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Allentown was served by two passenger train stations. The '''Allentown Terminal Railroad Station''' served patrons of the [[Central Railroad of New Jersey]] (CNJ) and the [[Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road]]s (Reading) who jointly operated it. It was constructed in 1888 and 1889. The second station, the '''Lehigh Valley Railroad Station''' (LVRR), was built in 1889 and was located directly east of the CNJ station. It served the patrons of the [[Lehigh Valley Railroad|LVRR]]. Both stations were located on the south side of the 300 block of Hamilton Street, the LVRR station extending over the [[Jordan Creek]]. <ref name="LCHS"/>
Allentown was served by two passenger train stations. The '''Allentown Terminal Railroad Station''' served patrons of the [[Central Railroad of New Jersey]] (CNJ) and the [[Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road]]s (Reading) who jointly operated it. It was constructed in 1888 and 1889. The second station, the '''Lehigh Valley Railroad Station''' (LVRR), was built in 1889 and was located directly east of the CNJ station. It served the patrons of the [[Lehigh Valley Railroad|LVRR]]. Both stations were located on the south side of the 300 block of Hamilton Street, the LVRR station extending over the [[Jordan Creek]]. <ref name="LCHS"/>


==History==
⚫
Virtually all the train lines serving Allentown converged at the two stations. The Lehigh Valley rail lines ran south into Allentown along the west side of the Lehigh River, then under the Tilghman Street Third Street Bridge past the Lehigh Valley RR Freight yard north of Walnut Street then under another bridge to the Passenger Station. The CNJ tracks ran along the east side of the Lehigh, then crossed the river where now American Parkway ends and turns onto North Dauphin Street. The old CNJ crossover bridge remains standing derelict crossing the river. Both lines then paralleled each other into their Allentown stations following American Parkway, which was later built over the old railroad right of way.
During the first half of the 19th Century, Allentown was primarily a small market town for farmers. It wasn't until 1851 that the first railroad reached Allentown with the chartering of the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad, which later became the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and a small station was built which linked the city with [[Easton]] and [[Mauch Chunk]]. However, the railroad wasn't a major factor in local transportation. <ref name="Bicent">Allentown Pennsylvania Bicentennial, Lehigh Country Sesquicentennial, Lehigh Country Historical Society, 1962.</ref>

During the [[Civil War]], the industrial growth along the Lehigh River saw the establishment of industry in the city. To be successful, the industries needed cheap and reliable transportation systems to haul the raw materials and the finished products. The [[Lehigh Canal]], built in the 1820s was the major transport link used to haul [[anthracite coal]] from northeast Pennsylvania to the factories, but a major flood in 1862 seriously damaged the Canal. Charters were issued to two railroad companies, the Lehigh Valley and Central Railroad of New Jersey to build lines into Allentown. The Reading Lines entered the city soon afterwards. Along with the freight railroads, Allentown was a destination for immigrants looking for a better life and finding it in one of Allentown's textile mills and factories.<ref name="Bicent"/>

⚫
It was in the late 1880s, that that both railroads built elaborate stations in Allentown, and virtually all the rail lines serving Allentown converged at the two stations. The LVRR rail lines ran south into Allentown along the west side of the Lehigh River, then under the Tilghman Street Third Street Bridge past the LVRR Freight yard north of Walnut Street then under another bridge to the Passenger Station. The CNJ tracks ran along the east side of the Lehigh, then crossed the river where now American Parkway ends and turns onto North Dauphin Street. The old CNJ crossover bridge remains standing derelict crossing the river. Both lines then paralleled each other into their Allentown stations following American Parkway, which was later built over the old railroad right of way.


From the south, the Lehigh Valley line came up from [[Emmaus]] along Lehigh Street, then passed by [[Mack Truck]] and though Mountainville following South 4th Street and Basin street to the station. The CNJ line turned east and followed the south side of the Lehigh River though Rittersville, Fountain Hill and South Bethlehem. Both railroad's lines into Allentown were double-tracked, and a shared, separate double-tracked freight line ran to the east of the Allentown passenger stations.
From the south, the Lehigh Valley line came up from [[Emmaus]] along Lehigh Street, then passed by [[Mack Truck]] and though Mountainville following South 4th Street and Basin street to the station. The CNJ line turned east and followed the south side of the Lehigh River though Rittersville, Fountain Hill and South Bethlehem. Both railroad's lines into Allentown were double-tracked, and a shared, separate double-tracked freight line ran to the east of the Allentown passenger stations.

