Lucky me managed to arrange a 2-3 week business trip (TDY for the military folk) to Tobyhanna PA. Apparently this isn’t too far from Scranton. Any suggestions on what would be the best railroad related sites to see. I’ll be staying in the Radisson hotel which is apparently a renovated train station. Thanks Mark ------------------ Ratcals Red Ale
Scranton is the home of the Steamtown National Historic Site, which is the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western roundhouse complex and contains most of Nelson Blount's former collection of steam power. Several locomotives operate at times on the Delaware-Lackawanna, a short line operating on former DL&W and D&H trackage.
....and Tobyhanna is, I believe, on or near the former DL & W line as it climbs south eastwards towards the summit of the Poconos before dropping down towards suburban and urban New Jersey and the Hoboken terminus. There are many good websites about the DL & W (one of my favourite "fallen flags") and Scranton and there is a great deal of very interesting railway history about this area to assimilate. I hope you really enjoy your trip! Ben
If you are not very far from Scranton, then you aren't far from Strausburg either. Two other rail related points of interest in Scranton: Lakawanna Station - built as the Corporate Headquaters for the Lakawanna RR as well as a rather grand station. It has in the main coucourse, among other things, a Tiffany glass ceiling. If you are talking about staying at the Raddison in Scranton, I believe this is it. By-the-way, the restaurant in the main concourse is very excellent. Another point of interest is the new trolley museum, which is right next to Steamtown. Finally, as a change of pace, you can tour a formerly active coal mine while you are in the Scranton area. ------------------ Peirce Behrendt Southbury, CT peirce@ibm.net
Some photos would be appreciated Mark! Hurry back and have a safe trip. ------------------ Watash #982 "See you in the Pit"
Thanks for the info guys. I don't really know how much free time I'm going to have. As it is my parents live in Pittsburgh and they're trying to talk me into going there for a weekend. And if that wasn't enough, my brother is stationed in Dayton and he's trying to talk me into going there (should have never told them I was coming). Anyway the Radisson hotel is in Scranton and is the old Lackawana Station: The Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, Scranton's only luxury full service hotel offers Unparalleled Service, Uncompromising Quality and Unsurpassed Hospitality. Built in 1908 and widely considered one of the most beautiful railroad terminals in the East, this breathtaking neo-Classical structure is listed with the US. National Register of Historic Places. Today, as The Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, this landmark has been restored to a level of beauty, opulence and service reminiscent of legendary world-class hotels. The crowning achievement was the revitalization of the Grand Lobby, which incorporated the dramatically ornamented mosaic tile floor, the barrel vaulted Tiffany stained-glass ceiling, the rare Siena marble walls and the unique faience tile murals that surround the Grand Lobby. Nothin' like living in the lap of luxury! I'll see what I can do for photos. Mark ------------------ Ratcals Red Ale [This message has been edited by Ratcals (edited 22 January 2001).]
I went too strausburg in 1999 thats where they have a restored GG1. if you like i can post a couple of pictures from there ------------------ Regards Paul #1-Moderator & Member number 50 SPAD Investigator #1 ICQ 61198217 http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ratcals: Thanks for the info guys. I don't really know how much free time I'm going to have. As it is my parents live in Pittsburgh and they're trying to talk me into going there for a weekend. Mark <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Hmm... why do you compromise and meet in Altoona? I would check out the Pa. State Website at: http://www.state.pa.us/PAPower/ You can find a lot of information, maps, travel, and tourist information. Harold ------------------ Harold Hodnett Fan of NS, CSX, and their predecessors! Coming soon: The North Carolina Railfan Web Site http://www.trainweb.org/ncrail/
Yep! We're talking about the same place. When I was at Steamtown about two months ago one of their train rides went out to the Lakawanna Station and our Park Ranger/Guide took us on a little tour of the main floor and gave us sime if its history. Here is a little more trivia. When the Lackawana RR first built the station it cost a little over $500,000. It was abandoned by Conrail and was heavily valdalized in the years before the Hilton organization bought it and did the restoration. They spent over $14 million. Now, as we know, it is being run by Raddison. ------------------ Peirce Behrendt Southbury, CT peirce@ibm.net
