Just North of my home is the historic Coal Mining town of Tamaqua that has been a important place of history in the early 20th century. I have been here once or twice before, but this time there have been some little changes to the area where Coal was King long ago.
This is the old Tamaqua Train Station that has been here for a long time. Built in 1874 by the Philadelphia & Reading RR there was once more than 40 passenger & Coal trains that stopped here in the 1st half of the 20th Century. The Train Station is now no longer used as it used to be, but is still very active. It has been converted into a Restraunt & small museum for the public to learn of the past. Passenger trains still stop here on their way North to the historic town of Jim Thorpe for Fall Foliage. The trains leave from a station about a 10 min. drive from my home. You can have a choice of a Steam driven train or a more modern one that follows the same tracks as was done long ago. This is a very popular time when the leaves are in full color. On Sat. & Sundays, the parking lot is full so bad that people have to be turned away. I don’t ride that train because it’s a bit expensive & I know how to drive up there. It’s cheaper!
A old Caboose from long ago. These you just don’t see much of anymore.
This is a sign that is newly added to the Park.
At one time there were 2 sets of train tracks here to handle the amount of trains that used to pass thru here. If you look close on the right of the image, you can still see where the other tracks were. They have been long removed since there is no use to them anymore. When the Steam driven trains stop here, the Station is just full of people who want to see & photograph the old trains. I haven’t seen them stop here, yet.
As you can see, the Fall Color is pretty much at peak up there. The Town of Tamaqua & surrounding area is always about a week ahead of us down here. Next week it will be more colorful here, as it always is.
Thank you for stopping by.
Les
PHOTOJOURNAL OF CORKER2 