Revision as of 05:24, 16 August 2013

Allentown Terminal Railroad Station
Lehigh Valley Railroad Station
Inter-city rail

Central Railroad of New Jersey Station. Note the LVRR Station tower behind the station

Lehigh Valley Railroad Station
General information
Location368 Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°36′15″N 075°27′47″W / 40.60417°N 75.46306°W / 40.60417; -75.46306 CNJ
40°36′14″N 075°27′41″W / 40.60389°N 75.46139°W / 40.60389; -75.46139 LVRR
Line(s)Central Railroad of New Jersey, Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road, Lehigh Valley Railroad
Tracks2 (Each Station)
History
Opened1890
Closed1961, 1967

The Allentown passenger railroad stations provided inter-city rail service to the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania. [1]

Allentown was served by two passenger train stations. The Allentown Terminal Railroad Station served patrons of the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) and the Philadelphia and Reading Rail Roads (Reading) who jointly operated it. It was constructed in 1888 and 1889. The second station, the Lehigh Valley Railroad Station (LVRR), was built in 1889 and was located directly east of the CNJ station. It served the patrons of the LVRR. Both stations were located on the south side of the 300 block of Hamilton Street, the LVRR station extending over the Jordan Creek. [1]

History

During the first half of the 19th Century, Allentown was primarily a small market town for farmers. It wasn't until 1851 that the first railroad reached Allentown with the chartering of the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad, which later became the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and a small station was built which linked the city with Easton and Mauch Chunk. However, the railroad wasn't a major factor in local transportation. [2]

During the Civil War, the industrial growth along the Lehigh River saw the establishment of industry in the city. To be successful, the industries needed cheap and reliable transportation systems to haul the raw materials and the finished products. The Lehigh Canal, built in the 1820s was the major transport link used to haul anthracite coal from northeast Pennsylvania to the factories, but a major flood in 1862 seriously damaged the Canal. Charters were issued to two railroad companies, the Lehigh Valley and Central Railroad of New Jersey to build lines into Allentown. The Reading Lines entered the city soon afterwards. Along with the freight railroads, Allentown was a destination for immigrants looking for a better life and finding it in one of Allentown's textile mills and factories.[2]

It was in the late 1880s, that that both railroads built elaborate stations in Allentown, and virtually all the rail lines serving Allentown converged at the two stations. The LVRR rail lines ran south into Allentown along the west side of the Lehigh River, then under the Tilghman Street Third Street Bridge past the LVRR Freight yard north of Walnut Street then under another bridge to the Passenger Station. The CNJ tracks ran along the east side of the Lehigh, then crossed the river where now American Parkway ends and turns onto North Dauphin Street. The old CNJ crossover bridge remains standing derelict crossing the river. Both lines then paralleled each other into their Allentown stations following American Parkway, which was later built over the old railroad right of way.

From the south, the Lehigh Valley line came up from Emmaus along Lehigh Street, then passed by Mack Truck and though Mountainville following South 4th Street and Basin street to the station. The CNJ line turned east and followed the south side of the Lehigh River though Rittersville, Fountain Hill and South Bethlehem. Both railroad's lines into Allentown were double-tracked, and a shared, separate double-tracked freight line ran to the east of the Allentown passenger stations.

During World War I, both stations were used by the United States Army Ambulance Service (USAAS) that operated Camp Crane, a training camp for Army Ambulance drivers and support personnel. Thousands of soldiers arrived in Allentown at the stations, then were transported to the training camp. After graduating from training, the stations became pre-embarkation point, with thousands of men moving in and out rapidly, usually arriving and leaving on trains in the middle of the night. [1]

The Allentown stations provided passenger rail service for decades to Scranton, Reading, Harrisburg, New York City, Philadelphia and other points along the nations inter-city rail network.[1]

The Lehigh Valley Railroad ended all passenger operations in 1961, and the CNJ ended passenger service in 1967. Both of the stations became derelict and were torn down in 1972 when Hamilton Street was widened and the bridge over the Jordan Creek was rebuilt. The CNJ rail lines were torn out and the street resurfaced. [1]

The Jersey Central, Lehigh Valley, and Reading Railroads were all included in the creation of CONRAIL in 1976, and in 1978, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) re-opened passenger service between Allentown and Philadelphia under CONRAIL using the old LVRR tracks. Because there was no longer a station, SEPTA riders had to utilize a makeshift platform located one block south of the former train station at a gravel kit at 3d and Union Streets. The service was popular with riders, However, the service ended as rapidly as it began in 1979 due to poor trackage and loss of a subsidy from PennDOT. For commuters traveling from Allentown/Bethlehem and Philadelphia, it proved faster to drive to the small village of Center Valley instead and board trains there.

Today, some rusting steel beams remain of the part of the Lehigh Valley station built over the creek. A closed restaurant and bar, built in 1980 replicates the CNJ station. The only rail service that goes into Allentown today is a single-track short line that runs on the old LVRR tracks used by SEPTA, terminating at American Parkway and Gordon Streets.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Hellerich, Mahlon H, and Pennsylvania) Lehigh County Historical Society Allentown. Allentown, 1762-1987 : a 225-year history. Allentown, Pennsylvania: Lehigh County Historical Society, 1987
  2. ^ a b Allentown Pennsylvania Bicentennial, Lehigh Country Sesquicentennial, Lehigh Country Historical Society, 1962.
  3. ^ The Union Street Train Tower

External links

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