Yes, the Switchback Railroad Started in Coaldale

Yes, the Switchback Railroad Started in Coaldale
(The Valley Gazette, May 1987)

The Switchback Railroad started here—in Coaldale.

This long-forgotten plane was where coal from No. 8 Mine and others started its journey to Mauch Chunk. It operated the same way as the better-known Mount Pisgah and Mount Jefferson planes.

Barney car in foreground pushed loaded coal cars ahead of it to the top of the plane. The cars rolled by gravity into Lansford, where another plane near Abbott and Springgarden Streets was used to hoist them to Summit Hill. It was all downhill from there by gravity to Mauch Chunk.

The Coaldale plane was just east of what is now East Street.