Slatington in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Lehigh Valley Railroad Station
1862 -1969
Photographed By Don Morfe, July 6, 2015
1. Lehigh Valley Railroad Station Marker
Inscription.
Lehigh Valley Railroad Station. Entrepreneur Asa Parker founded the Lehigh Valley Railroad (LVRR) in 1853 to more efficiently transport anthracite coal to market. A freight and passenger station was constructed on this site in 1862. The LVRR Slatedale Branch opened in 1870 for the purpose of transporting slate from western quarries. By the 1890s the LVRR stretched from New York Harbor, through the Lehigh Valley, to Buffalo NY. The Black Diamond Express was LVRR’s most famous passenger train. LVRR discontinued passenger service in 1961, which resulted in the closing of the Slatington Railroad Station. On February 1, 1969, 31 cars of the LVRR freight train derailed just north of Main Street. The derailment severely damaged the station, and forced the building to be razed., LVRR’s main line now serves as a rail trail along the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. The LVRR Slatedale Branch has been converted into the State Heritage Trail. This site now functions as the Slatington Trailhead, which provides access to the D and L Trail, The State Heritage Trail, The Lehigh River Water Trail, The Lehigh Canal Towpath in Walnutport, The Lehigh Gap Nature Center Trails and the Appalachian Trail. The Borough of Slatington leases the trailhead property from Lehigh County for the benefit of residents and visitors to the region. The trailhead has been improved and maintained by a partnership between Lehigh County, the Borough of Slatington, and local non-profit organizations., Adjacent "Exploring the Corridor" informational sign: , “Our residents take pride and partner in their heritage---they understand the meaning of what we have an act to preserve it” Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and State Heritage Park, Management Action Plan., Welcome to the Delaware and Lehigh National and State Heritage Corridor, a collection of people, places and events that helped shape our great nation. Come journey through five Pennsylvania counties bursting with heritage and brimming with outdoor adventure. Canals and railroads---remnants of Northeastern Pennsylvania prosperous coal age---form the spine of this more than 150-mile Corridor. You’ll find something for everyone. Follow a history trail marked with stories about hearty lumberjacks, coal miners, lock tenders, canalers and railroads. Explore quiet canal paths, challenging bike trails and rippling waters of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers., In the Corridor’s northern reach experience life within Luzerne County coal towns and vibrant cities proudly displaying ethnic diversity. Spend time in our arts and educational institutions. Find outdoor recreation in Carbon County where the landscape offers breathtaking scenery and glimpses of coal and lumber industries from days gone by. Wander through enchanting towns; visit a coal museum and an underground mine. The Lehigh Valley welcomes you with rolling hills, winding rivers, picturesque farms, covered bridges and Victorian townhouses., Discover Moravian heritage within the valley's oldest city, learn about the steel and cement industries, or attend some of America's best festivals. The excitement continues as you travel south along the Delaware River Scenic Drive into Bucks County. This area offers pastoral vistas, landmarks from America's battle for independence and a renowned artist's community intermingled with Colonial farmsteads., Relive history and discover a distinctive American landscape within the Corridor. We invite you to bask in our heritage, ride or walk our trails, and enjoy our waterways.
Entrepreneur Asa Parker founded the Lehigh Valley Railroad (LVRR) in 1853 to more efficiently transport anthracite coal to market. A freight and passenger station was constructed on this site in 1862. The LVRR Slatedale Branch opened in 1870 for the purpose of transporting slate from western quarries. By the 1890s the LVRR stretched from New York Harbor, through the Lehigh Valley, to Buffalo NY. The Black Diamond Express was LVRR’s most famous passenger train. LVRR discontinued passenger service in 1961, which resulted in the closing of the Slatington Railroad Station. On February 1, 1969, 31 cars of the LVRR freight train derailed just north of Main Street. The derailment severely damaged the station, and forced the building to be razed.
LVRR’s main line now serves as a rail trail along the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. The LVRR Slatedale Branch has been converted into the State Heritage Trail. This site now functions as the Slatington Trailhead, which provides access to the D & L Trail, The State Heritage Trail, The Lehigh River Water Trail, The Lehigh Canal Towpath in Walnutport, The Lehigh Gap Nature Center Trails and the Appalachian Trail. The Borough of Slatington leases the trailhead property from Lehigh County for the benefit of residents and visitors to the region. The trailhead has been improved and maintained by a partnership between Lehigh County, the Borough of Slatington, and local non-profit organizations.
Adjacent "Exploring
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the Corridor" informational sign:
“Our residents take pride and partner in their heritage---they understand the meaning of what we have an act to preserve it” Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and State Heritage Park, Management Action Plan.
Welcome to the Delaware & Lehigh National and State Heritage Corridor, a collection of people, places and events that helped shape our great nation. Come journey through five Pennsylvania counties bursting with heritage and brimming with outdoor adventure. Canals and railroads---remnants of Northeastern Pennsylvania prosperous coal age---form the spine of this more than 150-mile Corridor. You’ll find something for everyone. Follow a history trail marked with stories about hearty lumberjacks, coal miners, lock tenders, canalers and railroads. Explore quiet canal paths, challenging bike trails and rippling waters of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers.
In the Corridor’s northern reach experience life within Luzerne County coal towns and vibrant cities proudly displaying ethnic diversity. Spend time in our arts and educational institutions. Find outdoor recreation in Carbon County where the landscape offers breathtaking scenery and glimpses of coal and lumber industries from days gone by. Wander through enchanting towns; visit a coal museum and an underground mine. The Lehigh Valley welcomes you with rolling hills, winding rivers, picturesque farms, covered bridges and Victorian townhouses.
Discover Moravian heritage within the valley's
Photographed By Don Morfe, July 6, 2015
2. Adjacent "Exploring the Corridor" Informational sign
oldest city, learn about the steel and cement industries, or attend some of America's best festivals. The excitement continues as you travel south along the Delaware River Scenic Drive into Bucks County. This area offers pastoral vistas, landmarks from America's battle for independence and a renowned artist's community intermingled with Colonial farmsteads.
Relive history and discover a distinctive American landscape within the Corridor. We invite you to bask in our heritage, ride or walk our trails, and enjoy our waterways.
Erected by Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Lehigh Canal series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1832.
Location. 40° 45.15′ N, 75° 36.27′ W. Marker is in Slatington, Pennsylvania, in Lehigh County. Marker is on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Slatington PA 18080, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 687 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 18, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.