Train enthusiasts got a hand-on experience with the “Hand on the Throttle” event at the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine and Steam Train this weekend.
The event raised money for restoration of the LVCC #119, which will eventually run when it's restored at the Pioneer Tunnel.
Train enthusiasts who eagerly registered for the event were granted a unique opportunity: the chance to step into the shoes of an engineer and take control of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company #123, formerly known as the "Henry Clay".
Departing from the Frank Staudenmeier station, participants embarked on a trip out the railroad tracks, guiding the train along its familiar route and experiencing the thrill of locomotion firsthand.
Each excursion spanned approximately a half an hour. The event ran through the weekend with all appointments reserved by Friday morning.
Originally constructed by Vulcan Ironworks and commissioned by Gilberton Coal, the LVCC #123 has witnessed the evolution of the coal industry and the railways that served it.
Following a change in ownership, the locomotive found a new home at the colliery in Park Place near Mahanoy City, where it would later finds its way to a junkyard after being retired.
However, fate had other plans for the machine. Retired and relegated to obscurity, the LVCC #123 faced an uncertain future until it found sanctuary at the Pioneer Tunnel.
Under the banner of preservation, the locomotive was christened the "Henry Clay", a name chosen through a community contest decades ago. Going forward, the train will go by its original name, the LVCC #123.
