy. runs out of JT in the summer months. 

Yes, fish in the River and many other streams - incl. the Monocacy Creek below Hotel B and to the north - need license, though. 

More later. 

- Paul North. 

[MP173]

Yes, we discovered Musicfest...and the massive increase in room rates associated with it.  The lovely wife wanted HB, and she usually gets what she wants.  Plus this is a homecoming for her and visiting her father is important.

So, why my fascination with this area?  Particularly for someone who has never been there?  About 2 years ago there was a one day sale of a man who was a model railroader and railfan.  I had known him for 30 years and picked up a couple of books.  At the end of the day I went back and his wife told me to take anything I wanted.  My son had helped her with yard chores, etc. and I had pitched in.  Well, I ended up taking a huge box of Morning Sun books and magazines.  In return we helped her move things and I discarded items to recycling.

Several of the books dealt with LV, EL, Allentown, etc.  Plus there were Antracite Historical Society magazines, The Diamond (EL) magazines, etc.  The collection, plus my wife's connection with Bethlehem is making this quite an anticipated trip.

So, without going nuts on her (she is quite a sport) we will probably run up to Jim Thorpe and the Gorge one day.  If there is any local flavor up there (shortlines, etc) that would be good to know.

I will probably take my ultra lite rod and throw a few jigs or spinners to see what happens.

Any more info will be good.

Ed

[cefinkjr]

The Pennsylvania State Railroad Museum at Strasburg is an absolute must see if you're within 100 miles of it.  While you're in the neighborhood, take a look at the Strasburg Rail Road right across the street and the Toy Train Museum a little ways down the road..

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Jim Thorpe can be good for a family - once you find all-day parking (can be tough during the week, ask at the Visitor's Center in the old CNJ train station at the square in the heart of downtown).  You can stay there and study the equipment in detail; rest of family can roam the streets and little shops, a few restaurants, etc.  Walking up and down the hills to them and the Asa Packer Mansion can be a little bit of exercise, too.  See: http://www.jimthorpe.org/directions.php 

Drive to the Glen Onoko access point to the Lehigh Gorge, and check out the old railroad tunnel and alignment.  Looks like the trail across the same bridge as the RR is open yet - it's about 1 mile from downtown Jim Thorpe - see: http://jtccjimthorpe.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/perfect-time-of-year-for-the-rail-trail/  

Drive up to Summit Hill and look for the markers and remnants of the former Gravity Railroad there and along the way.

Back at Bethlehem: From the bottom of the hill in the MusikFest area, take the street west that's closest to the railroad.  "Follow your nose" about 2+ miles to stay close to the railroad and the Lehigh River, and you'll get to the NS Allentown yard, and the unique opportunity to view the hump from up close - stone parking area on the other side of the road. 

Maybe more later. 

- Paul North. 

[MP173]

Excellent info Paul.

The wife just gave me a pass for "that train stuff" for a day. 

Thanks,

Ed

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Some "train-related" info and businesses in Jim Thorpe: http://www.jimthorpe.org/trains.php 

Looks like Lehigh Gorge Scenic Rwy. is running Weds. - Sun. rest of August - see:

http://www.lgsry.com/schedule.html 

Reading & Northern Railroad System Map - looks like R&N owns the tracks to Scranton, not NS, but NS and CP must have trackage rights of some sort: http://www.readingnorthern.com/map.shtml 

If you hike/ bike the trail north from Glen Onoko, portions of it run along the base of a stone retaining wall, on top of which is the LGSRy's track.  You can get a unique view there of the underside of the cars and locomotives as they pass by overhead at 10 - 15 MPH. 

Lehigh Gorge State Park info: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/StateParks/parks/lehighgorge.aspx 

Maps: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/StateParks/parks/lehighgorge/lehighgorge_maps.aspx 

Park map: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/StateParks/parks/lehighgorge/lehighgorge_mini.pdf 

Glen Onoko detail: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/StateParks/parks/lehighgorge/lehighgorge_glenonoko.pdf 

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/StateParks/parks/lehighgorge/lehighgorge_glenonoko.pdf

Good outfit for local info on renting bikes, boats, and a shuttle for the same, etc. - maybe some info on fishing, too - is Blue Mountain Sports - see: http://www.bikejimthorpe.com/ 

Excellent outfit for rafting adventures is Pocono Whitewater - see: http://www.poconowhitewater.com/ 

Likewise, back in Bethlehem, walk south through MusikFest and go past the Station Inn and cross over the short Lehigh Canal bridge onto Sand Island - sometimes there are CP locos parked along the parking lot on the right that you can get pretty close to without getting into trouble.

