Following its most successful year to date in 2024, the Reading & Northern Passenger Department is about to launch its 2025 regular season schedule. All-day rail excursions to historic Jim Thorpe from Reading Outer Station and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Regional Railroad Station at Pittston began Saturday, March 15, 2025.
The railroad wasted no time in commencing ticket sales for the 2025 regular season, announcing the schedule in mid-January. As always, tickets may be purchased online at www.RBMNRR.com or by
calling 610-562-2102, 8:30am – 5:00pm daily. Once again, Reading & Northern is proud to report that ticket prices have not increased, and the trips will follow largely the same schedule and format as in past
years.
Trains will operate Saturdays and Sundays, plus Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, through September 28. Following its traditional slate of Fall Foliage excursions (to be announced later),
the last of the 2025 regular season will take place on weekends from November 8 through December 28. The latter part of the schedule will include Black Friday “Shopper’s Specials” to Jim Thorpe originating
from Reading and Pittston on November 28.
Reading Outer Station, at the very southern end of Reading & Northern’s operating territory, is entering its ninth year of passenger excursions. This route is mainly serviced by the railroad’s 1950s-era self
propelled rail diesel cars, or RDCs. During the ride, guests may visit the refreshment counter in RDC #9166, which offers reasonably priced snacks, beverages, and souvenirs. Trains depart Outer Station at
9:00am sharp, making the usual station stops at Port Clinton and Tamaqua enroute to Jim Thorpe. A brand new “flag stop” just south of Tamaqua at The Village at Houser’s Crossing makes its debut in
2025. This stop will be for the exclusive use of guests of The Village, a unique lodging retreat opened in 2021 by Carolee Smith on a historically significant parcel of anthracite country land. The Village will
offer round-trip train tickets to Jim Thorpe in tandem with its one-of-a-kind getaways.
Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Regional Railroad Station at Pittston services the northern segment of the railroad’s system and is going into its third year. Its trains depart Pittston at 8:45am sharp and make
station stops at Mountain Top (also known as Penobscot) and White Haven. The special feature of the Pittston trains is First-Class Lounge Observation car #7, King Coal. This car can only be boarded at
Pittston and presents unique views of the scenery thanks to its larger windows, boat-tail profile, and position at the end of the train. Crown Class Coaches, along with a dining car offering snacks, beverages,
and souvenirs, join the King Coal in completing the train. On occasion, the route from Pittston to Jim Thorpe will be serviced by newly restored rail diesel car #9164.
-via Press Release
