Rail Tours property at Mauch Chunk on the CNJ ?

Higherspeedrailnow · **Joined:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:09 am **Posts:** 130

What happened with the property owned by Mr. Hart's Rail Tours at Mauch Chunk (I like the old name) Was it just a rail siding or was it more? Is it where the cabooses are today?

M.J. Kershner · **Posted:** Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:31 am

The real estate occupied by RTI's operation was always leased, first from the Lehigh Valley Railroad and later the Carbon County Railroad Commission. The assets of the company were in the track (bought by RTI from the LV in 1973) and the rolling stock.

The track/s owned by RTI extend from the 'Turkey Hill Switch', up along the main past the station, and to the switch rejoining the main by the turntable. Essentially most of the track (except that going to the red enginehouse) on the 'hill' side of the main was owned by RTI. These included the 'Nesquehoning Runner' (so named as it once ran from below the station up to Nesquehoning Junction and was used to move lite engines), the Street Track (where the LGSR souvenir car sits), the Sand Tower Track, the Pit Track (over one of the original CNJ inspection pits) and the Turntable Lead.

The cabooses you mention are on the Nesquehoning Runner.

Hope this helps,

Micah

Higherspeedrailnow · **Joined:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:09 am **Posts:** 130

M.J. Kershner wrote:

The real estate occupied by RTI's operation was always leased, first from the Lehigh Valley Railroad and later the Carbon County Railroad Commission. The assets of the company were in the track (bought by RTI from the LV in 1973) and the rolling stock.

The track/s owned by RTI extend from the 'Turkey Hill Switch', up along the main past the station, and to the switch rejoining the main by the turntable. Essentially most of the track (except that going to the red enginehouse) on the 'hill' side of the main was owned by RTI. These included the 'Nesquehoning Runner' (so named as it once ran from below the station up to Nesquehoning Junction and was used to move lite engines), the Street Track (where the LGSR souvenir car sits), the Sand Tower Track, the Pit Track (over one of the original CNJ inspection pits) and the Turntable Lead.

The cabooses you mention are on the Nesquehoning Runner.

Hope this helps,

Micah

So if the assets of RTI were the track. Who ended up with the track? Carbon County or LGS?

M.J. Kershner · **Posted:** Fri Jul 02, 2010 6:09 pm

This is archived. I know I've seen it on here in the past.

A quick rehash: George gifted the track to the Lackawanna Chapter of the R&LHS in 2003. After his death the track was sold to the Reading and Northern Railroad. They own those yard tracks, but the County still owns the land and the main.

-Micah

Higherspeedrailnow · **Joined:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:09 am **Posts:** 130

M.J. Kershner wrote:

This is archived. I know I've seen it on here in the past.

A quick rehash: George gifted the track to the Lackawanna Chapter of the R&LHS in 2003. After his death the track was sold to the Reading and Northern Railroad. They own those yard tracks, but the County still owns the land and the main.

-Micah

Thanks, I did look in the archives. I must have somehow missed this point. Thanks again. It came up because I rode past this point on the steam special a few days ago.

M.J. Kershner · **Posted:** Sat Jul 03, 2010 3:48 am

Not a problem, glad to be of assistance.

-Micah