Pennsylvania railroad attractions

[zugmann]

Paul_D_North_Jr

zugmann 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. 

[MMLDelete]

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/

 

That looks great. Thanks.

 

It turns out that we will not be in Poughkeepsie (actually Wappingers Falls) because we are now not going to be stopping to see our friends there. Instead, we will be starting that day from Northampton MA, and the Beacon-Newburgh bridge will be as close as we get to Poughkeepsie on this trip.

 

But we periodically are in Wappingers, and will check out the bridge at some point. That's really cool that they preserved it in that way. I'd love to backpack a lunch, walk all the way across, eat, rest up a bit, then return. Every time we drive across the Hudson I'm rubbernecking and it terrifies my wife. This way would be better for everybody. That is a gorgeous, grand area.

 

 

[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/

[MMLDelete]

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!

[MidlandMike]

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

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

"+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. 

[Backshop]

Jim Thorpe, PA is nice.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thorpe,_Pennsylvania

[Lithonia Operator]

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.