in more detail, but wanted to give an idea of what can be found in this area. This first set is from the Nicholson area.
About 3 miles or so south of Nicholson are the old DL&W tunnels which were used until the Clarks Summit-Hallstead Cutoff
(including the Tunkhannock Viaduct) was completed in 1915. This is located just north of Tunnel Hill Road and just west of U.S. 11.
The left-hand tunnel is slighly taller and newer than the original bore on the right. The area approaching the tunnels is a bit wet,
so boots are recommended, but the area is clear of large brush and obstacles. The left-hand tunnel seems clear all the way through,
except for a few cave-ins from the side walls only, and you can see the light in the distance coming from the open north portal.
The first part of the ceiling as you enter the tunnel is brick-lined with large cut stones along the walls, and once you go in
a bit deeper, the tunnel seems to be entirely cut from the rock in the mountain, with no lining.
The tunnel on the right has a small fence covering the bore, and you can hear a lot of water falling from the ceiling
near the entrance. There's no lining in this one, and no light coming from the other end to indicate whether or not it's intact.
Next, I hiked down to the south portal of the "new" tunnel south of Nicholson, which was once double-tracked in a single bore.
I got to see it through the trees, but due to an 8 foot wall on the east side for quite a distance, I was not able to get a
worthwhile photo of it. I would recommend hiking down to the west side of the ROW to do this, but I didn't take the time that day.
Next, I took some photos of the Tunkhannock Viaduct, starting at the point where Route 11 approaches Nicholson from the south.
The "Lackawanna RR" inscription is only over one arch on the west side of the viaduct.
In town, going east on Route 92, the viaduct passes over a residential area. There's a bit of surface erosion (powdering),
but overall the structure is in very good condition for its age (see second photo).
Further east on Route 92, there's a side road which offers a spectacular view of the entire 10-arch set of spans.
Along the west side of Route 11 in Nicholson is the old DL&W Freight House. This was once along the old alignment of the main line
prior to the completion of the viaduct in 1915, but there were tracks coming from the north (Hop Bottom area) which still branched off
the new alignment and served this station for freight until around 1971. The station was built in 1849 by a DL&W predecessor.
Today, it is under the control of the Nicholson Heritage Association which plans to renovate and restore it.
There are still a few sections of track in the ground here if you look closely.
Just south of the station, looking south again at the Tunkhannock Viaduct, from along Route 11.
Several miles north of Nicholson along Route 11 is the Martin's Creek Viaduct, just south of Kingsley, PA.
This was also part of the Hallstead Cutoff project, but is quite a bit more weathered and crumbling in comparison
to the Tunkhannock Viaduct. These last seven photos are all of the Martin's Creek Viaduct.
These last two were taken from the north side (along Route 11).
I will continue north on the old DL&W main in NEPA in the next set.
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