A captivating group photo of a collection of miners employed at the Vintondale, PA coal mines. The Vintondale mines operated from the early 1890s until 1966. Note the youthful appearance of the young miners in this group. As you ride through Vintondale on the Ghost Town Trail you ride through an area that was a center of extensive industrial activity at one time. Coal mines, coke ovens and the hustle and bustle of a busy mining town once existed here. Today you will see just the peaceful scene of the bike path and a much smaller community than during its heydey. Photo courtesy of the Denise Dusza Weber Collection.
The Cambria & Indiana County Railroad operated a 'hoodlebug' on its line serving the towns of Rexis, Colver, Revloc and Nanty Glo. until the early 1930s. Hoodlebugs were battery operated passenger cars. Today the route is part of the Ghost Town Trail. Hoodlebugs also operated on the rail line between Indiana and Blairsville, now the location of the Hoodlebug Trail. In some other parts of the country they were called Doodlebugs. In the western U.S. and Canada they were known as Galloping Geese.
The Amerford Bridge spans Blacklick Creek just downstream of Dilltown. The 225 foot long three span bridge was constructed in 2009 and was the last 'missing link' in the 36-mile long Ghost Town Trail. It's a prefabricated bridge that was connected in place in 25-foot long sections.
