When the Back Track was laid out in 1844-45, a crossover was constructed to let empty coal cars return unobstructed to the foot of the Mt. Jefferson plane. Originally located at the stone abutment ahead, it later became a famous milepost for Switch Back riders traveling from Mauch Chunk to Summit Hill and back. In later years, this overpass, about five miles from the Lehigh River, together with a large nearby tree, formed the well-known landmark called the Five Mile Tree for Switch Back tourists. At times, coaches moving in opposite directions converged there, adding excitement as one car passed above the other.