10 Things A Railfan Might Want to Know While in Scranton

http://www.robertjohndavis.com/blog/?p=416

Enjoy!

Rob

May I add two more?

1. If you have a car, go see Tunkhannock Viaduct and Starrucca Viaduct. Both in their own way represent important railroad history. Your can go see both in an afternoon. You have a decent shot of seeing a train on Tunkhannock and will need real luck to see one on Starrucca but you'll be glad you went to see both.

2. Take the anthracite mine tour at the Anthracite Museum. You will remember what a dangerous business it was to get the coal out of the mine and feel a little of it once you are underground.

Great list, Rob! I wish that I'd had this a few years ago when I visited Scranton. Truth be told, didn't even know about the breaker in Ashley until I wrote the Wanamie piece for R&R. This definitely goes in the "keeper" file!

Jeff Terry

A correction to your number 9. Sadly the volunteer association was forced out several years ago and replaced by Eastern National, the outfit that runs most of the NPS gift shops.

Also, have the buffet lunch in the Radisson. There's usually two or three entrees, salad, cooked veggies and desserts.

When I'm in town on a weekday, I make it a habit: best lunch in Scranton.

A correction to your number 9. Sadly the volunteer association was forced out several years ago.


"Forced" isn't the right word. It abdicated.

Superheater, will we ever agree on anything? The Radisson? Best lunch in Scranton? Well, to each his own. LOL!!!!!

I also didn't mention Coney Island Texas Wieners.

Good call about the bridges. Add Martin's Creek Viaduct to the list, too. It's my favorite of the 3 biggies. Heresy? ;-)

I didn't know about the bookstore situation, but lets not let this thread go down that hole.

It is time for all to be celebrating Scranton and all of its unique charms!

All the best,

Rob

I like Texas Weiners, but believe that they are technically "sausages". You know what they say about laws and sausages. Broccoli and Salmon are better. If I need the guilt, well the desserts are rich and decadent enough for that.

And nearby Old Forge claims to be the pizza capital of the northeast. I don't recall the name but one such place has some risotto served as the main course that is really good.

There are great places for white pizza in Old Forge. Revello's is the most famous, but there are some smaller ones that are really cozy.

Augustine's Club 17, near Sibley Avenue (where I used to live) used to be very good. Is Brutico's still there?

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Forge-PA/Augustines-Club-17/276421745979#!/pages/Old-Forge-PA/Augustines-Club-17/276421745979?ajaxpipe=1&__a=3

As the unofficial beer expert on this forum, I will add that I've not experienced any of the Scranton brewpubs/bars recently (well, at all since 1995 or so), but the beer lists at backyard do impress even this spoiled-rotten beer geek.

The Lion Brewery in Wilkes-Barre just released a well-received Stegmaier IPA, worth seeking out I'm told.

But like we have time to imbibe while we're doing night photos.........

A couple comments, one is that the Trolley Museum is really a must-see and must-ride. Coney Island is a definate as well, but there are two Coney's in Scranton, both in the same block. The coal mine tour is a great experience and a real eye-opener if you're not from the region.

I agree on the Banshee, but the Northern Light espresso bar in the 500 of Spruce, just off Courthouse square, should have been mentioned as well. You have Cooper's for seafood, also Brixx in the 100 of N. Washington for burgers/salads, and the Hilton on the corner of Adams and Lackawanna has a great lunch buffet most days for $10. La Trattoria at the bottom of Moosic St. has great Italian food and is walkable from the Radisson and immediate downtown, and Osaka on the square (Adams) has asian cuisine (there is also a Thai restaurant on the corner of Mulberry and Adams).

Taxi cabs are available but you usually have to call for one, they do not prowl the streets like in most cities. Make sure you know the phone number for one of the cab companies if you're heading out for the evening for a few drinks. Scranton cops are tough on DUIs and patrol the downtown heavily, so it's best to play it safe. "Adult" bars, as in non-college hangouts, include the Banshee, Merts, and the Sambuca, all on Penn Ave, the Bog (a little off-beat) and Farley's on Adams, Backyard Ale House on Linden, and of course the Radisson and Hilton. Did I miss any? Cigar shops can be found on Spruce St, one in the 500 and one in the 400 block.

Something you may want to take the time to see is the former Pennsylvania Coal Co. building (PCC) on Mill St. in Dunmore. The PCC gravity road was bought out by the Erie and Wyoming RR, and later the Erie, who used the building for many years. It is now abandoned and not much to look at, but it is a piece of history for Erie fans and is only a few minutes drive from downtown Scranton.

The Scranton Parking Authority has built several new parking garages in the past few years in the downtown, and all offer great vantage points for photography and are free to enter if on foot. The garage on the corner of Adams and Lackawanna especially will give you a great view of the former DL&W erecting shops.

Nay Aug Park is a short trip from the downtown (straight up Mulberry) and offers views of the DL&W tunnel from the Davis Trail. There is also a small museum, the Nay Aug gorge, tree house, public pool, a PCC gravity RR car on display, and a picinic area with grills in the renovated Hanlon's Grove section of the park.

Two members of the EndlessMountainRails2010 committee slaving away at the ticket orders for the 560-plus registrants. A crew of 7 the last two nights assembled the tickets in as logical an order as possible.

To add to the tips when you arrive at Scranton... Pick up your registration packets. You can't get on any of the trains without your tickets. 8) We all look forward to your arrival. Enjoy your time with us.

Welcome to Scranton!

For those of you coming to Scranton next week, I just wanted to take a quick moment to welcome you and introduce myself. I am the General Manager at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel. Even if you are not staying with us, I would encourage you to still come see this beautifully transformed station, formerly the D.L.&W Station designed by Kenneth Murchison.

I thank the prior post as already commenting on our lunch buffet in the Grand Station Lobby ... Thanks!..lol. We take a lot of pride in our restaurant operations. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are all served in our Lobby (restaurant is called Carmen's). Open to the public, so please do join us. Your schedule looks extremely exciting and busy next week. If you are running late we have another restaurant and comfortable lounge called Trax, which is the former loading platform of the station. Our kitchen is open until midnight if you are running late!

If this is your first visit, you will truly enjoy Scranton as it is a wonderful success story of a city resurrecting again after a boom time. Also a very safe city to walk around and enjoy.

I look forward to meeting so many of you next week!

Michael Kearney
General Manager
Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel