O & W
Lackawanna River Heritage Trail
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The O&W interchanged with four railroads at the Winton Rail Junction. Remnants of a busy past are seen in the Erie Railroad trestle, signal bases, mile markers and ties, and at the former O&W [freight station]
The New York, Ontario, & Western Railway prospered as an important tourist carrier to resort hotels in the Lower Catskills. The railroad also hauled milk and dairy products. The addition of the 55-mile Scranton Division - the Ontario, Carbondale & Scranton (OCS) - allowed the railroad to carry anthracite coal. This link between mining and shipping created the line's most profitable endeavor.
The O&W interchanged with four railroads at the Winton Rail Junction. Remnants of a busy past are seen in the Erie Railroad trestle, signal bases, mile markers and ties, and at the former O&W freight station. Today, the restored railroad building houses a plumbing supply company in Peckville.
To handle the coal traffic, the O&W built a distribution yard in Mayfield. A roundhouse, turntable, powerhouse, coal trestle, and other facilities for servicing engines and rolling stock were built in 1892 and 1893. The O&W declared bankruptcy in 1937, and closed on March 29, 1957.
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A National and State Heritage Area
The
this page online
In 1991, Governor Robert P. Casey recognized the significant history, culture, and natural resources in the Lackawanna River watershed with the creation of Pennsylvania's first State Heritage Park. Today, it is one of 12 heritage areas across the Commonwealth, each of which represents the events, industries, and traditions that have shaped Pennsylvania. In 2000, the U.S. Congress designated the Lackawanna Heritage Valley as a National Heritage Area, recognizing the region's important contributions to our national story.
Today, the Lackawanna Heritage Valley (LHV) is entrusted with fostering partnerships that conserve and promote the region's heritage and natural resources and improve its economic vitality. The LHV supports the work of local communities, organizations, and historical attractions, and it brings together a wide variety of public and private entities in pursuit of a collaborative regional vision.
LHV receives major funding to carry on its initiatives from the National Park Service and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and
[Photo captions, from top to bottom, read]
• Volunteers regularly participate in clean-ups and tree plantings along the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.
• The Lackawanna River is a popular site for fishing in the Heritage Area.
• Christmas in a Small Town: The Santa Train is a beloved holiday tradition in the Lackawanna Heritage Valley.
• Community volunteers helped build the Nay Aug Avenue Natural Play Area in the Green Ridge section of Scranton.
Erected by Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is March 29, 1957.
Location. 41° 28.841′ N, 75° 34.395′ W. Marker is in Peckville, Pennsylvania, in Lackawanna County. Marker is on Main Street east of Cemetery Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Peckville PA 18452, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. O&W Railroad (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fountain of the Immigrants (approx. 0.3 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Gino J. Merli (approx. half a mile away); Blakely Borough WWII Honor Roll
Also see . . .
1. The New York, Ontario and Western Railway: A Brief History. (Submitted on January 1, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. (Submitted on January 1, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 342 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 1, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
