NKP 514 leads a four car consist of coaches over the
Lackawanna River in Olyphant (PA) on August 17th after departing from Steamtown
earlier on the morning of August 17th. The D&H built these
identical trestles in 1904 and 1906 to carry four tracks through this area on
what was known as the Penn Division. Called the Heritage Explorer Train, this
sold-out excursion was sponsored by Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and
State Heritage Area, its destination was Carbondale’s (PA) annual Ethnic
Heritage Festival. As to the significance of this location, Olyphant was where
my father lived as a child and my godmother resided until her passing. Every
time we drive over this grade crossing, I would look out the window and hope to
see a train. Alas, that vision never happened until August 17th when I
photographed this excursion. With that being accomplished, that item can be
crossed off my "bucket list".
The wait is over for this group of photographers that
waited patiently trackside for the Lehigh Limited’s passage at Bloomsbury (NJ).
NS 3031 leads M&E 18 and NJT 4802 along with sixteen coaches past the Agway
Building on August 24. People driving along Staats Road would sometimes stop to
inquire what everyone was waiting for. That response was "...its a specail
excursion train called the Lehigh Limited..." followed by a brief explanation of
what this train was and its significance. The train’s passage through Bloomsbury
definitely generated lots of interest for both railfans and non-railfans
alike. Later in the day, its return route was via the Washington
Secondary with M&E Alco leading the way here as it passed bythe Port Murray
depot.
