One of the tasks of a federally funded project is that there must be an archeological survey, and if necessary an actual dig of the land to discover how past cultures have lived.
Steamtown National Historic Site's curator, Sarah Smith has taken the information and the artifacts found during these digs, ranging from 1988 to 2002 (or so) to develop an interactive exhibit on archeology and the items found in the DL&W Scranton City Yard.

Among the displays are this little box showing the tools of the trade that archeologists use.

Another case shows the artifacts as they are set in the soil, the techniques for extracting them and documenting the locations and possible dates of when they became part of the yard.


Since the land upon which the DL&W built the yard was a swamp, there are few if any signs of preColumbian civilization. A few animal bones and early signs that Europeans passed through are the only artifacts that are pre-1850.

Curator Sarah Smith cleans the glass cabinets before the items are inserted. Ranger Kenny Ganz stabilizes the structure. It has since been anchored to the wall.

As much as there were broken items in the yard, many pieces are surprisingly intact. So many of them were manufactured that they are easily identified as to years produced.
To prevent display creep, Kenny applies some putty to the bottle prior to display.

... and places it on the shelf. Very few "railroad" items were found, but everyday items like bottles, keys, eyeglasses and even toys will make connections for the visitors to the everyday life of working on the railroad.

One of the finished display cases.

This is the first and probably only archeological exhibit in a railroad museum. All the artifacts were found on site. Finishing touches and signage still need to be made, along with an activity for children to learn about the process. Adults can play along too. The expected opening is planned for mid-April, when National Parks Week begins.

Not sure if it's still there, but there used to be an exhibit highlighting the small dig done at the President Street Station in Baltimore, now the Baltimore Civil War Museum. That dig uncovered original wooden rail with strap iron.

I remember seeing an exhibit like this at Willamsburg (decades ago)--- but I noticed what looks like a Nikon F2 in the display case with the tools

I'm surprised they didn't find a film canister....

<lol>

Bob H

Interesting, I couldn't help but notice that Kenny is wearing a WW2 US winter "tanker" jacket. Can I assume he's one of the regulars at the night shoots I see in the magazine showing re-enactors at Steamtown?

@p51, Yes, Kenny is a regular, and helps to coordinate the night sessions along with providing many of the props, in the form of artillery, uniforms and vehicles. About 10 years ago, Preiser made some HO models of WWII soldiers using a photo of a Steamtown night session. Th officer depicted in the group was Kenny. He's the one who pointed it out, saying I'd know that slouch and those knock-knees anywhere." I was in the same photo, but since only my hand was seen, no model was ever made of me. :)

@Heavenrich, the Nikon F, while an artifact in its own way, was not part of the dig, just an example of tools used in the documentation process. But I got the joke anyway. ;)

@Alexander Mitchell IV, Since I had never stopped at the President's Street Museum, I did not know about their exhibit. Thank you for the tip. I have been to so many museums, and none ever cover the subject of archeology. The reason is they don't have to do this.

This is a great idea as a cross section of the lives of railroad workers in that region. I have often wondered what might be found buried under layered mats of mud, asbestos threads, and cinders, in yards where steam was cut up. Altoona would be a terrific site to explore as might Sterling Steel and Wire. The Luria yards might be amazing dig sites.
Artifacts could be as little as valves and knobs, and as rich as headlights or builder's plates.

Funny you would mention turning an old Steam scrap site into an archaeological dig site.

As many of you know with the closing of both locations of Virginia Scrap Iron & Metal Co in Roanoke VA both sites have been remediated and cleaned up. BUT while this was underway and during and just after all the "Lost Engines" were moved, railroad artifacts did make it to the light of day again! Ranging from like you said simple Valve handles (Nathan marked) and Brass Hart Shape Locks and many other identifiable objects including a Brass Number plate with studs off an N&W Z popped up out of the mud while the dozers worked. It was always interesting to drift by the sites after a good rain and notice Brass Locks sitting on tops of the dirt and rust piles as happy as can be. I know half a buckets worth of brass N&W Hart Shaped locks were found with little work that still function too. Heck while we were hauling the locos out a perfectly good smoke box door was found which was great as the one on the 1118 was damaged. Other items were found too from round brass Pullman ceiling lights to a stack of glass shades out of N&W Pullman Coaches. As they say if most of us only really knew what was under the dirt and mud, let alone in the room behind the office! we would more than likely been at the door before they closed.

Don't even get me started on what was in the room behind the office that went to scrap; it makes me sick just thinking about it. But we were able to buy a NOS angled number board Pyle National head light new in the crates with shipping tags to N&W and other goodies like a stack of port hole headlights as used on the K's and J's just as they were shutting the doors at the yard so it wasn't a total loss...But still it's the knowledge of what survived in the room behind the office that makes one sick, they made it for so long only to be lost...and for a fraction of there value...