A special lecture and book signing event titled “The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company’s Room Run Railroad” will be presented by Vince Hydro at the Nesquehoning Historical Society on May 20 and 25.

The talk and slide presentation will include a brief history of the discovery of anthracite coal at Nesquehoning and the construction of the Room Run Railroad and the route of the railroad through Nesquehoning to the landings at Mauch Chunk.

Following the talk, the Nesquehoning Historical Society will host the debut and book signing of Hydro’s latest publication, “The Room Run Gravity Railroad.”

In “The Room Run Gravity Railroad,” Hydro relates the history of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company’s second gravity railroad, the Room Run Railroad.

Constructed to transport anthracite coal from mines just southwest of the present borough of Nesquehoning, this railroad was constructed using stone blocks instead of wooden ties to support the rails.

Just over 5 miles long, this railroad terminated at shipping wharves above the Upper Mauch Chunk Dam on the Lehigh Navigation.

Hydro, a native of Carbon County, has written extensively on Carbon County history, Mauch Chunk, and the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. His book: “The Mauch Chunk Switchback: America’s Pioneer Railroad,” was published by the Canal History and Technology Press in 2002.

Hydro is currently working on his next publication, a history of the Lost Village of Lausanne. This village was once located at the mouth of the Nesquehoning Creek.

There will be two separate showings, at 6 p.m. on May 20 and at 1 p.m. on May 25.

The Nesquehoning Historical Society is located at the Corner of Ratcliff and Railroad streets.

The presentations are open to the public and free of charge, but donations to support the Nesquehoning Historical Society will be accepted.