Delaware Water Gap, PA: 1903 Dilapidated/DL&W Depot

(Satellite)

Street View, Oct 2017

Dante Medori (Dantelevator), Feb 2018

Raymond Storey posted three photos with the comment: "DELAWARE WATER GAP PA. THE DL&W."

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Metrotrails posted two photos with the comment:

Metrotrails Then and Now Series: Historic 1912 image of the Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania station on the Lackawanna Railroad, by Watson B. Bunnell, from the Steamtown NHS Archives, compared to the same scene on our 2023 visit.

The station stop was established in May 1856 with the completion of the Lackawanna route through New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

The current station structure, designed by Frank J. Nies in Late Victorian Style, was completed in 1903, with two separate brick structures connected by covered concrete platforms.

The station saw incredible service, as the Delaware Water Gap was once the vacation capital of the world. There was once a hotel directly adjacent to the station, where Interstate 80 is today, and many hotels were found through and on the outskirts of town.

The station remained in operation for passenger service until March of 1953, and the building was sold to the borough of Delaware Water Gap in 1958.

While freight still passes along these tracks, and special excursions from the north occasionally stretch to the Water Gap, the station has seen little or no use, and is badly deteriorating. Work to stabilize and protect the aging slate roof has been undertaken, and there has been some damage control, but the building continues to decline.

The proposed reactivation of commuter service between Scranton and New York city completely bypasses the historic station, favoring instead a new station site off of River Road to the north, adjacent to the PA Welcome Center.

Hopefully, the historic structure can be saved and serve some use in the near future.

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Doug Searles commented on the above post
Most people aren’t aware of the groundwork the Lackawanna did around that station. Glance at the marked up version of the Bunnell photo and you will notice a very large star grown into the landscaping between the tracks and the river bank. The track work, telegraph poles, and landscaping were certainly held to a high standard directly surrounding these popular stations. The Lackawanna took great pride in their public appearance.

Doug Searles commented on the above post
Here is another view of that large star. From a postcard in my collection. Undated.

Metrotrails posted two images with the comment:

Metrotrails Then and Now Series: Historic early 1900s postcard image of the Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania station on the Lackawanna Railroad, compared to the same scene on our 2023 visit.

The station stop was established in May 1856 with the completion of the Lackawanna route through New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

The current station structure, designed by Frank J. Nies in Late Victorian Style, was completed in 1903, with two separate brick structures connected by covered concrete platforms.

The station saw incredible service, as the Delaware Water Gap was once the vacation capital of the world. There was once a hotel directly adjacent to the station, where Interstate 80 is today, and many hotels were found through and on the outskirts of town.

The station remained in operation for passenger service until March of 1953, and the building was sold to the borough of Delaware Water Gap in 1958.

While freight still passes along these tracks, and special excursions from the north occasionally stretch to the Water Gap, the station has seen little or no use, and is badly deteriorating. Work to stabilize and protect the aging slate roof has been undertaken, and there has been some damage control, but the building continues to decline.

The proposed reactivation of commuter service between Scranton and New York city completely bypasses the historic station, favoring instead a new station site off of River Road to the north, adjacent to the PA Welcome Center.

Hopefully, the historic structure can be saved and serve some use in the near future.

The historic photo appears to have been taken from the upper story of the old hotel, but our modern shot is taken from the fill upon which Interstate 80 rests.

Metrotrails shared with the comment: "Lackawanna station, Delaware Water Gap Pa."

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Metrotrails posted two images with a copy of the description for the above post.

Metrotrails shared

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Brian Woodruff, Jun 2023

Edward O Pollock III posted three photos with the comment: "Former rail station that sits at the Delaware Water Gap.  Sad state of disrepair but still standing."

Benoit Armand: They're working on it.

Chris Godshalk: Old Delaware Water Gap Station. Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroad. Occasionally an excursion train from Steamtown will go two point of gap overlook.

John Jason Pryor: The rail line is state owned. The operator is Delaware Lackawana. 

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Robert Taylor commented on Edward's post
D & L uses this track to go to Slateford junction this is also a stop for one of steam towns. Excursions.

Dave Galp commented on Edward's post
You can actually go inside it's open during specific times of the year. I took a special steamtown excursion from Scranton to this station last summer and had the opportunity to go inside of it.

Dave Galp commented on Edward's post, cropped

Dave Galp commented on Edward's post

Metrotrails posted two images with the comment: 

Metrotrails Then and Now Series: Historic early 1900s postcard image of the Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania station on the Lackawanna Railroad, compared to the same scene on our 2023 visit.

The station stop was established in May 1856 with the completion of the Lackawanna route through New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

The current station structure, designed by Frank J. Nies in Late Victorian Style, was completed in 1903, with two separate brick structures connected by covered concrete platforms.

The station saw incredible service, as the Delaware Water Gap was once the vacation capital of the world. There was once a hotel directly adjacent to the station, where Interstate 80 is today, and many hotels were found through and on the outskirts of town.

The station remained in operation for passenger service until March of 1953, and the building was sold to the borough of Delaware Water Gap in 1958.

While freight still passes along these tracks, and special excursions from the north occasionally stretch to the Water Gap, the station has seen little or no use, and is badly deteriorating. Work to stabilize and protect the aging slate roof has been undertaken, and there has been some damage control, but the building continues to decline.

The new comparison looks more off because part of the station awnings are missing. 

The proposed reactivation of commuter service between Scranton and New York city completely bypasses the historic station, favoring instead a new station site off of River Road to the north, adjacent to the PA Welcome Center.

Hopefully, the historic structure can be saved and serve some use in the near future.

Metrotrails shared with the comment: "Lackawanna Railroad station, Delaware Water Gap Pa."

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Comments indicate that preservation is low priority because it is in a flood zone.

Tony Morton commented on Metrotrails' post