Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the old Tamaqua Rail Station is still standing after more than 140 yrs. have passed by. Built in 1874 it was a major Train Station from Tamaqua to many other towns and city’s North & South of here. Used for many years, it closed it’s doors in 1961 due to declining rail travel & coal hauling. It was abandoned in 1981 and sat empty until a 1.5 million dollar restoration brought the station back to it’s former glory.
This is what the Station looked like before the restoration.
Located on the Historic grounds is this PP&L 4093 Steam Cooker Engine that was once used to haul coal & goods from Tamaqua. Still in great shape, it is now a display piece.
This is not my Image and I must give credit to Paul Koprowski. Here he shows the old PP&L Engine dressed up for kids rides. The old steam engine here is coming in to the Tamaqua Rail Station. The tracks are still used North & South to this day.
Since the Tamaqua Train Station is located in Coal Country, this is what 1 ton of coal looks like that is in a Coal cart. This is what was used to haul Coal out of the Mines by horse & mule in the early days when Coal was King in this area. How would you like to load 16 of these everyday by pick and shovel using a candle for light? This is what was done so long ago.
Thanks for stopping by.
Les
PHOTOJOURNAL OF CORKER2 