Ashley Planes
Why it's listed
Three inclined plane railroads climb a mountain cut between Ashley and Solomon Gap in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Built beginning in 1837 for the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad, the planes were laid out under Josiah White of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, with engineer Edwin A. Douglas. Cars were hauled up steep grades by steam engines at the head of each plane, with a horse or mule section between Planes 1 and 2 and a weigh scale at the summit. The system was revised in the 1860s and again in 1909, when the Central Railroad of New Jersey, then the lessee, added concrete improvements. The planes operated until 1948. Their importance lies in solving the problem of moving bulky anthracite from the Wyoming Valley to markets, and their engineering was unusual for the period. Surviving remains include foundations, truck pits, culverts, bridges and dams.
Significance in brief: The planes carried anthracite from the Wyoming Valley field to Solomon Gap and onward to points south, and the document presents them as a key solution to the difficult transport of bulky coal from the region. Their unusual technology is argued to make them significant in engineering history. They were in use until 1948, a span of more than a century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80003562, listed January 25, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off PA 309, Ashley and vicinity |
|---|---|
| County | Luzerne County |
| Listed | January 25, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003562 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1837-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Edwin A. Douglas (engineer); Lehigh Coal & Navigation Co., Josiah White, general manager (builder) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains include foundations of drum, boiler and engine houses, truck pits, culverts, bridges and dams; the site is well hidden from Route 309. |
| Acreage | 160.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.19325, -75.91073 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80003562.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4805552
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.