Ashley Planes

Ashley Planes was a cable railway system consisting of three separate inclined sections that transported rail cars over Wilkes-Barre Mountain using cable mechanisms and stationary engines. The installation connected the Wyoming Valley with nearby distribution points and created a vital transportation route for raw materials.

The system was built in 1837 by the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company to connect coal-rich valleys with ports to the east. This infrastructure played a key role in early American industrial development and made regional resources accessible across the nation.

The site represented industrial achievement in the region and showed how engineering innovations transformed coal extraction. Workers and local communities viewed this infrastructure as a symbol of progress that reshaped their area.

Visitors should know the area is hilly and features well-trafficked walking paths through the landscape. The best times to explore are spring and fall, when the weather is mild and views of the mountain terrain remain clear.

The system used a clever counterweight design where empty cars traveled downhill and automatically pulled loaded cars uphill. This elegant mechanical solution required less power than conventional drives and was a remarkable engineering achievement for its time.

Location: Pennsylvania

Inception: 1837

GPS coordinates: 41.19060,-75.91030

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:00