The Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley chapter of the National Railway Historical Society will sponsor the Vosburg Flyer photo freight excursion Saturday, May 3, 2014.

Departing from Duryea the excursion's route will be along the former Lackawanna railroad's Bloomsburg branch to Taylor, then on the former Keyser Valley branch to the end of track at Cayuga (Scranton). Returning to Pittston Junction the train will run the former Lehigh Valley mainline to Vosburg tunnel near Tunkhannock, return to Coxton and take the Mountain Cutoff to Laurel Run. At Laurel Run the route joins the former Central Railroad of New Jersey mainline to Crestwood and returns to Duryea.


The 124 mile roundtrip excursion will bring riders to areas that have not seen regular passenger service in over 50 years. Rare mileage portions include Tunkhannock to Vosburg and the Bloomsburg and Keyser Valley branches. Highlights include Vosburg tunnel, Canadian Pacific's Taylor yard, former DL&W Keyser Valley shops, Lackawanna and Susquehanna rivers and the R&N's Pittston and Penobscot yards. All tracks and equipment are owned and operated by the Reading & Northern railroad.

The train will board at the Duryea VFW, 492 Stephenson St., departing at 10 a.m. Motive power will be two classic SD-38 transfer engines. About 8 freight cars and a caboose will be used for the photo freight in addition to passenger cars.

Photo runbys will be held at several locations and accommodate still and video photographers. Passenger cars will be removed from the train for the runbys. Riders are asked to wear appropriate footwear. Arrival at Duryea will be at 7 p.m.