Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Delaware–Lackawanna Railroad is a shortline railroad
operating in Pennsylvania
.
The DL began service in August 1993 and is the designated operator for 85 miles of trackage in Lackawanna
and Monroe
Counties. It is a subsidiary of holding company Genesee Valley Transportation Company, Inc.
It was founded by Jeffrey Baxter, Charles Riedmiller, John Herbrand, Michael Thomas and David Monte Verde who continue to make up its corporate ownership.
The Lackawanna County Rail Authority approached GVT to operate its owned rail lines within Lackawanna
and Monroe
Counties. From Scranton northeast to the city of Carbondale
on lines of the former Delaware and Hudson Railway
's Penn Division mainline; from Scranton southeast into Monroe County on lines of the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad; and from Scranton southwest to Montage Mountain, Moosic on lines of the former Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad
third-rail interurban streetcar line.
These are the lines hosting the seasonal passenger trains of both the Steamtown National Historic Site
and the Electric City Trolley Museum
and now under the jurisdiction of the new Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Rail Authority
.
, has been running unit Canadian grain trains between Scranton and the Harvest States Grain Mill at Pocono Summit, PA. Operated by D-L crews these trains average about 45 cars and up to 4 locomotives provided by the CPR. Even though CPR EMD SD40-2
s are the rule, occasionally a rare specimen will make its way onto the D-L.
The D-L Railroad, according to its website, provides "friendly customized service" to over 25 customers in the Scranton / Pocono region, and interchanges with two Class I carriers: Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific Railway. The D-L also interchanges with the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad at Pittston by way of the former Laurel Line.
Delaware–Lackawanna is renowned as a bastion for both rebuilding and operating 50-year-old ALCO
diesels up and down the Pocono Mountains
of Northeastern Pennsylvania on a daily basis. It is the only railroad operating four ALCO RS-3
s.
A new unified color scheme of gray and white with red and yellow stripes was to be applied to GVT system units beginning in 2006 as they exit the South Scranton shops; the most recent being Alco Century 420 No. 405, in the fall of 2009, displaying a dedication to deceased partner CJ "Chuck" Riedmiller on the side of the cab.
Shortline railroad
A shortline railroad is a small or mid-sized railroad company that operates over a relatively short distance relative to larger, national railroad networks. The term is used primarily in the USA and Canada...
operating in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
The DL began service in August 1993 and is the designated operator for 85 miles of trackage in Lackawanna
Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 213,295 people, 86,218 households, and 55,783 families residing in the county. The population density was 465 people per square mile . There were 95,362 housing units at an average density of 208 per square mile...
and Monroe
Monroe County, Pennsylvania
-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there are 176,567 people, 49,454 households, and 36,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 228 people per square mile...
Counties. It is a subsidiary of holding company Genesee Valley Transportation Company, Inc.
Genesee Valley Transportation
The Genesee Valley Transportation Company, based in Batavia, New York, is a holding company for several short-line railroads located in New York and Pennsylvania...
It was founded by Jeffrey Baxter, Charles Riedmiller, John Herbrand, Michael Thomas and David Monte Verde who continue to make up its corporate ownership.
Overview
GVT began in 1985 in Upstate New York marketing rail-related services to both private and public industry throughout the northeast.The Lackawanna County Rail Authority approached GVT to operate its owned rail lines within Lackawanna
Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 213,295 people, 86,218 households, and 55,783 families residing in the county. The population density was 465 people per square mile . There were 95,362 housing units at an average density of 208 per square mile...
and Monroe
Monroe County, Pennsylvania
-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there are 176,567 people, 49,454 households, and 36,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 228 people per square mile...
Counties. From Scranton northeast to the city of Carbondale
Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Carbondale is a city in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. Carbondale is located approximately 15 miles due northeast of the city of Scranton in Northeastern Pennsylvania...
on lines of the former Delaware and Hudson Railway
Delaware and Hudson Railway
The Delaware and Hudson Railway is a railroad that operates in the northeastern United States. Since 1991 it has been a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway, although CPR has assumed all operations and the D&H does not maintain any locomotives or rolling stock.It was formerly an important...
's Penn Division mainline; from Scranton southeast into Monroe County on lines of the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad; and from Scranton southwest to Montage Mountain, Moosic on lines of the former Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad
Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad
The Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railroad, more commonly known as the Laurel Line, was a Pennsylvania third rail electric interurban streetcar line which operated commuter train service from 1903 to 1952, and freight service until 1976.-History:...
third-rail interurban streetcar line.
