The Reading & Northern Railroad is set to begin another busy season of all-day passenger excursions from various points on its system to the tourist attraction of Jim Thorpe. For the first time in the railroad’s 40-year history, fall foliage trains will operate from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Regional Railroad Station in Pittston to Jim Thorpe. Trains from Reading, PA and Pottsville, PA will also depart every weekend in October through the first weekend in November to Jim Thorpe.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Regional Railroad Station was opened this past May in Pittston. Fall train excursions will depart the station at 8:45am with Standard Coach, Crown Class Coach, Vista Class Dome, and Lounge Observation seating. Prices vary by seating class. The new station is located at 718 North Main Street, Pittston, PA.
According to Matt Fisher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Reading & Northern Passenger Department, the Pittston to Jim Thorpe trip is very popular. “Tickets from the May Grand Opening through September have sold out. There are still some tickets left for the October Fall Foliage weekends, though demand is high. The employees of the railroad are looking forward to hosting the public over the Reading & Northern Main Line, 60 miles one-way to Jim Thorpe. The train will make an additional stop for passengers at the Penobscot Yard near Mountain Top, and traverse the entire Lehigh Gorge State Park, crossing the Lehigh River four times before entering Jim Thorpe. There are two tunnels along with scenic overlooks on the trip.”
Fall Foliage trips out of Reading and Pottsville also feature plenty of mountain and river scenery, following both the Schuylkill and Little Schuylkill River. There is one tunnel north of Tamaqua, and the highlight of the trip is the 1,000-foot-long, 160-foot-tall Hometown High Bridge. “Peak fall foliage will most likely occur one or two weeks after the peak color along the Pittston route. There are a total of five weekends to choose from if riding from the Berks and Schuylkill area to Jim Thorpe,” said Fisher. The Pottsville train makes additional stops at Schuylkill Haven and Port Clinton. The Pottsville trains will be powered by the railroad’s self-propelled rail diesel cars.
Tickets for all-day excursions are available by phone at 610-562-2102, or online at www.rbmnrrpassenger.com. All the above-mentioned trips are very popular and selling fast. Tickets are purchased on a first-come/first-served basis and range from $49 per person to $225 per person.
-via Press Release