Once onto Sand Island - look for the Fritsch Fuels sign - turn right and walk about 200 yds.  You'll see where the eastern access to the Allentown yard crosses over a short and low deck girder bridge, then launches out onto the multi-span bridge across the Lehigh River to the south side.   Since everything else around the track is "park", again you can get pretty close and have a different view from underneath. 

Canal towpath to the east has some nice views of the South Side and trains pausing for the intermodal shuffle.  To the west parallels the yard, but too much vegetation for great views. 

- Paul North. 

[MP173]

Paul:

Thanks for the numerous links.  This area looks like a dream for me:  1. Trains 2. Biking, 3.  Possible fishing 4.  Great scenery. 

Cannot wait - heading out tomorrow morning. 

The Reading and Northern looks like a well run operation.  Gonna attempt a sales call on them while out that way. 

Does anyone know when R&N runs into Lehighton to interchange?  Also, it appears the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway will be running when we are there.  Is that the same line which CP, NS and R&N runs?  Are freight operations banned during the time of the passenger trains?

Thanksk,

Ed

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

You're quite welcome, Ed. 

No idea on the R&N's schedule, and couldn't find anything in "the usual places".  Check this one from 2 years ago for some more info about the Bethlehem-Allentown area, though:

http://www.parailfan.com/Guides/ns_allentown_bethlehem.html 

It's the same line as in the tracks on the same R-O-W and are parallel and less than 30 ft. apart, but a better description would be parallel independent main tracks.  I believe that freights can and do run while the passenger operations are underway - that's one reason it ends just short of Penn Haven Jct., as I understand it, because the lines cross each other there (not real confident, though).  See this abstract from the NS timetable, pages 3 and 4 of 4: http://www.parailfan.com/NS/lehigh_line_tt.pdf   I'm not aware of any 'curfew' on the freight operations.

Most mornings I hear a southbound CP or NS freight passing through Northampton -  Catasauqua in the 7 - 7:30 AM time frame; occasionally another around noon.  Other than that, seems random to me. 

To go north to Jim Thorpe from Bethlehem, instead of the PA Turnpike NorthEast Extension (I-476), I recommend picking up PA Rt. 145 (a/k/a N. 7th St. in Allentown, & MacArthur Rd. for a few miles above that) either from Rt. 22 West, or via a bunch of local roads through East Allentown and "Catty", N. Catty, and Northampton, depending on how adventurous you are.  Alternatively, getting to Rt. 145 just before Egypt (!) via Rt. 329 through Northampton and Cementon isn't hard either, and you'll cross the NS Lehigh Line at Northampton and go near the following rail-trails: 1) Nor-Bath; 2) D&L (ex-LVRR); 3) Ironton.  It's a fairly scenic ride northwards, and you'll catch glimpses of the Lehigh Line until north of Walnutport.  From there to Lehighton you'll be mostly parallel and within a couple hundred ft. of it, esp. through the scenic Lehigh Gap and winding along the Lehigh River with it for several miles up through Bowmanstown and Parryville to Weissport.            

Good luck with all of your endeavors, and have fun !

- Paul North. 

[MP173]

Thanks Paul.

If you are in the area of HB, let me know by PM and I will buy you a cup of coffee in appreciation of all the help and the conversation all these years.

 

Ed

[MP173]

MP173's Eastern Adventure, Day 1

We drove to Lewisburg, Pa on Wednesday, then after a campus tour of Bucknell University, proceeded south to Sunbury.  Old PRR signals are still in existance on the line.  Headed east to Jim Thorpe, Pa and crossed tracks several times, but saw no trains.  My guess and it is only a guess is that most of the lines are the Reading and Northern.

Jim Thorpe absolutely is a WOW spot.  Geographically it is simply amazing.  The Lehigh River carves an incredible gorge thru the area.  The LVGR runs a train, which was the only train I saw all day.  The train is powered by a R&N GP50 type with several cars.

Drove up to Flagstaff Park and attempted to recreate the panoramic view of Jim Thorpe, as depicted in Trackside around Allentown 1947 - 1968 by Arthur Angstadt, but the trees restricted the view of the railroads.  The view was spectacular.

I would have enjoyed snooping around Packerton and Lehighton, but the wife was really anxious to see her father.

Great area, particularly for this midwestern boy.

More tomorrow.

Ed