Nesquehoning Regional Railroad Station to Celebrate Grand Opening in August

Having operated its very first passenger excursion from Nesquehoning this past June, Reading & Northern Railroad will be taking the next step at its new facility in August. On Saturday, August 17, 2024, Nesquehoning Regional Railroad Station will celebrate its grand opening. The feature attraction will be an Iron Horse Ramble excursion to Pittston with 4-8-4 T-1 steam locomotive #2102.

At 9:00am sharp, the train will depart from the newly completed Nesquehoning station for Pittston, where passengers will attend the town’s annual Tomato Festival. While onboard, riders will be treated to the thunderous roar of #2102 as it battles upgrade through Lehigh Gorge State Park and over Penobscot Mountain. Upon arrival at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Regional Railroad Station Pittston, passengers will be offered free shuttle service in cooperation with Mayor Mike Lombardo’s office to take them to the Tomato Festival. The train will return to Nesquehoning in the evening after allowing guests ample time to enjoy the festival.

The pre-trip festivities will be similar to those held in May 2023 when the railroad debuted its new excursion service to Jim Thorpe at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Regional Railroad Station at Pittston. A ribbon-cutting ceremony; and remarks from several members of railroad management plus owner/CEO Andy Muller, Jr., will herald the completion of the Nesquehoning facility. In addition to our valued passengers both old and new, numerous state and local representatives will be on hand to mark the occasion.

Matt Fisher, Senior Vice President/General Manager-Passenger, noted “This new station will benefit the railroad and our ever-growing passenger service. We hope too that it is of equal benefit to the borough of Nesquehoning itself, not merely as an attraction, but also as a source of local jobs. Many of the railroad’s departments besides Passenger are housed in the buildings that make up our Nesquehoning Campus. Reading & Northern is always seeking motivated, career-oriented people to join our team.”

-via Press Release

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