Travels in the 2nd half

The Monongahela River at Sunset   Route U.S. 30 stretches from Atlantic City, New Jersey to Astoria, Oregon, a distance of 3112 miles (5008 Km). This is the third piece covering my journey along the route in Pennsylvania. Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum The Darlington Station   I ended my last leg in the city of Somerset, PA, about 10 miles south of Route 30. After breakfast, I returned to the Lincoln Highway and headed west. The road took me through several valleys along the Loyalhanna Creek, entering Pennsylvania coal country. My first stop of the day was at the Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum. The Ligonier Valley Rail Road ran east from the city Latrobe, and provided freight and passenger service to several coal mines, and their towns, in the area from its founding in 1877 until 1952. The museum occupies what had been the Darlington Station on the line. It has historical exhibits and several old train cars to explore. The station sits right outside the Idlewild amusement ...

  Last week I started a road trip, traveling on U.S. 30, west bound, across Pennsylvania. The route covers a section of the Lincoln Highway, the countries oldest coast-to-coast highway. This week I will continue that trip, through the center of the state. Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium   I started this leg heading west out of Gettysburg, PA. Twelve miles along I found Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium. In 1975 Ed and Pat Gotwalt opened general store along Route 30, selling a wide variety of food and souvenirs. When that store closed in 1983, Ed, Pat, and their son Michael, found a nearby property, and opened a new business. This time they concentrated on two things. One was Ed’s elephant collection, which had grown to over 2000 pieces. They also decided to limit their inventory to candy. Today these have created a wonderful place for families to enjoy both visually, and to stock up on snacks for the road. Chambersburg PA My trip continued west along U.S....