The Trevorton, Mahanoy and Susquehanna Railroad

In 1828 coal was discovered in Zerbe Gap in Zerbe Run, a tributary of the Mahanoy Creek in Northumberland County, PA. Today we know this area as the site of Trevorton. When Colonel Jacob Weiss began uncovering coal there the town was not yet established. Although this black gold was easily mined, there was great difficulty to transport it to market. Some of this Zerbe Gap coal was put on wagons and hauled to Sunbury where it was put into boats and shipped to New York.

In 1850, John B. Trevor, a New York banker invested largely in making improvements to this coal ming efforts. A town was laid out at Zerbe Gap and named Trevorton in honor of him. The proceeds arising from the sale of town lots were used in the construction of the railroad to the river.

The book describes the establishment Trevorton, Herndon, the Trevorton, Mahanoy & Susquehanna Railroad and the construction of the Susquehanna River Bridge at Herdon. This railroad was one of the first if not the first, established in central Pennsylvania which would later become part of the great Reading Railroad. Also covered are many of the small towns and stops along this railroad as well as the history of the canals in the area.