PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Tickets for Reading & Northern’s 40th season of Fall Foliage passenger excursions will go on sale at 9 a.m. ET on Monday, July 22. Five weekends of excursions — featuring diesel and steam power — will run to Jim Thorpe, Pa., originating from Reading, Pittston, and Pottsville, from Saturday, Oct. 5, through Sunday, Nov. 4.
Tickets will be available at the Reading & Northern passenger site or by calling the railroad’s passenger office at 610-562-2102.
Trains operating from Reading Outer Station depart at 9 a.m. and will run with the railroad’s vintage F unit diesels, or with restored Reading Co. T-1 4-8-4 steam locomotive No. 2102 on three Saturdays, Oct. 5, 19, and 26. These excursions also make a stop at Port Clinton, and offer standard coach, Crown Class, Vista Dome, Lounge, Parlor Car, and Pullman room accommodations.
Trains from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Regional station, at 718 N. Main Street in Pittston, depart at 8:45 a.m., and make an additional stop at Penobscot (Mountain Top). Those trains offer standard coach, Crown Class, Vista Dome, and Lounge Observation seating.
Trains from Pottsville will operate with the railroad’s Rail Diesel Cars, with all tickets $49. They will depart at 8:30 a.m. and be the first trains of the day to arrive in Jim Thorpe.
During the foliage weekends, the railroad will also be operating Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway trips from Jim Thorpe. The 45-minute trips will depart hourly beginning at 10 a.m. with the last departure at 5 p.m.; tickets must be bought the same day, in person, on a first-come, first-served basis. Standard coach, Crown Class, and open-air car seating will be available.
More details about the various seating options are available at the Reading & Northern passenger website.
— Updated at 5:35 p.m. CT to correct date for first excursion with No. 2102 to Oct. 5.
