Thought you might all enjoy this photo from northeast.railfan.net website. The line on the bridge was known as the “Laurel Line” that had a route from Wilkes-Barre to Scranton, Pennsylvania and which part of that line now is used for fan excursions at the trolley museum on the property adjacent to Steamtown. The location for this photo is in on the Dupont side of the border with Avoca. The two rail lines below the bridge are the Lehigh Valley (foreground) and D&H (background). Further in the photo, there is an auto bridge on the right side and just past that, out of site, both rail lines cross each other. Because of flooding damage from tropical storm Agnes, the lines built an interconnection in 1973 or 1974?
I grew up less than a mile from here but never saw the Laurel Line because I was born after it ceased operations. But many a summer night, I’d hear the whistles and train sounds emanating from both main lines as they traveled back and forth. The D&H also had a lengthy passing siding through the town just a bit again to the right and out of sight of the photo. My dad passed a few years back but while I was visiting and he was reminiscing, he discussed his high school years, specifically during WW2. The school overlooked the D&H line and he said that regularly they would jump from their seats during class and wave to the “troop trains” that would often go by. The teachers all supported that - certainly times were different!
The Laurel Line bridge is long gone and as I recall, it was dismantled in the early 1960s. But the bridge abutment on the left of the picture was removed I’m guessing only a half dozen years ago. My dad also told me stories about the Laurel line’s 3rd rail. He chuckled too when he said that the ladies would complain about the cinders flying from the trains on both the LV and D&H as they would land on the clothes that they had just hung on the line to dry! Again, times were different.
Alas, I was also too young to see or at least remember steam going through the town, but I do relish memories of getting trapped in our car between the LV and D&H lines as sometimes the trains would both pass through the town simultaneously. It was fun to count the rail cars and bet as to whether there was a pushing engine and additionally, which train would pass by first. In the summer you could always get the fellow in the DH caboose to wave! Periodically there was a bonus as the D&H may have had another train on the passing siding, so there would be three trains for enjoyment. Again based on recollection, I believe the D&H traveled through more frequently than the LV. I just wish that someone had photos to share of steamers going through the town and especially where the Laurel Line crossed both main lines.
I hope you all enjoy this info.
