View source for Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad

{{Short description|Class II railroad in eastern Pennsylvania}}
{{Infobox rail | gauge={{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}|
|railroad_name     = Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad
|logo_filename     = RBMN_Logo.jpg
|logo_size         =
|system_map        = Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad system map.svg
|map_caption       = Map of Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad's routes and tracks in the [[Lehigh Valley]] and [[Northeastern Pennsylvania]]
|map_size          = 300px
|marks             = RBMN
|image             =
|image_size        =
|image_caption     =
|locale            = [[Lehigh Valley]] and [[Northeastern Pennsylvania]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.
|start_year        = 1983
|end_year          = present
|predecessor_line  = [[Conrail]]
|successor_line    =
|electrification   =
|length            = {{convert|400|mi|km}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/profiles/regionals/reading-and-northern-profile/ | title=Reading and Northern profile }}</ref>
|hq_city           = [[Port Clinton, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
|website           = {{url|https://www.rbmnrr.com/}}
}}
The '''Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad''' {{reporting mark|RBMN}}, sometimes shortened to '''Reading and Northern Railroad''', is a [[regional railroad]] in eastern [[Pennsylvania]]. With a headquarters in [[Port Clinton, Pennsylvania|Port Clinton]], the RBMN provides freight service on over {{convert|400|mi|km}} of track. Its mainline consists of the [[Reading Division]] between [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]] and [[Packerton, Pennsylvania|Packerton]] and the [[Lehigh Division]] between [[Lehighton, Pennsylvania|Lehighton]] and [[Dupont, Pennsylvania|Dupont]]. This mainline gives the RBMN a direct route from Reading to [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]], the first such route to exist under the control of a single railroad. Founded in 1983 to take over from [[Conrail]] on the ex-[[Pennsylvania Railroad]] Schuylkill Branch between Reading and Hamburg, the railroad quickly grew over the next several decades to become the largest privately-owned Class II railroad in the [[United States]]. Its main freight cargo is [[anthracite]] coal,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vantuono |first=William C. |date=January 8, 2018 |title=For R&N, a coal-fueled record year |url=http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/freight/short-lines/for-rn-a-coal-fueled-record-year.html |work=Railway Age |language=en}}</ref> but also sees significant shipments in [[Fracking proppants|frac sand]], forest products, petrochemicals and
minerals, food and agricultural products, metals, and consumer products.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reading & Northern Railroad Smashes All Records Again|publisher=Reading and Northern Railroad|url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52545d1ce4b0183a5e0ec3b6/t/6595bc3c60a7c03a1472cb5c/1704311868295/PR-1-3-24.pdf|website=Reading and Northern Railroad News}}</ref>
The Reading and Northern is also well known for operating several [[Excursion train|passenger excursions]] over its system. A subsidiary, the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway ('''LGSR'''), offers daily service between [[Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania|Jim Thorpe]] and [[Lehigh Gorge State Park]] between the months of April and November, while RBMN itself runs regular weekend trains to Jim Thorpe from Reading and [[Pittston, Pennsylvania|Pittston]]. In 2022, the RBMN also revived the [[Reading Company]] ''[[Reading T-1 Class#Iron Horse Rambles|Iron Horse Rambles]]'', using recently restored locomotive [[Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad 2102|RDG 2102]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The 2102 “Iron Horse” Revival Story|publisher=Reading and Northern Railroad|url=https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/2102-updates|website=Reading and Northern Railroad Passenger}}</ref>
==Main lines==
[[File:Station railroad signs, Port Clinton, PA.jpg|thumb|The Port Clinton station entrance in [[Port Clinton, Pennsylvania|Port Clinton]] in [[Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania]]]]
[[File:FAB's IMG 4509 Reading and Northern Anthracite Loads at BlaschakCoalCompany.JPG|thumb|Reading and Northern (RBMN) [[hopper cars]] loaded with [[anthracite]] in the trainyard of Blaschak Coal Company in [[Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania]]]]
RBMN's two main lines all operate entirely within [[Pennsylvania]]:
* '''[[Reading Division]]''': [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]] to [[Packerton, Pennsylvania|Packerton]], along the [[Lehigh River]]:
** The line runs from Reading to Packerton along former [[Reading Company]] and [[Central Railroad of New Jersey]] lines. At its south end, it connects to the [[Norfolk Southern Railway]]'s [[Reading Line]]; its east end is at the Norfolk Southern's [[Lehigh Line (Norfolk Southern)|Lehigh Line]] which parallels the Reading and Northern's [[Lehigh Division]].
