The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-11-13
Written for the Chester Echo,)
Over the Switch Back.

laSo VI -houVb ShuhN, L d. anu nav
ever since been possessed with desir,
to visit this queerly built town. So find
ing myself not far from there started
one morning upon the Lehigh Vale!
Railroad to spend day in sightseeing
We needed no one TO tell us that W.
were in the ''diamond" region for The
scenes of canal-boats and trains loadct
with the treasure would tell Us that.
Upon alighting at our destination We
found ourselves in what a Iankel
would call q ''quecr place" Steer
Mountains arose almost from the banks
of the river, but the work of man had
crowded upon the river until place had
been found for two railroads, q canal
and street.
But the object of our visit was farther
on. Sopassing through the town and
up the steep side of the mountain we
soon saw abuilding with "Switch Back
Depot" painted upon its roof. "IIere
we are says my companion and we soon
stood upon the platform of the station.
But We are early, for the train we are
to take is not yet in, but we will review
the history of the road while we are
waiting.
In the year 1871 coal was discovered
on the mountains about nine miles west
of Mauch Chunk. The coal from the
mine was first brought to the town i'll
wagons, but soon an idea was conceiv-
ed for running it down by rail. In 1927
a railroad from Summit Hill to the ca
nal was in operation. The cars were
run down by gravity and drawn back
by mules. In going down the mules had
their own car and soon became so fond
of the ride that they could not be driven
down.
In 1874 the increasing demand of coal
induced the construction of the back
track, which was laid over Mount Pts
gah, along its side to Mount Jefferson,
up this incline and down the ridge to
the mines at Summit Hill where it join
ed the old mule track this making an
endless railroad.
But the train is here, or rather the car,
and we get aboard, the brakes are raised
sand we are run by gravity the short dis
lance to the foot of Mount Pisgah
Plane. Here our car is attached to a
afety car viii oh is connected by iron
band with powerful stationery engi he
at the top of the plane. Soon we begin
to move up the plane which is 1922 it,
in length and rises about one foot in
three. AS we near the summit we be-
gin to wonder what would happen if
any thing should break, but the safety
cogs upon the track beneath, show us
that there is no cause for fear, and soon
we pass through the engine house at the
summit, and slowly over a trestle span
ming wild ravine. Here we get a birds
eye view of the river, and see trains of
perhaps $50 coal cars carving their pre-
cious freight to the eastern markets.
On the left and far below Mauch
Chunk is to be seen, looking like Swiss
village in narrow mountain gorge.
Now we are running by gravity alone,
and the six and half miles to the foot
of Mount Jefferson is soon passed over,
! for we are attached to the most power
full engine that machinery was ever pro-
PEELED by. Only a short stop is made
here, and we are soon being drawn up
another plane, similar to, though some
what shorter than the first.
Passing through the Engine house
here we hurry over a mile descent of 45
#. to the quaint mining village of
Summit Hill. Hardly had we stepped
upon the platform here when we were
surrounded by ragged little urchins cry
ing "Say mister, want to go N see the
burning mine?" Well we did, but did
not tell them so, and passing through
the village, needed no guide to tell us
that the ruined acres and baked rocks
were effects of heat. An aged miner
working near told us that this was the
burning mine and thrusting his spade
into the loose soil at our feet he asked
us to put our hands upon what he held
up. The soil was warm and the smoke
issuing from the crevices in the rocks
told us that the sun alone was not the
cause of so much heat. Indeed the cold
October wind which blew across that
bleak spot would have dispelled any
such idea from our minds. This mine
has been burning since 1882 and to pre-
vent the fire from communicating with
the immense and valuable beds of coal
near, the vein has been cut across. so
that eventually the fire may burn ITSELF
out.
But we must resume our ride, So re-
turning to our car we soon find ourselves
upon the old mule track, going faster
and faster down through the shade of
the trees bordering the road, along cliffs,
at dizzy speed; SO fast indeed that
the wind cut our faces and we longed
ror heavy winter oyercoats.
But slackening our speed we arrive
at tho depot, and stepping from the O.
pen summer car, which has taken us
over the nine miles from Summit Hill,
my companion drew long breath and
remarked. "Well mnle that could not
enjoy that ride must be very mulish
mule indeed for ] never enjoyed ride
so much in my life, though ] did think
of friends at home once or twice" But
now as we are shivering with the cold
from our ride over the Switch Back.
we will leave you and go inside the de.
pot.