Ashley Planes

Very interesting article. Good read.

This area is one of our favorite hiking trails. My oldest son is reading the article now, and is very interested in the prospect of owning the land. This is one of his favorite hunting areas. This is where I took him hunting many years ago, and where he got his first deer. It may be time to take a hike with the camera and post some photos.

Don

Don,

Thanks for posting the link. That was a very interesting read.

 

Brad

There is a guy here in town who has video of the planes in operation. I would love to get a copy and have it converted to a digital format. It really must have been something to see.

Don

Interesting article. Hope it works out where the site will be preserved.
Ray.

Is the Reading Co. some remnant of the Reading Railroad?  I had never heard of the

"Ashley Planes", but it sounds as historically important as the Alleghant Portage

"Railroad" park, where canal boats were hauled up over a summit in central Pa.  Has

anybody built a model of it?

I'm not sure about the Reading connection, as I believe the Planes were constructed by the Lehigh Navigation and Coal Co. Here's a link to some lengthy history.

http://www.mtn-top-hs.org/ashley_planes.htm

Don

CH,

There is also a canal system here in NE PA, along the Susquehanna River which makes its way to Harrisburg PA. The coal was hauled in barges by Mules. Not sure if this is part of the system you refer to in your post. 

Don

Here is a photo of one of the engine houses. Other photos can be viewed on the site listed in my previous post.

Don

Here are some pics of a load I made with similar gears:

 

Another piece of history that may be lost, our youth today have a lack of history of all kinds. History today as a study tends to be surface and or not factual. I would like to say more but this thread would be gone if I did, so I will leave it at that.

Hope it can be saved, and study of it's history will be worked out some how.

"

There is a guy here in town who has video of the planes in operation. I would love to get a copy and have it converted to a digital format. It really must have been something to see.

Don"

 

what format is it in?  i can probably convert it.

 

Very interesting read. It would be a nice piece of history to be preserved. 

Considering the Planes were closed in 1943, I would say it's probably 16MM. Just a guess. I'll have to get in touch with his son in law and see if they're still around.

Don

"Considering the Planes were closed in 1943, I would say it's probably 16MM. Just a guess. I'll have to get in touch with his son in law and see if they're still around.

Don"

 

dang, good point.  i can't do 16mm.  used to be able to do 8mm..

http://timesleader.com/news/lo...y-tax-auction-roster

The above link is from an article in the Times Leader this morning. Luzerne County is $17.000 dollars to the good, as the tax lien has been paid.

Don

how much, if any, of the original structures, track, etc, remain?

There are remnants of buildings, retaining walls and the right of way of the actual planes, and several viaducts built of stone and concrete. A few telegraph lines are scattered along the planes as well. No trackage or other mechanical equipment remain. I will be doing another hike on the lower plane hopefully next Saturday, so I should have more pictures to post. 

Don Kane Jr

trying to locate it on google earth, but not having much luck.  found ashley and mountain top, but can't see anything resembling a right of way between the two.

About the only two possible recognizable points would be the Ashley reservoir, and maybe the filtration plant. All the trackage right of way is probably obscured by trees. It has grown in substantially since 1943. If you can locate the reservoir, the planes are north a little.

Don