IRON
of the
LACKAWANNA IRON & STEEL Co.
October 2008
Planning for this expedition started long ago, when I met
several other researchers interested in gravity railroads. We found something
in common with the Lackawanna Ore Mines, that was, a
lack of information on the actual location of the ore mines, with photos, on
the gravity railroad.
Some of the problems we faced were, setting a date and time
to plan the trip, how to plan an approach the area, what time of year was best,
and when to go. We met one night at Terry’s Dinner in Moosic to plan the trip,
and using all the research everyone brought, we put a plan together. With the
aid of several enlarged sections of an 1939 ariel map
we marked the shortest, and easiest route to the area. Comparing this map to a
recent Google Earth map of the same area, we found a trail that ran from the
top of East Mt, to
We would come in from the end of Cherry St. cross the
barrens, and head south to a ravine with a trail down the south face of
Mother Nature would have different plans for us as the
first snow fall of the season dumped about 6 inches of snow on
The following notes and
photos will describe the rest of our trip to the ore mines.
This is the
This is looking up grade from
the spot we left the
After the turn the grade cuts
across the west face of
Continuing along the west
slope, and below #5 dam on the right we approach turn #2.
The road bed continues to
follow a very slight grade in this area.
Here, the LISGRR bed meets
We are now coming into turn
#3, above the upper end of #5 dam, and across from the bottom of
This stone wall is past #3
turn and is typical of the stone work on both sides of the bed. Most are still in very good condition. This
one was over 75 feet long and varied from 3 to 7 feet high.
Coming out
of the top of #4 turn on to a long straight a way. Note the large rock on the left side. It has a large
drill hole through it’s center. We found one other
over the side of the wall on the right.
The rock layers form the base
of the bed in this area, and contain a great example of the yellow clay in
which the iron ore was found. No doubt this yellow clay made it easy for the
miners to follow the ore veins.
The largest intact structure
on the LISGRR is this stone bridge. It is over 15 feet high and would be able
to hold 2 tracks, bearing very heavy loads. This crossed Meadow Brook, and is
near the same compass heading, as the end of
At this point the LISGRR
follows the creek to the left, and
As we followed along the
creek, we found what looked like a wall on the other side of the creek. Closer
inspection revealed it was a stone abutment. This was a bridge! Crossing the
creek, we searched the area above the bridge and found the rail bed continued
through the notch in the center and right of the big tree, on top of the wall.
From here the trip got very
rough, as we had to fight our way through 150 years of undisturbed forest
growth on the rail bed. But, it was worth it, when we spotted the end of the
ore mine trailings piles. They were about 150 feet long and 25 feet high, with
one long pile and 2 short piles off it.
We found some holes around
the piles which may have been exploration digs for the iron ore. This is the
left end of the above photo.
This long trench is even with
the grade on the top of the ore trailings piles, and continues for over 400
feet. It varies from 10 to 4 feet wide and about 5 feet deep, ending in a hole
8 to 10 feet deep. I have to guess, as no one brought a tape measure.
Back on the rail bed we
continued up grade and found another set of trailings piles, coming from the
base of the mountain to the wall on the road bed.
This section is above the
trailings area and in the middle of a heavy growth forest. The wall is about 3
feet high on both sides.
We found only 1 mine opening,
but we had little time to search a large area. This one was caved in and had a
small pile leading to the rail bed.
At the end of track we found
this stone foundation which is about 14 X 16 feet square. This area will need
more exploration. It is in a direct line with the rail bed, it’s
purpose may have been lost to time, and the forest.
All around the foundation are
pits, holes, and trenches. It seams most of the ore may have come from this
area. We found no rail bed to connect the large trailings pile with this upper
area, but it could be easy to miss. The rail bed from the creek to the
foundation needs to be cleared of growth to get a better picture of the area.
This may have to wait for spring, and more help, as chain saws would be a must.
My thanks
to Frank Dutton and Steve Chisarick for their help and company on this trip. Another is already being planned.
Carl Orechovsky
Oldforgecoalmine.com