Allentown station (Lehigh Valley Railroad)

Allentown
Allentown
	Postcard depicting the station in 1910
General information
Location	4th and Hamilton streets (PA 222), Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates	40°36′14″N 075°27′51″W / 40.60389°N 75.46417°W
Line(s)	Lehigh Valley Railroad
History
Opened	1890
Closed	1961
Former services
	Fullerton toward Buffalo
Location
Location

Allentown was a train station in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It was opened by the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1890 and closed in 1961. The building was demolished in 1972. The station was located one block west of the Central Railroad of New Jersey's Allentown station.

History

19th century

The Lehigh Valley Railroad opened its original line between Allentown and Easton, Pennsylvania in 1855; the first passenger train ran between the two cities on June 11.^[1] In 1890, the Lehigh Valley Railroad relocated its station to downtown Allentown, just off its main line. The station stood near the intersection of Hamilton and 4th streets, adjacent to Jordan Creek.^[2]

Long-distance passenger trains included the Asa Packer, which ran from New York City to Mauch Chunk in present-day Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, the John Wilkes, which ran from New York City to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the Black Diamond and the Star, which both ran from New York City to Buffalo, and the Maple Leaf, which ran from New York City to Toronto. Each of these had continuing equipment or connecting services to Philadelphia.^[3]

20th century

The railroad abandoned its remaining passenger trains on February 4, 1961, after years of financial losses and declining patronage.^[4] Allentown was one of several passenger-only stations that closed as a result.^[5] The abandoned station was demolished in 1972 to permit the construction of an enlarged road bridge over Jordan Creek.^[6]

Service along the former Lehigh Valley route to Allentown resumed in 1978. Conrail, which took over the Lehigh Valley Railroad's lines in 1976, began operating commuter trains from Allentown to Philadelphia. The service was funded by the federal government and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Trains stopped at a platform at Third and Union Streets in Allentown, approximately a block south of where the Lehigh Valley's station had stood.

Service began on July 31, 1978, with four round trips to Philadelphia. The service was an extension of SEPTA's existing Bethlehem Line trains.^[7] The station included a platform, small shelter, and an unpaved parking lot. Service between Allentown and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania ended on August 20, 1979, amid low patronage and a dispute over the subsidy for the service.^[8]^[9]

Notes

^ Archer 1977, p. 32
^ Archer 1977, p. 174
^ Lehigh Valley Railroad September 1953 timetable, Tables 1, 2 http://www.viewoftheblue.com/photography/timetables/LV092753.pdf
^ Archer 1977, p. 275
^ "LVRR To Close Six Passenger Depots Monday". Jim Thorpe Times-News. February 7, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved April 14, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Storch, Phil H. (June 18, 1973). "Hamilton Span Opening Set For Tomorrow". The Morning Call. p. 6. Retrieved April 14, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Conrail adds trains today to-from Lehigh Valley". The Morning Call. July 31, 1978. p. 13. Retrieved April 14, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Clark, John (June 15, 1979). "Lack of commuters danger signal for route". The Morning Call. p. 9. Retrieved April 14, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Coyle, Marcia (August 3, 1979). "Conrail cancels Allentown train". The Morning Call. p. 5. Retrieved April 14, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.

References

Archer, Robert F. (1977). The History of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Berkeley: Howell-North Books. ISBN 978-0-8310-7113-4.

[1] Archer 1977, p. 32

[2] Archer 1977, p. 174

[3] Lehigh Valley Railroad September 1953 timetable, Tables 1, 2 http://www.viewoftheblue.com/photography/timetables/LV092753.pdf

[4] Archer 1977, p. 275

[5] "LVRR To Close Six Passenger Depots Monday". Jim Thorpe Times-News. February 7, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved April 14, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.

[6] Storch, Phil H. (June 18, 1973). "Hamilton Span Opening Set For Tomorrow". The Morning Call. p. 6. Retrieved April 14, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.

[7] "Conrail adds trains today to-from Lehigh Valley". The Morning Call. July 31, 1978. p. 13. Retrieved April 14, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.

[8] Clark, John (June 15, 1979). "Lack of commuters danger signal for route". The Morning Call. p. 9. Retrieved April 14, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.

[9] Coyle, Marcia (August 3, 1979). "Conrail cancels Allentown train". The Morning Call. p. 5. Retrieved April 14, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.

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