Four people have been honored by the Switchback Railroad Foundation for their contributions to the advancement of the restoration of the railroad. All have been involved in this project since it began in 1986.

Honored were Ed Gildea of Lansford; Peter Pocalyco and Tommy Potter, both of Jim Thorpe; and the late William Richards of Lansford, who passed away last year.

The Switchback Railroad began operation in May 1827 as the first railroad of significance to operate in Pennsylvania, built to haul coal from the mine in Summit Hill to the Lehigh Canal in Mauch Chunk. It ceased operations in 1933 and was sold for scrap metal four years later.