The Reading & Northern Railroad will continue the tradition of Iron Horse Ramble excursions in the summer of 2024. These excursions will feature one of the largest operating steam locomotives on the east coast, 4-8-4 T-1 class #2102, built in 1945 in nearby Reading, PA. Passenger Department Senior VP/General Manager, Matt Fisher, states “We listened to feedback from our loyal passengers and fans and decided to carry on with these great steam excursions. One of the Rambles will be over the familiar Reading-to-Jim Thorpe route; but the other two will be to exciting new destinations never before visited by the #2102.”
Tickets for these exciting steam excursions which will take place on May 25, June 22, and August 17, go on sale at 9:00am on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 9:00am by phone at 610-562-2102, or online at www.rbmnrr-passenger.com.
The first Iron Horse Ramble on Saturday, May 25, 2024, will operate from Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe, PA. The train will depart at 9:00am sharp, make a station stop at Port Clinton, and continue to the classic destination of Jim Thorpe; where passengers will have over four hours to explore the town, take photographs of the #2102, meet the crew, and experience a ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. The train will return to Reading Outer Station in the evening. To help make this trip even more affordable, Reading & Northern will offer Standard Coach tickets for $79.00 (previously $99.00) per passenger, and Crown Class Coach tickets for $99.00 (previously $110.00) per passenger. Additional upscale seating options will also be available by calling our ticket office.
The second and third Iron Horse Rambles for this year will be all-new. Both will feature the #2102 operating over the entire length of our Lehigh Division Main Line. On Saturday, June 22, 2024, #2102 will power the very first steam passenger excursion from our Nesquehoning Campus to Tunkhannock, PA, for the town’s 43rd Annual Founder’s Day Festival. This lively event, sponsored by the Tunkhannock Business and Professional Association, will feature food and craft vendors, live music, entertainment, and more. Departure will be at 9:00am, and passengers will receive ample time to enjoy the festival before returning to Nesquehoning in the evening. Along the way, railfans will marvel at the power of steam locomotive #2102 as it pulls the train upgrade through Lehigh Gorge State Park, over Penobscot Mountain, through the Wyoming Valley, and along the east bank of the Susquehanna River to Tunkhannock. Tickets will be priced at $99.00 for Standard Coach and $110.00 for Crown Class Coach. Limited additional premium seating options will also be available by phone.
Expanding upon the theme of new destinations for 2024, the third and final Iron Horse Ramble will operate on Saturday, August 17, from Nesquehoning to Pittston, PA for the annual Tomato Festival. This one-of-a-kind event features great food (including a spaghetti eating contest), rides, bingo, live entertainment, and the Little Mr. and Miss Tomato contests. As always, departure will be 9:00am, and once more feature #2102 thundering through the Lehigh Gorge on its way to Pittston. Passengers will of course have lots of time to take in the Tomato Festival before returning to Nesquehoning in the evening. As with the June Ramble from Nesquehoning, tickets will be $99.00 for Standard Coach and $110.00 for Crown Class Coach. A limited number of premium seating options will be available by phone.
-via Press Release
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