These are the lines hosting the seasonal passenger trains of both the Steamtown National Historic Site
Steamtown National Historic Site
Steamtown National Historic Site is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located on in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the site of the former Scranton yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad . The museum is built around a working replica turntable and a roundhouse that is...
and the Electric City Trolley Museum
Electric City Trolley Museum
The Electric City Trolley Museum is located in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, next to the Steamtown National Historic Site.The museum displays and operates restored trolleys and interurbans on former lines of the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad, now owned by the government of Lackawanna...
and now under the jurisdiction of the new Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Rail Authority
Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Rail Authority
Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Rail Authority is a bi-county creation of both Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania and Monroe County, Pennsylvania to oversee the use of common rail freight lines in Northeastern Pennsylvania....
.
Poconos expansion
Since the summer of 1998, the D-L, under a haulage agreement with the Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
, has been running unit Canadian grain trains between Scranton and the Harvest States Grain Mill at Pocono Summit, PA. Operated by D-L crews these trains average about 45 cars and up to 4 locomotives provided by the CPR. Even though CPR EMD SD40-2
EMD SD40-2
The EMD SD40-2 is a C-C locomotive produced by EMD from 1972 to 1989.The SD40-2 was first introduced in January 1972 as the mid-range offering in EMD's six-axle "Dash-2" series, competing against the GE U30C and the MLW M630...
s are the rule, occasionally a rare specimen will make its way onto the D-L.
The D-L Railroad, according to its website, provides "friendly customized service" to over 25 customers in the Scranton / Pocono region, and interchanges with two Class I carriers: Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific Railway. The D-L also interchanges with the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad at Pittston by way of the former Laurel Line.
Delaware–Lackawanna is renowned as a bastion for both rebuilding and operating 50-year-old ALCO
American Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
diesels up and down the Pocono Mountains
The Poconos
The Pocono Mountains is a region located in northeastern Pennsylvania, United States. The Poconos, located chiefly in Monroe and Pike counties , are an upland of the larger Allegheny Plateau...
of Northeastern Pennsylvania on a daily basis. It is the only railroad operating four ALCO RS-3
ALCO RS-3
The ALCO RS-3 is a 1,600 hp , B-B road switcher railroad locomotive. It was manufactured by American Locomotive Company and Montreal Locomotive Works from May 1950 to August 1956, and 1,418 were produced — 1,265 for American railroads, 98 for Canadian railroads, 48 for Brazilian and 7...
s.
A new unified color scheme of gray and white with red and yellow stripes was to be applied to GVT system units beginning in 2006 as they exit the South Scranton shops; the most recent being Alco Century 420 No. 405, in the fall of 2009, displaying a dedication to deceased partner CJ "Chuck" Riedmiller on the side of the cab.
Recent activity
- A new 2,000-foot extension connects the county's trolley line, the Electric City Trolley MuseumElectric City Trolley MuseumThe Electric City Trolley Museum is located in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, next to the Steamtown National Historic Site.The museum displays and operates restored trolleys and interurbans on former lines of the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad, now owned by the government of Lackawanna...
, from the Steamtown National Historic SiteSteamtown National Historic SiteSteamtown National Historic Site is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located on in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the site of the former Scranton yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad . The museum is built around a working replica turntable and a roundhouse that is...
, Scranton, to a new station and trolley restoration facility, immediately adjacent to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees stadium off Montage Mountain Road, Moosic.
- The 2006 Annual Convention of the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners (AAPRCO) took place in Scranton on the D-L at the Steamtown National Historic SiteSteamtown National Historic SiteSteamtown National Historic Site is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located on in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the site of the former Scranton yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad . The museum is built around a working replica turntable and a roundhouse that is...
on site behind the Mall at SteamtownMall at SteamtownThe Mall at Steamtown is a shopping center and the commercial centerpiece of Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States. It features nearly one hundred retail and specialty stores. The Mall at Steamtown was conceived in the mid 1980s as the keystone of downtown revitalization, though the project was...
September 20, 2006-September 24, 2006, travelling a Cincinnati – Chicago – St. Albans, VT – Steamtown, PA – Chicago – Cincinnati route over the 14-day event. Many past Presidential and historic rail cars attended with a round-trip steam-powered run to the Delaware Water GapDelaware Water GapThe Delaware Water Gap is on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the Delaware River cuts through a large ridge of the Appalachian Mountains...
on September 21, 2006.
- The 2010 Annual Convention of the National Railway Historical SocietyNational Railway Historical SocietyThe National Railway Historical Society is a non-profit organization established in 1935 in the United States to promote interest in, and appreciation for, the historical development of railroads. It is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and organized into 16 regions and...
is set to take place in Scranton June 22-26, 2010, with numerous events scheduled on the Delaware-Lackawanna lines.