Nesquehoning Historical Society to hold lecture on Room Run railroad

A special lecture and book signing event titled “The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company’s Room Run Railroad” will be presented at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Nesquehoning Historical Society.

Local author and historian Vince Hydro will be discussing the history of the original railroad that was built along Railroad Street in Nesquehoning.

The “Room Run” railroad was constructed to transport coal to the loading docks in Jim Thorpe. The coal industry was an important key in helping to fuel the growing economy of Pennsylvania in the early and mid 1800s.

Saturday’s event will be the second in a two-part series on the Room Run railroad. The first part occurred this past Monday.

Following the Monday lecture, Hydro autographed copies of his latest book, “The Room Run Gravity Railroad.”

Hydro is also the author of an earlier volume, published in 2002, titled “The Mauch Chunk Switchback: America’s Pioneer Railroad.”

The regular monthly meeting of the Nesquehoning Historical Society will also be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The meeting will be devoted to a discussion of business planning and fundraising for the summer months.

The Nesquehoning Historical Society is located at the Corner of Ratcliff and Railroad streets.

All events are open to the public and free of charge, but donations are accepted.

For those who would like to join the society, the dues are $10 per year. Dues may be paid in person at any meeting or may be mailed by check or money order to the Nesquehoning Historical Society at 157 W. Railroad St., Nesquehoning PA 18240.