[PRCo] Steamtown Trolleys

[Bob Rathke]

Harold is correct.

I visited Steamtown last year, and it was time well spent.  It's well run,
and educational for everyone.  They even have a steam locomotive from
Spang-Chalfant Co.in Etna, Pa., though it won't be running anytime soon
(it's cut in half to show how a steam locomotive works).

Scranton-Wilkes Barre reminds me of the area around the Allegheny National
Forest in northwestern Pa.  Very scenic.

The trolley line wasn't open when I was at Steamtown, but I really enjoyed
the evening at the old DL&W railroad station in Scranton which is now a
hotel and fine restaurant - it reminds me a lot of the Grand Concourse at
Station Square in Pittsburgh.  See a couple of photos I took on 6/7/00 at:

http://gelwood.railfan.net/bldg/dlw-scr-sta-er.jpg

http://gelwood.railfan.net/bldg/dlw-scr-sta-ar.jpg

Bob 11/13/01

------------------------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----
From: "Harold Geissenheimer" <transitmgr at worldnet.att.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2001 9:48 AM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Steamtown Trolleys


>
> 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 ]
> > >
> > >
>
>