More Laurel Line Relics

Chapter Charters a Trolley

On Sunday, November 17th, 2002 the Chapter chartered a trolley from the Electric City Trolley Museum. 29 Chapter members filled the car for a special trip on the historic Laurel Line Right-of-Way. Numerous photo runbys were held inside the Crown Avenue Tunnel, at both portals, on the bridge over Roaring Brook Creek, and at the end of wire. Photos by Neil and Brian Wienberg.

Trolley Crossing Roaring Brook Creek

Chapter Members at Portal of Tunnel

Trolley in front of Laurel Line Freight Station, Scranton

Trolley at Crown Avenue Tunnel Portal

Behind the Avoca Viaduct Abutment, Pittston

The webmaster went to get some shots from the old bridge abutment. About 3 years ago in the summer the webmaster photographed the area. Now there were no leaves on the trees or foliage to hide things.

View from abutment

Rock Cut and former Laurel Line ROW

Remains of Lineside poles

Some Laurel Line Third Rail Insulators

Rail, Pittston ???

Could this be a piece of the Laurel Line, with the third rail ? The webmaster spotted it by accident in the lot of Ridolfi Bros. Dodge in Pittston, while checking the price on a new Neon. It looks like it could have been the Laurel Line.

Laurel Line Right-Of-Way, Inkerman

Some trackage remains near a soccer field in Inkerman. On top of an earthen berm is a overgrown line of white birch and locust trees. Among the trees are two rails and ties.

The square tip of a building in the upper right of this picture is the old Pittston Hospital. Beyond it is the Susquehanna River.

The present day right of way among the overgrowth of trees.

"End of Rail" at what was once a trestle and bridge abutment. The trestles were removed from the mid to late 1980's. PennDot deemed them a clearance hazard and there were no use for the lines. The Webmaster almost crashed his car into the bridge abutment that was once here shortly after the webmaster got his drivers license. This is Thompson Street in these two views.

Here are some old ties and a section of rail at the trestle site.

Laurel Line Dupont Station Stop

A concrete abutment and stone retaining wall is all that is left of the Dupont Station Stop. The Pittston Bypass is now on the site of the original right-of-way. Laurel Street is the road in the photo. In the far background is the overpass for the bypass.

Laurel Line Freight Only Branch

Here are some present day views of the Laurel Line's Frieght Only Minooka Branch. Orignally serving a colliery, the branch was extended to an industrial plot in Moosic to boost online traffic. Currently the branch serves several industries in the Corey Street area. The lone track is overshadowed by the new Montage Mountain Interchange and busy Montage Mountain Road.

Grade Crossing at Montage Mountain Road, and I-81 Interchange

Track looking toward Virgina

Signals at Grade Crossing

Erie Trackage to Avoca

Looking south across Montage Mountain Road to Avoca, we see ex-Erie Trackage. From Virginia south to Avoca the trackage was ex-Erie. From Virginia into Scranton was the original Laurel Line trackage.

Remains of Laurel Line Right-of-Way, Hilldale

Traces of the Laurel Line Right of Way can stll be seen in the Saylor Terrace development, in the Hilldale section of Plains Twp. A 20 foot earthen berm divides the develpment from Main Street, Hilldale. Some ties can still be seen on the top of the berm.

Behind these houses is a berm that was once the Laurel Line

Laurel Line Right Of Way in back yards of homes at Saylor Terrace

Inside the Crown Avenue Tunnel

This shots were taken from a Trolley Trip through the Crown Avenue Tunnel. All of the children on the trolley were mesmerised during the trip through the tunnel. The ride was a lot of fun.

Laurel Line, Yesterday and Today

 

The top photo, from our 1998 calendar shows a May 1941 view of the Laurel Line downtown Wilkes-Barre. Ed Miller Photo.

The bottom picture show the present day King's College Book Store on the left. It was a bike shop before being sold to the College. The buildings on the right are part of King's College campus. Parking lots have replace the Laurel Line Right of Way in this view.