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 ...

The Benjamin Franklin Bridge   Route U.S. 30 is the third longest road in the United States. It spans the country from Atlantic City, NJ in the east to Astoria, OR in the west, a distance of 3112 miles (5008 Km). I recently posted a story of U.S. 30 in New Jersey , and for the next three weeks I will explore its journey through Pennsylvania. Philadelphia   Route U.S. 30 enters Pennsylvania by crossing the Benjamin Franklin Bridge across the Delaware River. The bridge opened in 1926, and at the time it was the world’s longest suspension bridge. It was the first bridge across the Delaware this far south. Once in Philadelphia the route joins I-676, bypassing Center City, before hopping on the I-95 north. Cherry Street Pier Route 30 exits the interstate at Girard Ave, near the Philadelphia Zoo, and my drive took me through the Overbrook neighborhood, along Girard Ave and then Lancaster Ave. The area is poor, working class. It has seen better days, but it soldiers on.  Philede...