This also seems to be the case with the Montour Railroad a Mighty but small railroad which hauled coal from the mines of the south hills to the main rail lines of the P&LE which was absorbed by CSX Rail .
Starting in the 1800s the line extended 27 miles and linked up with several mines along its path thru the south hills and also included passenger service at one time .
There was an extensive shop area right along the Parkway West I-376 right at the Montour exit which is now an office park . Over the years almost the entire length of the railroad has been turned into a bicycle path where much history is to be seen as you pass thru the many small mining towns .
However it appears some of the railroad workers are still busy at it hooking up coal cars for there trips to market. I have heard from couple people who use the trail about seeing what looks like a railroad workers lantern lighted along the trail and one gentleman even wrote about it in a Facebook Post
on the Montour Railroad Historical Society Page which I have included below .
Authored by Gene P. Scheaffer
Even
though the last train on the Montour R.R. operated some 35 years ago,
most mornings at aroud 6:30 A.M., still under the night time darkness,
while passing through Thompsonville on my way to work, just across the
creek from Valleybrook Road, a single trainman's lantern glows in
ghostly reminder of those coal runs working Thompsonville siding of long
ago. This morning the dim light was spotted up at the Turkey Farm
crossing as daylight neared. Most ...but not every morning for the past
several months, even in the winters snow & cold, I reflect back
when Roy...or Dan...Desko or French...were setting off empty B&LE
hoppers at Thompsonville upon returning from Mifflin
Junction...or...maybe it was Jones or Ceyrolles, coming west from
Montour #10, leaving that #10 coal at Thompsonville so as to work
Montour #4, taking light engines out to Boyce to pull in another 100 off
the P-Company, then filling out at #4 to a 3 or 4 unit train for
Champion. Months ago, when I first noticed that flicker of light
through the bare trees there at Thompsonville I thought maybe a
reflection of some type off the creek below, but morning after morning,
at different locations along Thompsonville siding, there it was. Moving
east or moving west I could not discern. Looking back into the early
1970's when winter time meant added operational problms for the
railroad, Thompsonville was used to store empty hoppers as well as coal
from Montour 4 when Champion backed up with stop off coal, when the
sidings of the Montour R.R. were used to store stop off coal account no
room at Champion or Boggs. As I eased through Thompsonville these
mornings when that ghostly trainmans lantern appeared, I found myself
straining for a glimpse of three or four cab lights from a consist of
SW-9's ready for that hand signal to make that next move at
Thompsonville.
If your passing through Thompsonville at 6:15 A.M. or 6:30 A.M., look closely, you'll see the ghost.
I have also seen strange lights reflecting along this trail as well is it a natural phenomena or is it the ghost of railroad workers past. I invite you to travel to and check out this area and make your own conclusions. Also Check out the Montour Railroad Historical Society Facebook page and see some more history and fascinating photos of this once vital railroad.
If your passing through Thompsonville at 6:15 A.M. or 6:30 A.M., look closely, you'll see the ghost.
I have also seen strange lights reflecting along this trail as well is it a natural phenomena or is it the ghost of railroad workers past. I invite you to travel to and check out this area and make your own conclusions. Also Check out the Montour Railroad Historical Society Facebook page and see some more history and fascinating photos of this once vital railroad.
