FREE: Vintage Dietz Vesta D.L.& W.R.R. Lantern

The listing, Vintage Dietz Vesta D.L.& W.R.R. Lantern has ended.

Railroad, Delaware Lackawanna & Western, Dietz Vesta, Clear Globe, DL&WRR.

Approximately 16 inches tall with the handle. Original and complete. this was my Dad’s and came from our hamlet. Solid, original globe no cracks..slight rust but removes easily.

The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company (DL&W or Lackawanna Railroad) was a U.S. Class 1 railroad that connected Buffalo, New York, and Hoboken, New Jersey, a distance of about 400 miles (640 km). Incorporated in 1853, the DL&W was profitable during the first two decades of the twentieth century, but its margins were gradually hurt by declining traffic in coal, competition from trucks, and high New Jersey taxes. In 1960, the DL&W merged with rival Erie Railroad to form the Erie Lackawanna Railroad.

I remember the train going in my early youth behind the community center, it made a stop at the Borden Milk plant behind the town. I was always thrilled when the blew the train whistle..Here’s some of the local history on it.

It was the second oldest railroad in the state and was constructed in 1833-34 by the Ithaca and Owego Railroad. This road had originally been chartered in 1828. In 1843 the Cayuga & Susquehanna Railroad acquired it through a mortgage foreclosure. In 1855 it was leased to the Lackawanna but did not become officially owned by the DL&W until July 23, 1946.

Into the 1920's Ithaca was busy with several passenger trains pulled by 4-4-0 camelbacks, a daily freight, and a yard switcher which doubled as a pusher on the switchback leading out of Ithaca. There were even automatic block semaphore signals. Passenger service ended in 1942 and steam gave way to diesels in 1951. Passenger service was more popular on the Lehigh Valley (which also served Ithaca) because of the direct Pennsylvania Station connection in New York City. Until 1933 there was a New York sleeper serving Ithaca. It arrived at 7:30am and left at 11:05pm.