*'''[[Lehigh Division]]''': [[Lehighton, Pennsylvania|Lehighton]] to [[Dupont, Pennsylvania|Dupont]]:
** This line forms a fork from [[Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania|Jim Thorpe]], one branch running westerly through [[Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania|Nesquehoning]] and connecting via a junction to [[Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania|Mahanoy City]] or [[Hazleton, Pennsylvania|Hazleton]], and the second branch runs northerly via the [[Lehigh River|Lehigh River Gorge]], climbs to [[Mountain Top, Pennsylvania|Mountain Top]], with a double track running from there most of the way to [[Duryea Yard]] at [[Duryea, Pennsylvania|Duryea]], and Taylor Yard in [[Taylor, Pennsylvania|Taylor]], outside [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]].
==History==
===Beginning===
The '''Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad''' was founded in 1983 to provide freight service on the former Pennsylvania Railroad Schuylkill Division between [[Hamburg, Pennsylvania|Hamburg]] and [[Temple, Pennsylvania|Temple]]. Starting in 1985, the BM&R began operating passenger excursions over the line using two steam locomotives: ex-[[Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad 425|Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad 4-6-2 № 425]] and ex-[[Reading Company]] [[Reading T-1|T-1]] 4-8-4 [[Reading 2102|№ 2102]]. The BM&R also began operating three more state-owned lines: the [[Allentown branch]], the [[Perkiomen Trail|Perkiomen Branch]], and [[Colebrookdale branch]].<ref name=rbmnhistory>{{cite web|title=History|publisher=Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad|url=http://www.rbmnrr.com/history/|access-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref> The railroad also entered into a partnership with the Reading Company Technical and Historical Society, which leased track space in [[Leesport, Pennsylvania|Leesport]] and in return leased two vintage Reading Company diesel locomotives and assorted passenger cars for use on the line.
===Expansion===
In 1990, the Blue Mountain and Reading took ownership of 150 miles of track located in the [[Coal Region]] north of [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]], referred to by Conrail as the "Reading Cluster". Shortly thereafter, the company renamed itself the '''Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad''' and moved its headquarters from Hamburg to [[Port Clinton, Pennsylvania|Port Clinton]].<ref name=rbmnhistory/> Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the RBMN acquired more lines in northeastern Pennsylvania, primarily of [[Reading Railroad]], [[Central Railroad of New Jersey]], and [[Lehigh Valley Railroad]] heritage.
In the mid-1990s, the RBMN discontinued the regularly scheduled passenger operations between Hamburg and Temple and instead focused on occasional excursions throughout the rest of its system. The partnership between the RBMN and Reading Company Technical and Historical Society had more or less ended by this point, but the group still leased track space in Leesport until 2008 when they moved to the Hamburg yard and opened the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Brief History |url=http://www.readingrailroadmuseum.org/rcthshistory.shtml |website=The Reading Company Technical & Historical Society}}</ref>
Despite the discontinuation of the Hamburg to Temple excursions, steam operations continued elsewhere on the railroad. In 1995, No. 425 was present at the grand opening of [[Steamtown National Historic Site]] in [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]]. № 425 remained at Steamtown until 1997. Between 1998 and late 2008, all steam operations were suspended while both № 425 and № 2102 underwent full rebuilds in compliance with federal guidelines. № 425 returned to service in 2008, while № 2102 returned to service in 2022.
