TBT - Lewistown Junction....before cars outnumbered people this was THE mode of transportation.....classes went there to see Eisenhower and his whistle stops and Goldwater (AuH2O)....sleeping cars, smoking cars, and Club cars (oh and dont forget the caboose)..and some history (From the Paranormal Website) Lewistown Junction Train Station, Lewistown PA Throughout history, the area Lewistown PA was founded in was used as a major transportation route through this part of the country. Prior to the settlement of White men with the 1754 purchase of the area by the Penn family, major foot roads crisscrossed the area. This is due in part to the nine mile cut in the mountains the Juniata river makes, now known as the Lewistown Narrows. This Narrows facilitates traffic so well that as early as 1786 there was a scheduled stage run between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh through Lewistown Which eventually became modern day route 22. Also branching off that route was the main stage to the Lake Erie region which roughly followed modern day route 322. In 1817 a turnpike was completed linking Lewistown with Harrisburg through the narrows utilizing the old stage trails. There is an old Stone Arch bridge (1813) on the south end of town neat the western side of the narrows still standing. The interesting structural note on this bridge is that it was made without a keystone. Today is is surrounded by a park and is worth checking out in all its splendor. From 1826-1835 The state started the Main Line of Public Works. This was a series of canals and railroads to link Philadelphia to the west. There was a canal dug through the Narrows area. There is a lock and lock keepers house on the East side of the narrows, and sections of the canal still exist. There are canal boat rides given locally on a refurbished section. This main line cut travel time from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh from several weeks to four days. The canal remained in service until 1889 when a flood caused damage that was to costly to fix. A new company was formed in 1846 to replace the slower roads and canals with a rail line. This company opened its first track from Harrisburg to Lewistown in 1849. This was the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) which in time would become the largest and most powerful company in history. By 1854 the line was completed and you could make the Philadelphia to Pittsburgh trip in just 15 hours for only $8. The station has remained in service to this day, making it the oldest continuously operating Train station in the US. Not only did this this station service the main route, but two additional train companies utilized the station to bring goods and passengers to this terminal. In 1865 the Mifflin and Centre County Railroad (M&CC) opened to service the towns of Reedsville and Milroy. In 1871 the Sunbury and Lewistown Railroad began service towards the east to Sunbury along the old Indian warriors path (modern day route 522). There was even trolley lines radiating out from this stations throughout the area. The most well known terminated at Kishacoquillas park. Some of the building from this line still stand in the park today. Today Amtrak continues to move people and Norfolk and Southern Continues to move freight through this line and station. The Juniata Valley Railroad still acts as a feeder line connection local mills and businesses to the main line. In the Paranormal world, Rail lines are often used by spirits as highways. Many locations along active and even unused lines are hot spots. The Lewistown station is one of these. Locals have taken pictures with orbs and shadowy figures present. The station itself has seen at least one death in its 165 year history, and there are most likely many we do not know of yet. People have reported odd feelings, cold spots and period dressed figures on the grounds. We have not done an investigation at this location yet, but hope to be in contact with the owners soon.
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 16:45:38 +0000
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