Welcome
The Tower
Built in 1908, the East Stroudsburg Railroad Tower stands near the corner of Lackawanna and Analomink Streets in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. In its glory days, as part of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, the tower controlled the switches and signals on the main tracks between Broad Street and Federal Street.
The tower is the last remaining DL&W wood railroad tower in Pennsylvania (and perhaps on the entire railroad), and still contains the original mechanical interlocking machine. While our tower no longer controls switches or signals, a few of these large levers can still be operated to demonstrate the features of these machines. No mechanical interlocking machines of this type remain in service in the United States.
The Tower Society Invites New Members!
The East Stroudsburg Railroad Tower Society was formed in 2005 to restore, maintain, and operate this tower as a museum. Our goal is to preserve and promote an understanding of the history and significance of railroads and railroading, specifically as it relates to the tower and the surrounding area. We are an all-volunteer 501 (c) 3 educational organization.
The Tower Society is made up of people, both young and old, who enjoy sharing in the magic of railroading. The Tower is run as a museum. Tours are given when local events bring crowds to the area. Many people in town grew up wondering what actually happened in the Tower and today finally have a chance to come up, look around and tell stories of their own about the Tower and the men who operated it. The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad provided modern transportation (in 1857!) which helped drive the development of East Stroudsburg. The Tower is a reminder of the busy days of the railroad.
Membership in the ESRRTS is down to 10 members, and more help is needed to keep things running smoothly within the museum. We have sales tables during events. There are monthly meetings where business is conducted but also sharing of new-found information related to the DL&W, the Tower, the adjacent Depot building, or just trains in general. We sometimes have speakers, slide shows, or discussions on specific railroad-related topics. Tours are given by appointment as well as general open-tower days when the public is welcome to explore the Tower and hear the explanation of how the equipment worked years ago. We also staff tables for sales and information.
Come visit the Tower or attend a meeting or two! Anyone with a passion for trains or local history is welcome! Perhaps you will be moved to join our efforts to maintain a piece of our own train-history in this part of Pennsylvania. See our calendar page for information on our next meeting or event.
» Learn about Memberships & Ways to Help!
Visiting the Tower
The tower is open for demonstrations during special events, particularly when excursion trains operate to the borough of East Stroudsburg. Volunteers staff the tower, and run the sales tables when we have them. Please check our calendar for dates and times.
The Tower in the News
» A piece of East Stroudsburg’s railroad history
As seen in the Pocono Record – 8/12/15
» East Stroudsburg Railroad Tower restoration
As seen in the Pocono Record – 6/5/09