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From: "Dad" wsmith5957 AT hotmail DOT com
Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2005 07:54:06 -0400
Subject: DL&W Kingston, Pa. / 1960s
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For those who love the 'Bloom'.........
Along about April or so in 1967, I was visiting my aunt Dorothy who lived in Wilkes-Barre and decided to ride over to Kingston & take a few snapshots of the remains of the DL&W yard & roundhouse there.
The roundhouse no longer sheltered the 2-8-2s & 0-8-0s that worked from this place, nor even the RS2s that I'd seen lined up in the early 60s. There was an S-2 Alco there & a (Dunmore, I think) caboose to handle the little work on the Bloom that the Northumberland turn job didn't. I had my aunt pose on the Alco & then she posed me on the old caboose (how I wish I was that thin today). The station was closed acct it being the weekend, but it looked like it did a substantial business in times past. I reflected that the Company must have gotten a hell of a deal on green paint somewhere but the brickwork on the chimney did credit to the leaning tower of Pisa.
Across the street from the yard was a row of typical coal mining area Company houses that probably sheltered employees when this line did a thriving business. Convenient for the brakemen, firemen, & most of all the callers who simply stepped across to roust an employee for work.
Finally, we have the LACKAWANNA LUNCH. Also across the street from the yard, I was advised to go there for breakfast the first time I covered the Pittston run when the regular man was off. This eating house was run by 2 or 3 elderly women and it was like entering a timewarp. A marble-topped counter with 8 or 10 stools. Tables with bow-backed wooden chairs AND homemade pies & cakes under glass covers on the counter. I had the ham & eggs, homefries (on a large platter) & toast with coffee. I don't know the exact price, but the figure of 85c sticks in my
mind. I'll bet they were serving breakfast when the yard had dozens of mine runs, Hampden yard turns, and others.
I'm amazed to think they lasted into the early 60s.
Regards to all,
Walter E. Smith

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