===21st century===
In 2005, regularly scheduled passenger excursions resumed with the introduction of the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway in [[Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania|Jim Thorpe]].<ref name=lgsrhistory>{{cite web|title=History|publisher=Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway|url=http://www.lgsry.com/history/|access-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref> In December 2016, the RBMN announced that it spent $2 million to build a train station at [[Pennsylvania Route 61]] and Bellevue Avenue in [[Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania|Muhlenberg Township]] outside Reading, called Reading Outer Station, with plans to operate passenger excursions from there to Jim Thorpe.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Evan|title=Railroad building train station in Muhlenberg|work=Reading Eagle|date=December 14, 2016|url=http://www.readingeagle.com/money/article/railroad-building-train-station-in-muhlenberg|access-date=July 17, 2017}}</ref> The first round-trip excursion from Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe ran on May 29, 2017. It used refurbished [[Rail Diesel Car]]s built by the [[Budd Company]] in the 1950s and operated along the [[Pottsville Line]] between [[Pottsville, Pennsylvania|Pottsville]] and [[Philadelphia]] via Reading until [[SEPTA]] discontinued diesel service in 1981.<ref>{{cite news|last=Devlin|first=Ron|title=Train makes inaugural round trip: Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe|work=Reading Eagle|date=May 30, 2017|url=http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/train-makes-inaugural-round-trip-reading-outer-station-to-jim-thorpe|access-date=July 17, 2017}}</ref>
Between 2009 and 2010, RBMN expanded operations due to the emergence of [[Marcellus Shale]] natural gas drilling in northeastern Pennsylvania. The railroad spent $100,000 to update an outdated and lightly used [[Duryea Yard|Pittston Yard]] between [[Scranton]] and [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]]. RBMN also purchased two new locomotives, 101 [[Railroad car#Freight cars|rail cars]], and {{convert|6|mi|km|1}} of track between [[Monroeton, Pennsylvania|Monroeton]] and [[Towanda, Pennsylvania|Towanda]], where much of northeastern Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale economic activity is focused.<ref>[http://www.timesleader.com/news/hottopics/shale/Old_Duryea_railroad_yard_taking_on_new_life_03-26-2010.html Times Leader]{{Dead link|date=January 2024}}</ref>
In 2017, the railroad completed its connections to the Hazleton Shaft and Hazleton Hiller Drying Plant.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Current Operations – Hazleton Shaft |url=http://www.atlanticcoal.com/Operations/Hazleton_Shaft.html |website=Atlantic Carbon Group}}</ref>
In 2019, an audit by the borough of Jim Thorpe revealed the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway owed the borough $90,000 in amusement tax. The Railway fought the tax bill in court, where the judge sided with the borough; the railway appealed the decision, arguing that the tourist railroad was "not an amusement".<ref>{{cite web |date=October 16, 2019 |title=Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway to close in late November after tax dispute |url=https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/poconos-coal/lehigh-gorge-scenic-railway-to-close-in-late-november-after/article_fad8bd02-f03b-11e9-9b60-8390d45053ad.html |access-date=October 17, 2019 |publisher=WFMZ-TV |location=Allentown, PA}}</ref> Company officials threatened to leave the borough of Jim Thorpe,<ref>{{cite web|last=Koltnow|first=Bo|url=https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/poconos-coal/legal-argument-over-taxes-threatens-to-derail-popular-carbon-county/article_83a5ff4e-ea12-11e9-adb3-e3d1cc887258.html|title=Legal argument over taxes threatens to derail popular Carbon County tourist attraction|date=October 8, 2019|publisher=WFMZ-TV|location=Allentown, PA|access-date=October 8, 2019}}</ref> and briefly ceased excursion operations in November 2019. RBMN officials shortly thereafter, negotiated a new agreement with the Jim Thorpe Borough government, and excursions resumed in February 2020.