Hello,

A DCSki reader e-mailed me the following question. I don't know the answer, but if anyone does, please feel free to respond to this post.

Thanks,

- Scott

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Laurel Mountain contains Laurel Mountain, Hidden Valley and Seven Springs Ski areas. It is a really big area.

The Pittsburg, Westmoreland and Somerset Railroad was established in 1899 to haul minerals and lumber from Laurel Mountain and completed from Ligonier to the top of Laurel Summit in 1900. In 1906 the rail line was extended to Somerset and two passenger trains were added to serve Ligonier and Somerset. The rail bed is the present Linn Run Road through Linn Run State Park which is the administrative center of the Laurel Mountain State Park (ski area) as well as Linn Run Park. The railroad crossed the summit a few miles south of the present day Laurel Mountain Village. A station could have been at the summit but I doubt it would have been known as Laurel Mountain Village Station. In the early days of Laurel Mountain rail service was available to points west from Ligonier and sleeping berths were parked at the Ligonier Station full of skiers from Ohio. Although the rail bed is long gone, the station is still standing in the east end of Ligonier. Perhaps the painting is of the Ligonier Station.

Bill Metzger is a person who may know some details. He is a rail history buff and the author of The Great Allegheny Passage Companion. Bill also designed the trail map for the Forbes State Forest and is working on a map and 'points of interest' kiosk that will be erected in Laurel Summit Park, not far from where the PW&S Railroad crossed the summit. I'll shoot him an e-mail but he may need a photo of the painting to give a definitive answer.