[PRCo] Re: Steamtown Trolleys

[Harold Geissenheimer]

Greetings to all

The Scranton-Wilkes Barre area has much in common with the
West Penn Coke area except that they mine hard (anthracite) coal.
Hard working people settled here and helped build the USA.  Much
like Pittsburgh (and Kenosha).

There were mine cave ins, undergtround fires, etc.  One of the street
car lines (Plymouth?) ran in one of these areas.

Electric railways were important here.  The Laurel Line was a third
rail interurban from Scranton to Wilkes Barre (trolley wire in WB).
The Wilkes Barre & Hazleton was another third rail interurban.
Scranton Transit ran in Scranton and connected with the Wilkes Barre
Rys.  Wilkes Barre Rys had lots of PRW and long suburban lines.  It
was one of America's most interesting trolley systems.

Scranton was known as the Electric City because it was one of the
first electric trolley lines in the USA.  A different system from the
Richmond Sprague system.

All in all a rich electric railway heritage here.  Arden's good friend (and
mine)
Edward S Miller lives in the area in Pittston, Pa.  Ed serves as a guide at
Steamtown.  His photos cover the walls at the trolley museum.  Noted
author and historian Harold Cox lives in Forty Fort

During the late 1940's I visited the area often.  I belonged to a small
Anthracite Division of the ERA and enjoyed many fan trips, etc with
a nice group of people.  Later in the National Guard, I served with
Guardsmen from the area.  Jim Langan from Scranton lives near me
in New Jersey.

Nearby are the Poconos, one of America's scenic resorts as well as
a coal mine museum at Jim Thorpe.  Believe me, there are worse
areas for a tourist to visit.  Take a look sometime at the area served
by the West Penn.  Our civilization left a scar on the surface.

Sysstra Consulting (where I am associated) has worked on the the
Steamtown trolley and extension as well as the proposed rail line to NYC
putting back the DL&W.  I have also worked on the Scranton bus system.

Moving Steamtown to Scranton was a sincere attempt to bring tourism
into a depressed area.  Better become a tourist attraction than throw the
area in the garbage can.

Its easy to reach the area off the Interstates.  Worth a visit..  Come on over.

And the former trolley lines are worth tracing as well as the old railroads
(DL&W, LV, CNJ/Pa, etc).  Lots of history.

Harold Geissenheimer


"Edward H. Lybarger" wrote:

> They're even leveling some of the gob piles in order that new pizza palaces
> can be built.  Helps the economy, you know.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
> [mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of John
> F Bromley
> Sent: Monday, November 12, 2001 8:32 AM
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Steamtown Trolleys
>
> What, the grass-covered slag heaps aren't a tourist attraction?  Guess I'd
> better cancel my trip.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dietrich, Robert J." <Robert.Dietrich at unisys.com>
> To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> Sent: Monday, November 12, 2001 7:53 AM
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Steamtown Trolleys
>
> >
> > All of them Fred!
> >
> > Look at the Subject of this thread - "STEAMTOWN trolleys".  There is but
> one
> > reason to be a tourist in Scranton and that is Steamtown.  So, except for
> > the crazed steam nuts that hate the singing wire most Scranton tourists
> will
> > be happy to ride through the tunnel.
> >
> > Bob
> >
> >  -----Original Message-----
> > From: Fred W. Schneider III [mailto:fschnei at supernet.com]
> > Sent: Friday, November 09, 2001 5:22 PM
> > To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> > Subject: [PRCo] Re: Steamtown Trolleys
> >
> >
> > How many tourists do you think will pay to ride through a tunnel and
> > along an interstate highway?  Now if Disney was promoting it...
> >
> > ROGER Jenkins wrote:
> > >
> > > Actually the trolleys here began running from the excursion loading
> > > platform in the spring to the former  Laurel Line Brady Yard and then to
> > > the iron furnace.  The next extension is to open for operation later
> > > this year or next spring , thru the 5000ft L&WV tunnel to the Montague
> > > Visitors center [Davis St exit at I-81 ]  The article says five miles
> > > total but not sure that is acurate. Service was provided by Red Arrow
> > > Lines center door car.  [INFO from Railpace Mag july issue ]
> >
> >