Centralia Highway

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RT Hauling
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Post by RT Hauling » Tue. Apr. 07, 2020 6:29 am

The old Centralia highway, now known as the painted highway, is to be covered over with dirt and trees planted. Recently large groups of people were gathering even with the state shutdown. I used to visit a friend in Ashland on Saturday nights at his garage when the highway was open years ago. I remember seeing blue flames just beyond the berm of the road. It's become a huge attraction now, but the flames are long gone. I never did understand the whole painting thing though.

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Tue. Apr. 07, 2020 7:23 am

Good info.--I went by there a few yrs. back when visiting daughter in Doylestown. Interesting on the whole Centralia situation!!! :)

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Tue. Apr. 07, 2020 7:28 am

Seems like a strange way to deal with it. Would not take long with a dozer to strip that blacktop right off.

 
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gaw
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Post by gaw » Tue. Apr. 07, 2020 7:29 am



 
Holdencoal
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Post by Holdencoal » Tue. Apr. 07, 2020 8:28 am

Well it’s privately owned, post signs, gate it and it’s now trespassing.

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Tue. Apr. 07, 2020 8:39 am

Nice post Glen---

 
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Post by Homesteader » Tue. Apr. 07, 2020 9:56 am

I've always been fascinated by the Centralia story. Thanks for posting the link.

 
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Post by xackley » Tue. Apr. 07, 2020 1:26 pm

Shutting down Centralia would greatly reduce a reason for tourist to spend money in NEPA. For those that can't see beyond today when you don't want people traveling to destinations, shutting down attractions like Centralia and plowing down what is left might sound good, but next year there will be fewer people paying money at the restaurants, motels, package stores, and gas stations in the surrounding towns.
Don


 
RT Hauling
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Post by RT Hauling » Wed. Apr. 08, 2020 6:24 am

Those are some good points. Just to be clear, Centralia is still open and accessible. The highway in question is part of route 61 and was bypassed years ago. The property that the highway was on was state owned. That property has recently been turned back over to the coal company. So the state essentially took the property and now gave it back.

 
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gaw
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Post by gaw » Wed. Apr. 08, 2020 8:58 pm

The graffiti highway can be seen on Google earth or whatever it is where you can see the satellite images.

Well then I got thinking in this day and age I bet someone flew a drone over it and put it on YouTube


 
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Post by xackley » Wed. Apr. 08, 2020 9:18 pm

Kinda like a Pennsylvania Cadillac Ranch.
That is closer to being a Cadillac Ranch than the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon is to the real thing.
My wife and I took a motorcycle trip through that area a few years ago and visited a couple coal mines and the train museum in Scranton.
We spent one night in Ashland. I had forgotten you have to go to special beer stores, I had to hunt for one to buy a six pack to have with a pizza.
Don

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Wed. Apr. 08, 2020 9:33 pm

Hope it didn't inconvenience ya too much & your pizza didn't get cold!! LOL

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