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Laurel Line Relics |
January 27, 2006
Laurel Line, 2005On the first warm days of spring, the webmaster was out on his mountain bike, looking at some construction, near the old Right-Of-Way of the Laurel Line. In the background, behind the Wilkes-Barre Connecting RR bridge, is steelwork of a new office building.
Compare the above views with this one from our 2002 calendar. It shows a December 1952 view of the Laurel Line in Plains, PA. (Carl Packer Collection)
Restoration of Laurel Line Route ContinuesOn a recent trip to Scranton on I-81, the Webmaster noticed that poles and wire along the old Laurel Line Right-Of-Way have been installed. Recent articles in local newspapers said trolley service is to be extended to the Lackawanna County Visitor's Center on Montage Mountain.
Lackawanna County Visitor's Center
Construction Site below Visitors Center
End of Wire at Montage Mountain Road
Newly Constructed Siding
Trolley Returns to Scranton for SpringWYOU TV22 reports that the trolley has returned to Scranton for the Spring. The first runs will be to the Iron Furnaces. It is planned to have the runs extended to the Visitor's Center by Memorial Day.
Laurel Line, Yesterday and Today
The bottom picture taken at about the same location shows a new office building in the area of the former Laurel Line Right-of-Way. This area was occupied by a fuel company in the 1980's and was vacant for many years. Now an office park is being built on the site and the old Laurel Line.
Prospect Viaduct SiteA 2004 view of the Prospect Viaduct Site. Almost all traces of it are gone as the land has been graded to a new contour. This picture was taken in the parking lot on the other side of the new commercial development shown in the above picture. A slight hill before the Cross Valley Expressway is the only trace to be found. The viaduct cut diagonally from the right foreground of this picture, across River Street.
Laurel Line Station Skylight
A picture of the Skylight from the original Wilkes-Barre Laurel Line Station. This is a stained glass panel. It is on display in the Lackawanna Trolley Museum next to the Steamtown National Historic Site. The stained glass panel is from Ed Miller's extensive collection of Laurel Line photographs and artifacts.
One of the Last Standing Laurel Line StationsHere is a shot of the Laurel Line Freight Station in Pittston, PA, off of Market Street. Under the white and gray paint, the typical stone blocks and brick of Laurel Line buildings can still be made out.
Laurel Line Right-Of-Way, PittstonThese views are next to the Pittston Freight Station. Now a pool and park is on the general site of the right-of-way. The first street after the park is Market Street. There is a cinder easement that cars are parked on that extends to Pine Street. This is the old roadbed.
In these views, we see a road pass the pool building. The road is the approximate right-of-way. Several of Ed Miller's photos were taken at this location, but from a different angle.
Avoca Viaduct AbutmentsIn Avoca and Pittston Twp, abutments and related stone work of the L&W V's Avoca viaduct still remain. It is hard to imagine a huge bridge spanning the large empty space once stood at this site. Some old lineside poles are scattered along the right-of-way on the Pittston Twp. side. The abutments stand out in these photos due to the light covering of snow. The green iron truss span is the Heidleburg Viaduct, a road bridge.
There are some more small abutments and culverts on the Avoca side. Remains of the Right-of-Way are in the backs of yards in a quiet, residential neighborhood. Interstate 81 runs just above the old line.
Small Abutment, Avoca
Another relic of the Laurel Line is the Crown Avenue Tunnel. Note the year on the keystone of the tunnel - 1905. The tunnel is said to be almost a mile long. Here are some views before the line was refurbished and put back into use.
In the North End section of Wilkes-Barre, along the Susquehanna River, beams from an old Laurel Line trestle still span Mill Creek. This is the site of a former canal aqueduct. The aqueduct crossed the creek at about the same place as the Laurel Line trestle.
These two scenes were photographed in 1995 during a "High Water Event" along the Susquehanna. Notice the water backed up behind the trestle.
The former Laurel Line trackage in the North End of Wilkes-Barre was last operated by Conrail, circa 1976. The webmaster remembers walking the roadbed in the early 1980's. The track was removed and ties were piled up here and there. The ties piled behind the cemetery were set on fire and burned in a spectacular fire.
Layers of History - North Branch CanalA short distance away from the location of the above photos of the Laurel Line Trestle in North End is what appears to be the remains of the North Branch canal. In addition to the Laurel Line tracks, the Lehigh Valley ran along here. There are also remains of a narrow gauge mine railroad and trestle. Hidden by foliage most of the year, remains of the canal are clearly seen in these views from the early spring of 2000. A wall almost 5 feet high lines one side of the depression that is almost 15 feet wide.
This historical marker tells that a boat basin was located on the present site of the Luzerne County Court House. The above photos were taken about a mile from the Court House.
Rail, Wilkes-BarreIn the parking lot of the Luzerne County Court House, a single rail of the Laurel Line remains. Barely visible is the strip of dirt that the tracks once were.
Remains, Vicinity of Carey Ave, PlainsThe first two pictures are views looking to the former Plains High School. The first shot shows the remains of the abutment. The sectond shot shows the overgrown Right-Of-Way. The Student Handbook said "under no circumstances are any students to go on the trestle" that once stood on this spot. The second two pictures show the other side of Carey Ave. The earthen berm is clearly seen as are ties on top of the berm.
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