<ref>{{cite news|last=Grohotolski|first=Cody|title=Train rides to return to Jim Thorpe|newspaper=Wnep.com |publisher=WNEP-TV|location=Scranton, PA|date=February 11, 2020|url=https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/carbon-county/train-rides-jim-thorpe/523-fb0c6c5c-65e4-42ae-8338-4f4188775eaa|access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Train rides back in Jim Thorpe|publisher=PAhomepage|date=February 12, 2020|url=https://www.pahomepage.com/top-stories/train-rides-back-in-jim-thorpe/|access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref>
On May 6, 2021, railroad officials announced their purchase of the {{convert|19.5|mi|km|adj=on}} Panther Valley line from [[Carbon County, Pennsylvania|Carbon County]] for $4.7 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tnonline.com/20210506/carbon-sells-railroad-to-reading-and-northern-for-4-7-million/|title = Carbon sells railroad to Reading and Northern for $4.7 million &#124; Times News Online}}</ref> This line, part of the Reading Division, ran from East Mahanoy Junction to Jim Thorpe via Nesquehoning. The RBMN had run over this line via [[trackage rights]], but with this acquisition was able to control maintenance and dispatching on the line. The railroad immediately announced $1M in repairs, in order that the line might be brought to [[Rail speed limits in the United States|FRA Class III]] standards.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hedes|first=Jarrad|date=2021-06-25|title=Railroad closes on Panther line|url=https://www.tnonline.com/20210625/railroad-closes-on-panther-line/|work=TNOnline|access-date=2024-08-21|ref=none}}</ref>
On April 21, 2022, railroad officials announced their purchase of the property of the former KME Fire Apparatus plant in [[Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania|Nesquehoning]] for $2 million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Railroad buys KME campus {{!}} Times News Online |url=https://www.tnonline.com/20220421/railroad-buys-kme-campus/ |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=www.tnonline.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The Reading and Northern now uses these facilities for maintenance of locomotives, passenger equipment, freight cars, and company automobiles, as well as storage. On June 22, 2024, the Reading & Northern debuted its new Nesquehoning Station at the former KME site for the day's Iron Horse Ramble to [[Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania|Tunkhannock]]. <ref> https://www.rbmnrr.com/happenings </ref>
==Connections==
RBMN interchanges with the following freight railroads:
*[[Norfolk Southern Railway]] – Reading, North Reading, [[Temple, Pennsylvania|Temple]], [[Lehighton, Pennsylvania|Lehighton]], the historic [[Mountain Top, Pennsylvania|Mountain Top Yard]] at [[Penobscot Knob]], and [[Taylor, Pennsylvania|Taylor]], where it connects to former [[Delaware and Hudson Railway]] trackage in [[New Jersey]], [[New York (state)|New York]], and [[New England]]. The northern spur connects the yard in [[Binghamton, New York]], and then to lower eastern New York state:
*[[Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad]] – [[Pittston, Pennsylvania|Pittston]] at the [[Duryea yard]], which is operated by the RBMN.<ref>per warning signs, July 2013</ref>
** Connects along the [[left bank]] trackage along the main [[Susquehanna River]] to New York State railways via the former [[Lehigh Valley Railroad]] through the yard at [[Sayre, Pennsylvania]], reaching Rochester, Buffalo, and Erie, Pennsylvania
*[[Lehigh Railway]] – Mehoopany, [[Towanda, Pennsylvania|Towanda]]
*[[Luzerne & Susquehanna Railroad]] – Pittston
*[[Shamokin Valley Railroad]] – Locust Summit
== Equipment ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Numbers<ref name=roster/>
!Images
!Builder<ref name=roster>{{cite web|title=Roster|publisher=Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad|url=http://www.rbmnrr.com/roster/|access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref>
!Model<ref name="roster" />
!Quantity<ref name="roster" />
|-
|225
