Ok you say the only one that would be from the Hard coal days is Scranton "Steamtown" well I have news for you East Side was Ex.B&O and they hualed Hard coal and the Reading Co. had trackage rights into their yard. also the last steam locomotive to rotate was the T-1 2101 #1 for the chessie Steam special. All of Pennsylvania is nothing but hard coal country. Colesville table which is still there but not used is in the heart of Center County, Pa. and the Bellafonte Central hualed Hard Coal,Limestone,Logs,ect. they then connected to the PRR at Milesburg,Pa. Your only looking at the big railroad companies that hauled hard coal, LV,CNJ,PRR,DLW,NY,LNE,EIRE, ect. don`t forget the small railroads in the hard coal country. They supplyed the big railroads. Mont Chunk"Jime Thrope", Pa. is a museum of railroading history that`s true. but there are other yail yards around too. pistton ex. LV yard , Crestwood yard ex. CNJ. Renova yard ex.PRR, Sare yard and shops ex. LV. , Reading Yard ex. Reading Co., Tamaqua yard ex. Reading Co.Len.

Len,I know about the east side, but the B&O is not a an A-coal road, no matter whose engines spun on the table. Even the most generous definition of an anthracite road would not include the B&O. It would include these major roads (with some debate): CNJ, LV, RDG, LNE, DL&W, Erie, D&H, NYO&W, NYS&W and a very specific set of PRR branches.All of Pennsylvania is not hard coal country. In fact, there are just a handful of anthracite fields and all are in the east. The rest of the coal mined in the state was soft.See this map: http://www.geology.pitt.edu/PAgeo/coal.htmlCenter County is on the eastern edge of the bituminous fields.I have not forgotten any of the small roads in the anthracite fields, Len. I only listed the surviving turntables and there are NONE left from the WB&E, WP-E or even the colliery lines. Of course, as I am sure you know, there were not many small roads left in the anthracite region after 1900, as they were swallowed up into the biggies. In fact, I can't name more than 3 small roads that had anthracite mines on-line (Laurel Line, WB&E, Northern Electric). You may also know that the Consolidation type of wheel arrangement was named by Lehigh Valley personel in honor of all the small roads wrapped up into the LV.Rob

There are other yards - however NONE of the ones that you mentioned are in the hands of preservationists. Moreover, due to the increased awareness of site pollution issues (which abound in any former rail property) many preservationists are disinclined from preserving former railroad properties. Instead of batting about what turntables survive where or what constitutes an Anthracite road - why not focus on preserving what we have already saved.

Actually, Tom, it has changed dramatically since the CNJ left and resembles amost nothing of what it did in 1972 save for the turntable and some crumbling walls - all worth saving, yes, but hardly in "as was" condition.

Could you be more specific as to what remains and what has been removed since the end of CNJ operations. From what I have been able to gather, most of the major buildings at this site were removed prior to the end of CNJ operations. Tom CornillieI have used the websites linked below as references:http://www.northeast.railfan.net/jim_thorpe.htmlhttp://www.insighting.co.uk/homauchchunk/mauch_chunk.htmhttp://www.gingerb.com/cnj_mauch_chunk.htm

Tom, The walls from the CNJ roundhouse still stand they are made of cut stone blocks. The table is still in and could be made to move once more. The sanning tower still stands plus the water tower stone base and pump houses. Most of the 40 tracks that went through the yard are gone. The lower part of the yard was washed out in the 1972 flood. if you travel down stream you will come apond Lehighton yard, this was own by the Lehigh Valley. The locomotive shop building is still standing made of Red Brick. Back at Jim Thorpe PQ tower still stands, but itis in much needed repair.Len.

Len,Thank you for the information. I am always amazed at how many buildings and structures survive yet remain largely unremarked anywhere. The tower you mentioned was in the background of a recent photo posted to railpictures.net.I would especially like to learn more about that LV locomotive shop you mentioned.http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=118641Tom Cornillie

It's not a locomotive shop. it was a warehouse for the outdoors car repair facility in Packerton (not Lehighton). The loco facility in Lehighton is long gone.As for JT, the yard remains east of the turntable were ripped out for a parking lot circa 1980. Portions of stone walls are left from various buildings, as is the turntable. A new metal enginehouse is on the site, too.Rob