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All Aboard! People and Railroads at Steamtown Exhibit





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  Architecture
 (Interior waiting area, Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad passenger station. Steamtown National Historic Site, STEA 7469
 Nicholson Bridge on the Lackawanna Trail Steamtown NHS, STEA 2343 Bridges & Viaducts The country became increasingly connected by rail as the 19th century progressed. As railroads penetrated the nation’s interior, shorter routes were sought to reduce wear and tear on rails. To create the most direct routes possible, barriers such as mountains, rivers and canyons were bypassed, tunneled through, or spanned by bridges and viaducts. Reduction of curves led to faster routes.
Routes needed to be as flat as possible. At first, railroads followed the topography of the land, using pre-existing paths or valley floors. To avoid having to exert more power to go uphill, early train tracks sometimes wound through the terrain like a roller coaster.  Tunnel clearances, weight limitations of bridges, and track curvature limited the size of locomotives. Improvements in earth-moving technology at the turn of the 20th century made it easier to straighten and flatten routes for larger locomotives, while steel reinforced construction spanned valleys.
 Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct ConstructionTunkhannock Creek Viaduct Construction Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.F206
 Blueprint of (Martin's Creek Viaduct design plans(Martin's Creek Viaduct design plans) Steamtown NHS, STEA 6961
 Water-proofing Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct, Lackawanna RailroadMartin's Creek Viaduct, Lackawanna RR Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
L018
 Bridge 60 first pier constructionBridge 60 first pier construction Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
A0896
 D. L. & W. - Lackawanna River BridgeD. L. & W. - Lackawanna River Bridge Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.B0150
 D. L. & W. Bridge No. 60 M.L.D. L. & W. Bridge No. 60 M.L. Steamtown National Historic Site, STEA 7469.
B0296
 Water-proofing Tunkhannock Creek ViaductWater-proofing Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
B2232
 Railyard Buildings Railroads required dedicated infrastructure.  Stations were needed to load and unload passengers.  Other structures were built to move and process finished goods and raw materials such as anthracite, milk, grain, and livestock.  Locomotives and railroad rolling stock needed facilities for ongoing maintenance, fueling and watering.
 D.L.& W. R.R. Locomotive ShopsD.L.& W. R.R. Locomotive Shops Steamtown National Historic Site, STEA 7469.
B0060
 Construction workers, locomotive shopConstruction workers, locomotive shop Steamtown National Historic Site, STEA 7469.
B0143
 D.L.& W. Locomotive Shops, Scranton PAD.L.& W. Locomotive Shops, Scranton PA Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
B0561
 Locomotive shop interiorLocomotive shop interior Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
F028
 Locomotive shops under constructionLocomotive shops under construction Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
F132
 Second Floor D.L. & W. Store-HouseSecond Floor D.L. & W. Store-House Steamtown National Historic Site, STEA 7469.
B1778
 D.L.&W. administrative office workersD.L.&W. administrative office workers Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
B2340
 Elevation On Coal Chute and Sand Chute TrackCoal Chute & Sand Chute Track Elevation Steamtown NHS, STEA 1998
 Penn'a Lines Great Freight Yards at Conway, PennsylvaniaPenn'a Lines Freight Yard Postcard Steamtown NHS, STEA 2340
 Informational SignInformational Sign Steamtown NHS, STEA 2670
 Railroad SwitchRailroad Switch Steamtown NHS, STEA 2854
 Station Map - Tracks & Structures, The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western R.R.Station Map Steamtown National Historic Site, STEA 7469.
F226
 Storage docks and warehouseStorage docks and warehouse Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469
B0068
 Map of buildings, tracks & turntablesMap of buildings, tracks & turntables Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
B1219
 Scranton Yard D.L.&W. During Strike of 1877Scranton Yard D.L.&W. During Strike Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
B2730
 Locomotive 374, Maine Central RailroadLocomotive 374, Maine Central Railroad Steamtown NHS, STEA 7958
 Deposit tracks for spent coal ashDeposit tracks for spent coal ash Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
C3897
 Coal refilling trestle with ash tracksCoal refilling trestle with ash tracks Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
C1088
 Roundhouse interior after fireRoundhouse interior after fire Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
B2581
 (Charred D.L. & W. roundhouse interior after fire)Roundhouse interior after fire Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469. B2582
 Locomotives awaiting servicing in roundhouseLocomotives in roundhouse Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
C1267
 Milk BottleMilk Bottle Steamtown NHS, STEA 7494
 SherdsSherds Steamtown NHS, STEA 1800
 PlatePlate Steamtown NHS, STEA 2771
 Engineer on Canadian National 3254. National Park Service photograph
 *Lackawanna Station*
 D.L.&W. passenger station façadeD.L.&W. passenger station façade Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
B1969
 Mining Engineers Mining Engineers Steamtown National Historic Site, STEA 7469.
F197
 (Mosaic, Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad Company passenger station waiting area)Scranton station waiting area mosaic Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469.
B0312
 (Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad passenger station design plan)Scranton passenger station design plan Steamtown NHS, STEA 6961
 Last updated: October 26, 2022
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