Pen Argyl Shops News

Mike Piersa · **Posted:** Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:26 am

The Wal-Mart project that would have resulted in the demolition of the Lehigh & New England shops Pen Argyl, PA, has been cancelled. Details are at:
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_3walmartjan11,0,7434395.story

mikefrommontana · **Posted:** Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:25 pm

Well that is great news. I rather suspect the preservation community might have given up on this one, but now has an opportunity to make use of this valuable opportunity.

It has been discussed that this would make an ideal museum site, but is live rail access still possible (ie, roadbed/right of way in place)?

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

Joshua K. Blay · **Posted:** Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:09 pm

GOOD! Strasburg RR has the turntable, for good or for worse. Perhaps if the sight could be made some sort of a museum they could get it back.

Joshua

eldiner · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:39 am **Posts:** 534

Quote:

It has been discussed that this would make an ideal museum site, but is live rail access still possible (ie, roadbed/right of way in place)?

No. The EL operated this part of the line after L&NE quit, but it was unused by the time Conrail came around. Tracks were torn up in the early 1980's. The right of way to the nearest rail line (Norfolk Southern, originally the Bangor & Portland) is a good five miles away and has several obstruction to boot.

robertjohndavis · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:10 am **Posts:** 2499

Tim's right, I doubt you could ever rebuild going east, but the ROW is intact down the Bethlehem Branch to Bath (10 miles or so to NS) and the NS.PowerBall-type funding and anti-NIMBY force field required. :-)

It could be an incredible museum site but not one dependent upon live rail.

Rob

eldiner wrote:

Quote:

It has been discussed that this would make an ideal museum site, but is live rail access still possible (ie, roadbed/right of way in place)?

No. The EL operated this part of the line after L&NE quit, but it was unused by the time Conrail came around. Tracks were torn up in the early 1980's. The right of way to the nearest rail line (Norfolk Southern, originally the Bangor & Portland) is a good five miles away and has several obstruction to boot.