|[[File:Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad No. 225 September 2020.jpg|150x150px]]
|[[Canadian Locomotive Company]]
|[[4-6-0]]
|1
|-
|250-251
|[[File:20220528 02 RBMN RR, Port Clinton, Pennsylvania.jpg|150x150px]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Electro-Motive Diesel|EMD]]
|[[EMD F7A|F7A]]
|2
|-
|270
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Reading & Northern 270 and 275.jpg|150px]]
|[[EMD F9|F9A]]
|1
|-
|275
|F7B
|1
|-
|[[Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad 425|425]]
|[[File:RBM&N 425 Jim Thorpe.png|150px]]
|[[Baldwin Locomotive Works]]
|[[4-6-2]]
|1
|-
|[[Reading_2102|2102]]
|[[File:Reading & Northern No. 2102 Reading Outer.png|150px]]
|[[Reading Company|RDG]]
|[[Reading T-1|T-1]] ([[4-8-4]])
|1
|-
|9166
|
| rowspan="2" |[[Budd Company|Budd]]
|[[RDC-3]]
|1
|-
|9167-9168
|[[File:20240420 1239 RBMN excursion, Locust Gap, Pennsylvania.jpg|150x150px]]
|[[RDC-1]]
|2
|-
|800-801
|
| rowspan="11" |[[Electro-Motive Diesel|EMD]]
|[[EMD SW8|SW8]]
|2
|-
|802-803
|[[File:Reading and Blue Mountain No. 803 at Port Clinton - May 2024 - 02.jpg|150x150px]]
|[[EMD SW8|SW8M]]
|2
|-
|1540-1543
|[[File:Reading and Blue Mountain No. 1542 at Port Clinton - May 2024.jpg|150x150px]]
|[[EMD MP15|MP15]]
|4
|-
|1546, 1548
|[[File:RBMN1546LGSRY.jpg|150px]]
|[[EMD SW1500|SW1500]]
|2
|-
|2000, 2003-2004
|[[File:RBMN2003QAJT.jpg|150px]]
|[[EMD SD38|SD38]]
|3
|-
|2010-2015, 2017, 2023 (ex-2016, renumbered for 40th anniversary)
|[[File:RBMN2010JTOS2-27.jpg|150px]]
|[[EMD GP38-2|GP38-2]]
|8
|-
|2530-2535
|[[File:20191012 10 RBMN RR Excursion at Tamaqua, Pennsylvania.jpg|150x150px]]
|[[EMD GP30|GP39RN]]
|6
|-
|1983 (ex 3062,  renumbered for 40th anniversary, painted in BM&R livery), 3050-3061, 3063-3069
|[[File:RBMN-3050-NRPI-Glen-Onoko.jpg|150x150px]]
|[[EMD SD40-2|SD40-2]]
|20
|-
|5014, 5017, 5022
|[[File:RBMN5017LeadsNRFF2-18-2022.jpg|150px]]
|[[EMD SD50|SD50]]
|3
|-
|5018-5021
|
|[[EMD SD50|SD50-2]]
|4
|-
|5033, 5049
|[[File:ReadingandNorthern5049PVOS9-19.jpg|150px]]
|[[EMD SD50|SD50M]]
|2
|}
==Passenger excursions==
{{Infobox rail | gauge={{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}|
|railroad_name     = Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
|logo_filename     = Central Railroad of New Jersey Station, Jim Thorpe, PA 06.JPG
|logo_size         =
|system_map        =
|map_caption       =
|map_size          =
|marks             = LGSR
|image             =
|image_size        =
|image_caption     = The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway station in Jim Thorpe
|locale            = [[Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania]]
|start_year        = 2005
|end_year          = present
|predecessor_line  = [[Central Railroad of New Jersey]]
|successor_line    =
|electrification   =
|length            = {{convert|16|mi|km|adj=on}}
|hq_city           = [[Port Clinton, Pennsylvania]]
|website           = {{url|https://www.lgsry.com/}}
}}
The '''Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway''' ([[reporting mark]] '''LGSR''') is a [[tourist railroad]] that operates passenger excursions along RBMN trackage from the former [[Central Railroad of New Jersey]] station in [[Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania|Jim Thorpe]] to Old Penn Haven, following the [[Lehigh River]] through [[Lehigh Gorge State Park]].<ref name=lgsrtrains/> Operations officially began in 2005, excursions run several times daily from April to November.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jim Thorpe Train Rides and Schedule|publisher=Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway|url=https://www.lgsry.com/regular-schedule|website=Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Rich History of Jim Thorpe, PA|publisher=Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway|url=https://www.lgsry.com/history|website=Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway}}</ref> The regular excursion consists of a {{convert|16|mi|km|adj=on}}, 70-minute round-trip out of Jim Thorpe, following the Lehigh River to Lehigh Gorge State Park. In October, the LGSR operates abbreviated 45-minute trips that offer views of [[fall foliage]] in Lehigh Gorge State Park.
