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Lehigh Valley RR
- Rail timetables
- Photos of local LVRR stations
- Note on LVRR depot design
- Ads for passenger amenities
- End of passenger service
- 1906 Locomotive accident
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was the major route out of Freeland. The station was in the 200 block of Centre Street where the MMI Prep School Gymnasium is today. Many remember the Lehigh Valley, as they served Freeland with freight traffic until the early 1970’s.
Rail Timetables from the Freeland Tribune, March 18, 1903.
LEHIGH VALLEY RAILROAD from Freeland.
November 16, 1902.
ARRANGEMENT OF PASSENGER TRAINS.
LEAVE FREELAND.
6:12 AM for Weatherly, Mauch Chunk, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Philadelphia and New York.
7:29 AM for Sandy Run, White Haven, Wilkes-Barre, Pittston and Scranton.
8:15 AM for Hazleton, Weatherly, Mauch Chunk, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Philadelphia, New York, Delano and Pottsville.
9:58 AM for Hazleton, Delano, Mahanoy City, Shenandoah and Mt. Carmel.
11:32 AM for White Haven, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and the West.
11:41 AM for Weatherly, Mauch Chunk, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Philadelphia, New York, Hazleton, Delano, Mahanoy City, Shenandoah and Mt. Carmel.
4:44 PM for Weatherly, Mauch Chunk, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Philadelphia, New York, Hazleton, Delano, Mahanoy City, Shenandoah, Mt. Carmel and Pottsville.
6:33 PM for Sandy Run, White Haven, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and all points West.
7:29 PM for Hazleton.
ARRIVE AT FREELAND.
7:29 AM from Pottsville, Delano and Hazleton.
9:12 AM from New York, Philadelphia, Easton, Bethlehem, Allentown, Mauch Chunk, Weatherly, Hazleton, Mahanoy City, Shenandoah and Mt. Carmel
9:58 AM from Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and White Haven.
11:32 AM from Pottsville, Mt. Carmel, Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, Delano and Hazleton.
12:35 PM from New York, Philadelphia, Easton, Bethlehem, Allentown, Mauch Chunk and Weatherly.
4:44 PM from Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and White Haven.
6:33 PM from New York, Philadelphia, Easton, Bethlehem Allentown, Mauch Chunk, Weatherly, Mt. Carmel, Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, Delano and Hazleton.
7:29 PM from Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and White Haven.
For further information inquire of Ticket Agents.
Photos of LVRR stations in Freeland, Drifton, Eckley, Sandy Run, Jeddo, Hazleton
Wednesday, October 10, 1888
For some days past the engineer corps of the L. V. R. R. has been engaged under the direction of Mr. J. Sharon McNair, in surveying a new line from a point on the new railroad at the Points down to South Heberton.
A New Depot.
The work of erecting the new depot and freight house at the Points is being pushed as rapidly as possible. The foundation walls are now completed and the work of putting up the buildings will be begun at once. It is expected that Agent McHugh will be able to “occupy" his new quarters about December 1st.
From: The Plain Speaker – Page 3
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/98129729/
Blue sky Freeland LVRR depot postcard.
Freeland LVRR depot. Photo courtesy of John Zubach.
Freeland LVRR depot close-up. Photo courtesy of John Zubach.
Freeland LVRR depot. This photo came to me from Charlie Reczkowski, colored in this way; I don't know who gave it to him.
This photo from 1912 is part of the Joe Zogby collection of the Anthracite Railroads Historical Society (ARHS), used by permission. It was taken by someone standing on the railroad tracks, investigating an accident. This photo shows the railroad depot at left and across the street on Centre shows the building at 229-231 Centre, with a storefront visible.
This photo from 1912 is part of the Joe Zogby collection of the Anthracite Railroads Historical Society (ARHS), used by permission. It was taken by someone standing on the railroad tracks, investigating an accident. This photo shows the Freeland Overall Company left of the tracks with a train car parked alongside to load or unload a shipment, while to the right of the tracks in the foreground we see the building at 229-231 Centre, and the railroad depot across the street. Behind the brick building there is a small wooden addition and behind that is a Farmer's Dairy horse-drawn wagon. In 1912 this building was listed as a bottling works; perhaps the Freeland Dairy wagon was there to pick up some new milk bottles.
Freeland LVRR depot in the 1960s, long after passenger service ended. This photo was sent to me by Pat Ferko Miller.
Drifton LVRR station.
Eckley LVRR station. Photo from Dan West's website.
Sandy Run LVRR station. Photo from Dan West's website.
Sandy Run LVRR station. LVRR company photo, courtesy of Dan West.
Jeddo LVRR station. Photo from Dan West's website.
Jeddo LVRR station. Photo from Dan West's website.
Train station at Pink Ash, Jeddo; conductor or ticket agent is Mr. Frank Sterns, others are unidentified. Kerosene lamp hangs in office. Photo in PennySaver 1(6), April 1963, p. 1, came from Steven Falatko, Freeland. Photo courtesy of John Zubach.
Jeddo LVRR station. LVRR company photo, courtesy of Dan West.
Hazleton LVRR depot.
LVRR depot design
While this page about the Grizzly Flats depot design doesn't have a direct link to Freeland, it does have a connection to the Drifton Station, but that's because of the standard Lehigh Valley design.
https://scotlawrence.github.io/grizzlyflats/index.html
Ads for passenger amenities
Two ads give a sense of how the comfort and convenience of travel by rail was promoted. The ad for Peter Shambora's saloon and restaurant appeared in the 1895 city directory, and the location of 160 S. Centre can be seen on this cropped detail from the 1895 Sanborn Fire Insurance map. The 1929 ad for being able to listen to radio on the train (compare to wifi on airplanes now) comes to us from Ed Merrick.
When did passenger rail service end in Freeland?
Lehigh Valley Passenger Service Discontinuances Branch Lines. Even numbers eastbound - odd numbers westbound. Unless otherwise noted, dates shown are when these trains last appeared in public timetables.
State of Pennsylvania - Lehigh Division
Freeland Branch, Ashmore - Freeland, 5.2 miles. Trains 241, 243, 242 & 244: April 28, 1940. (although mixed service remained until Nov. 1, 1942)
Highland Branch, Ashmore - Sandy Junction, 8.7 miles. Trains 250, 216, 244, 240; 239, 241, 245 & 249: May 8, 1927.
This information comes from a railroad enthusiasts forum at:
http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=68525
1906 Lehigh Valley locomotive accident in Drifton
And finally, here are three photos of a Lehigh Valley Locomotive accident that happened at Drifton on 11-25-1906 (2 months after Freeland's Pearl Jubilee) involving 2-8-0 # 634. The photos come from Charlie Gallagher, who says each of them is "from a print in the possession of my Great Grandfather Patrick J. Gallagher."
Lehigh Valley Locomotive accident that happened at Drifton on 11-25-1906.
Lehigh Valley Locomotive accident that happened at Drifton on 11-25-1906.
Lehigh Valley Locomotive accident that happened at Drifton on 11-25-1906. Viewing the damage.