Celebrating America250 and Lansford’s 150th Anniversary, the Lansford Historical Society will present two special showings of a documentary on regional rail history.

“The Lehigh and New England Railroad: From the Anthracite Region to the Lehigh Gap” will be shown from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, and from noon to 2 p.m. June 20 in the basement of St. John’s Byzantine Church in Lansford.

The church is located directly across the street from the society’s museum on East Berstch Street, and admission is free.

This is the first five parts of the long-awaited documentary, “Follow the Rail,” created and produced by John Panulla, better known as JPan the Railfan.

Guest speaker Panulla has more than 40 years’ experience documenting railroads and spent the last two years investigating and documenting the story of the Lehigh and New England Railroad.

Join society members as they follow the creation of the railroad industry in the Panther Valley with the Panther Creek Railroad 1849 and concluding in 1952 with the sale of the Lehigh and New England Railroad.

Panulla’s documentary explores both the coal hauling and passenger service of this once iconic railroad. The documentary also includes many rare and never before seen photographs of early railroading and mining activities in the Panther Valley.

Organizers feel this documentary presentation is the perfect kickoff for the arrival and departure of the Union Pacific Big Boy to the area this month.