Nay Aug Falls

Nay Aug Falls, this morning about 10:45. The weather was rather unpleasant this morning, so we didn't stay down here for too long.

Number 5 Dam

On the second expedition, I was able to get a better photo of the Number 5 Dam. On an old map from 1888, this was simply shown as the New Dam.

Laurel Line: Minooka Branch

One one of the ore mine expeditions, we spotted this stonework alongside the Minooka Branch. None of us had any idea of what this was part of. All that is certain is that it appears to be part of a foundation.

Lackawanna Railroad: Scranton

A little further east, new ties were placed alongside the tracks. This was part of a tie replacement project, which has since been completed. In the background is Lackawanna Station, to the right, the University of Scranton.

Lackawanna Railroad: Scranton

We spotted this tracklaying equipment behind Lackawanna Station a couple weeks ago.

Erie Railroad: Wyoming Division

Winter is settling in early along the Erie. The big rock cut between milepost 14 and West Junction is covered in ice.

Pennsylvania Coal Company RR: A Rock Cut

Another view, looking down into the rock cut. A few drill marks in the rock are visible.

Pennsylvania Coal Company RR: A Rock Cut

I think I figured out what this cut was from. Looking at an 1877 map, this appears to be a cut through the rock for the loaded track from the Pennsylvania Coal Company's gravity railroad. This is just a short distance north (towards Dunmore) from the unnamed creek. It's also just below the Erie tracks, which were once the location of the light track back to Plains Junction.

Nay Aug Falls

Nay Aug Falls, about 10:30 this morning. It's starting to ice up down here.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co: Ore Mines

We suspect that at some point after the mining operation was abandoned, charges were placed on the mountainside, blasting heavy rocks down across the mine openings. Sticking the camera under one of the large rocks shows a jumble of rock and debris.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co: Ore Mines

On Tuesday the expedition team made the third trip down to the Lackawanna Iron Ore Mines. There was a light dusting of snow when we got down there. Here's a view of one of the mines.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co Railroad

Once the line crosses the Erie's right-of-way, it runs along this path, just below the Erie's tracks, for probably close to a mile. The Erie tracks would be on the top of the embankment on the left.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co Railroad

Last Friday we searched out the remaining parts of the Iron Ore railroad. Once the right-of-way comes around the corner of Moosic Mountain, it runs along this ridge just above the Erie's Wyoming Division trackage. As near as we can figure, this line opened in 1842 to provide iron ore to the Scranton Iron Furnaces. It ran by gravity inbound, and mules hauled the empty cars back to the mines. This line not only predates the Erie's Wyoming Division, but also the Pennsylvania Coal Company's gravity road.

Steamtown

We also saw Canadian Pacific 2317 at Steamtown on Saturday from the observation bridge. In the background is the former Lackawanna Railroad roundhouse. In the distance is Scranton's west side.

Lackawanna Railroad: Scranton

On Saturday we saw this train idling along Ridge Row in Scranton. The railroad is replacing alot of ties in this stretch of track, hence all the new ties along the right-of-way. In the distance is the Community Medical Center. The University of Scranton is on the left.

Nay Aug Falls

Nay Aug Falls, just before 11 o'clock this morning. All that rain yesterday sure has made Roaring Brook really Roar.

Lackawanna Ore Mine Expedition Team

This is the group that came together to locate and explore the Lackawanna Iron Ore mine and railroad. Mike, Steve, Frank and Carl. We all have different areas of expertise, covering railroads, mining, geology, and local history. Individually we couldn't have done these trips, but together we could.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co Railroad

A stone foundation along the right-of-way. The actual railbed would be to the right of the stone.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co: Ore Mines

Two members of the expedition party brought digging tools, and located raw iron ore in one of the larger beds. This location is shown below in one of the snow covered trenches from the first expedition.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co: Ore Mines

The expedition party made a second trip to the Lackawanna ore mines yesterday. During the exploration of the area we located what might have been a mine opening in the side of Moosic Mountain. It was blocked by large boulders, but you could feel cool air coming from the opening.

Lackawanna Station: Scranton

Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of the opening of Lackawanna Station, it was also 90 years since the Armistice was signed, ending the First World War. The station is depicted in these two postcard views. The top one is from the 1950's. The USO Lounge is postmarked March 7,1944. During the Second World War many larger stations had lounges for the troops.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co: Ore Mine

A pile of stone, not sure if this was part of the ore mine railroad, or part of a building, or something else.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co: Ore Mine

This foundation is near the end of the ore mine railroad trackage, not sure what this is a remnant of.

Nay Aug Falls

Nay Aug Falls, just before 11 o'clock this morning. The creek isn't running as high as last week.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co: Ore Mine

Another view of one of the trenches. These mines were last worked in 1875, by that time the Lake Superior ore fields were discovered. With the end of mining operations here, the iron ore railroad also ceased to exist.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co: Ore Mine

The Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co Railroad makes it's way into the mine area. This area has pits and trenches where iron ore was mined for the Scranton Iron Furnaces.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co RR

On the back side of the mountain, the road crosses this bridge over Stafford's Meadow Brook. I'm not 100% sure if this is the same bridge that the railroad used, but it does appear to be from that era. At some point after this, the present day Ore Mine Road swings away from the former track bed.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co RR

The railroad swings around the back of Moosic Mountain. This road was powered by gravity on the way down, and mules on the way back to the ore mines. It ceased operation in 1875. This portion is also known as Ore Mine Road, and is on the former roadbed.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co RR

The rail bed is still pretty much intact through this portion. A section of the rail bed becomes part of Ore Mine Road for a stretch just beyond this point.

Lackawanna Iron & Steel Co RR

This is where the Lackawanna Iron & Steel Company Railroad went around the base of Moosic Mountain. Just below here is the Wyoming Division of the Erie Railroad.

Nay Aug Park

It is still fall-like in Nay Aug Park.

Nay Aug Falls

Nay Aug Falls about 11:30 this morning. The creek is still running high, probably due to the melt off of last weeks snow.