Hi,<p>I just wanted to add to the discussion of freight ops in Jim Thorpe, PA.<p>Jim Thorpe, formerly known as Mauch Chunk, is one of the most historical transportation sites in America. I could go on for pages, so let me just do a railroad sketch. The Jersey Central mainline passed through Mauch Chunk, while the Lehigh Valley main passed through East Mauch Chunk on the opposite bank of the Lehigh River.<p>The LV mainline is still very much in service under the Reading & Northern banner, and is used by Canadian Pacific trailer trains and Norfolk Southern's Hazelton locals which diverge from the main in the Lehigh Gorge at M&H Junction.<p>At Packerton Junction, the LV connects to a shred of the former CNJ main, which is used to access the CNJ's Nesquahoning Branch at Nesquahoning Junction. The CNJ main is GONE north of there up to Bear Creek Junction north of WHite Haven. This piece of the main is the track in downtown Jim Thorpe.<p><br>This combo of CNJ main and branch is run as the Carbon & Schuykill short line and also hosts Geroge Hart's Rail TOurs excursions.<p>THe main attraction for buffs is that it is also in use by the Reading & Northern as a link between the Lehigh Division at Packerton Junction and the Reading Division at Mahanoy Junction.<p>This is a relatively recent development. THe R&N also runs culm trains, though they do not come down into Jim Thorpe.<p>So, in one of the most beautiful towns in America, you have 5 different rail operations on some of the most historic ROW you could find.<p>Jim Thorpe is a treat fot railfans and historians.<p>Bob<br><br>

It really is a great place to see trains<br><br>



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