Today, we are continuing our rail journey through our cement district. Mike Bednar and Ken Bealer, authors of “Trackside Around the Pennsylvania Cement District,” are our conductors.

The first stop is the Penn Dixie in Bath and Nazareth. The Penn Dixie was organized in 1926 with the merger of Pennsylvania and Penn Allen cement companies. The new plants were named Plant Nos. 4, 5 and 6. The company closed in 1979, with some buildings presently used by Lehigh Heidelberg Cement.

Stop No. 2 is the Lone Star in Nazareth, once one of the largest cement organizations. The plant closed in 1994.

At stop No. 3, the National at Brodhead formed in 1934 and closed in 1974. It is now Dutch Springs.

Next stop, Hercules, now Unicem, is operating in Stockertown.

The Alpha of Easton operated four plants in Martins Creek and Alpha, N.J., closing in 1964.

We will be back in two weeks, riding a railroad with 14 miles of track. Please ride with us. No ticket is needed!