From Rails to Trails
"Since most of the land was donated to the railroads by the American public in the first place, we believe it should be returned to the public."
David Burwell, President,
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 1988
A Well-Worn Path
The path you are following was once an active rail line. The trains shipped Pennsylvania' coal, lumber, and ore to larger markets, such as Philadelphia and New York, and returned with finished goods. This process of exchange fueled the American Industrial Revolution, which relied on fast and dependable transportation networks. In the first half of the nineteenth century, newly built canals played this role. After the Civil War, however, railroads increasingly competed with their slower rivals and dominated for the next century. Only the post-World War II proliferation of long-distance trucking and the abundance of cheap fuel stifled the era of railroads.
Preserving Passageways
As trucks increasingly diminished the demand for trains, hundreds of railroad companies were forced to file for bankruptcy and sell or abandon their former lines. Congress' response was the 1980 Staggers Rail Act, which streamlined the process of selling or transferring abandoned rail lines and property. In 1983, the National Trails System Act was amended to allow for "rail-banking"
Restoring Connections
When not on the canal towpath, the 165-mile D&L Trail follows dozens of miles of former rail beds—26 miles run through Lehigh Gorge State Park alone. A number of regional rail trails intersect the D&L Trail, from the Switchback and Ironton trails in Carbon and Lehigh counties to the Nor-Bath and Spurline trails in Northampton and Bucks counties. These links create a network of trails that restore the vanished connections between communities and natural places.
Not As Easy As It Sounds
Former rail beds provide paths, but ones that are full of large rocks, or ballast, which make riding bikes and walking difficult. Improving a rail trail often requires removing heavy timber ties and steel rails, rolling the ballast,
Erected by Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and PA Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Environment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1988.
Location. 40° 50.104′ N, 75° 42.437′ W. Marker is in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, in Carbon County. Marker is at the intersection of Sgt Stanley Hoffman Boulevard (U.S. 209) and North Main Lane, on the right when traveling north on Sgt Stanley Hoffman Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: D & L Trailhead Pavilion, Lehighton PA 18235, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Exploring the Corridor (here, next to this marker); Lehighton's Been Workin' on the Railroad! (here, next to this marker); Waterborne Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Military Working Dogs Memorial (about 400 feet away); Lehighton Area WWII Honored Dead Memorial (about 400 feet away); World War I Centennial Commemoration (about 400 feet away); War at Home Memorial (about 500 feet away); American Maritime Veterans Memorial (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lehighton.
Also see . . .
1. Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. (Submitted on April 15, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Rails to Trails Conservancy. (Submitted on April 15, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Lehigh Gorge State Park. (Submitted on April 15, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society. (Submitted on April 15, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
5. Jersey Central Railroad Historical Society. (Submitted on April 15, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
6. Anthracite Railroads Historical Society. (Submitted on April 15, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 15, 2018. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 259 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 15, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.