Akron. Youngstown. Jamestown. Corning. Elmira. Binghamton. And all points in between.
In 1955, the Erie was one year from closing its massive terminal and ferry dock on the Jersey City waterfront; five years from merging with the Lackawanna (thus becoming the hyphenate that anyone my age or older might actually remember) and about twelve from vanishing completely.
As mentioned, the Terminal was across the river from Manhattan. A fleet of dedicated "motor coaches" and ferries (departing from the Erie slips at Christopher and West Streets) took you and your luggage to your train. There, you boarded Pullmans or sleepers for the above-listed cities. The question now is, why? Is everyone headed there now in a car on Route 17? Or is the issue really that no one headed there?The cover illustrates the photogenic Starrucca Viaduct, between Scranton and Binghamton. It's a landmark, and if you want to see it, driving directions are available online. You just can't take a train there. Or over it.