(rshsdepot) DL's Laurel Line-South Scranton Tunnel once again active with electrics!

["jdent1_@_optonline.net" <jdent1@optonline.net>]

More on the South Scranton Tunnel from the EL list=2E=2E=2E

- -----Original Message-----
From: David J=2E Monte Verde [mailto:dmvgvt_@_earthlink=2Enet]
Sent: Friday, September 20, 2002 2:10 PM


A few additions on the attached=2E The tunnel is 4755 feet long, it is
concrete lined at both ends, raw rock 1/3 of the way in from both ends and=

concrete  lined in the center=2E The last L&WV trolley to operate through =
the
tunnel was on December 31, 1952, almost 50 years ago=2E The tunnel had a
gauntlet track plus a third rail for propulsion, and was quite a swampy du=
mp
prior to being rehabbed, but the tunnel structure was in remarkably great
shape considering there was zero maintenance on the tunnel in over 50 year=
s!
Prior to being rehabbed the tunnel was last used by Pocono Northeast train=
s
to reach Scranton in the mid 1980's=2E Freight service by the DL commenced=

through the rehabbed tunnel on "9-11-01", out through Little Virginia and =
up
the Minooka Industrial Track to Compression Polymer's, the DL's largest
customer, all former Laurel Line track that was totally rehabbed with  new=

rail and new 115 lb=2E rail=2E

Unofficial revenue runs commenced  on August 16 with the official ribbon
cutting & festivities held yesterday September 19th, the power line for th=
e
trolley ends just south of the new Stafford Avenue Bridge which was replac=
ed
and designed to look just like the tunnel portal, by Penn DOT=2E  Ribbon
Cutting festivities were held just outside the south portal of the tunnel,=

just about where the Laurel Line South Scranton station(shelter stood)=2E

Check out the attached link for all of the details
http://www=2Evisitnepa=2Eorg/trolly=2Ehtm

Enjoy David MV

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "William Gallagher WA3RA" <ks3y_@_prodigy=2Enet>
To: <erielack_@_lists=2Erailfan=2Enet>

> Hello, All!
>
> Restoration work, rewiring, and relighting the Crown Ave Tunnel undernea=
th
> South Scranton has been completed, and the restored trolleys began runni=
ng
> through it officially today=2E
>
> The tunnel is brick-lined, and extends for about a mile under the south
side
> of the city, entering just across the Roaring Brook from the Brady Lead,=

and
> exiting parallel to Interstate 81 near the former L&WV (Laurel Line)
> Virginia station stop=2E
>
> The trolleys are planned to continue on to the new Lackawanna County
> Visitor's Center on Montage Mountain, close to the site of the former
Moffat
> Colliery=2E (Trolleys may also be used in the future to serve the Lackaw=
anna
> County Stadium (home of the Triple-A Philadelphia Philles minor league
team,
> The Red Barons), and the Montage Mountain Center for the Performing Arts=
,
a
> 30,000 seat capacity open-air venue=2E)
>
> The tunnel, constructed in the early 20th century, was built to provide =
a
> safer and more economical way for the Laurel Line's electric interurbans=

and
> freights to gain access to Wilkes-Barre than the dangerous trip over the=

> grade from Downtown Scranton to the top of the mountain, where the L&WV
> paralleled the Erie's Wyoming Division=2E Eastbound trains (to Nay Aug,
> Petersburg, and the Erie No=2E 6 junction) continued to use the steep gr=
ade=2E
>
> The tunnel became the property of the DL&W in the late '50s, and the
> Lackawanna had run the L&WV as a branch for freight (Minooka) since 1953=
=2E
>
> Electrical service is now provided by overhead catenary, as opposed to t=
he
> third-rail 600-volt system of the L&WV days=2E
>
>
>
> Later!
>
> Bill G=2E
>



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