In addition, are several special excursions that are occasionally operated by the LGSR. The Hometown High Bridge train is a {{convert|30|mi|km|adj=on}}, 2-hour round-trip excursion that runs on the first full weekend in October from Jim Thorpe through [[Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania|Nesquehoning]] to the {{convert|1168|ft|m|adj=on}} long Hometown High Bridge that passes {{convert|168|ft|m}} over the [[Little Schuylkill River]], offering views of fall foliage. The Bike Train is a {{convert|25|mi|km|adj=on}}, 1-hour one-way trip from Jim Thorpe to [[White Haven, Pennsylvania|White Haven]] that allows passengers to take their bicycles onboard for the trip up grade, and then bike the {{convert|25|mi|km|adj=on}} journey along the [[Lehigh Gorge Trail]] from White Haven down to Jim Thorpe. LGSR trains are usually diesel-powered and consist of an open-air car, standard coaches, a gondola car that allows passengers to transport the bicycles aboard the train and ride their bicycles back to Jim Thorpe, and a caboose.<ref name=lgsrtrains>{{cite web|title=Our Trains|publisher=Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway|url=https://www.lgsry.com/our-trains/|access-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref>
The RBMN also operates passenger excursions out of the Reading Outer Station located outside of [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]] in [[Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania|Muhlenberg Township]], with [[Rail Diesel Car]] trains running from Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe with an intermediate stop in [[Port Clinton, Pennsylvania|Port Clinton]].<ref>{{cite web|title=What's going on here? - Take a ride on the Reading|publisher=Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad|url=http://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/whatsgoingonhere/|access-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref> The train runs from Reading and Port Clinton to Jim Thorpe in the morning, allowing passengers time to explore Jim Thorpe. The return trip leaves Jim Thorpe in the late afternoon and returns to Port Clinton and Reading in the evening. This excursion operates on select weekends and holidays from May to November.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reading Outer Station, Port Clinton to Jim Thorpe RDC Train Schedule|publisher=Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad|url=http://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/schedule/|access-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref>
On May 27, 2023, the RBMN inaugurated excursion service from their new Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Regional Railroad Station in [[Pittston, Pennsylvania|Pittston]] to Jim Thorpe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SPECIAL GRAND OPENING EXCURSION FOR THE WILKES-BARRE / SCRANTON REGIONAL RAILROAD STATION |url=https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/pittston-grand-opening |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512204822/https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/pittston-grand-opening |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |website=Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad Passenger Department}}</ref> Service from this station mirrors that of Reading Outer Station, with trains leaving Pittston in the morning, arriving to Jim Thorpe around noon, and then returning to Pittston in the evening.
The '''''Iron Horse Rambles''''' are several excursions occurring throughout the summer that are pulled by steam locomotive № 2102. A spiritual successor to the Reading Company excursions of the same name, trips have run between Reading Outer Station and Jim Thorpe, as well as up the Lehigh Division from Nesquehoning to either Tunkahannock or Pittston. These trains are often in excess of 16 cars, and are popular with tourists and [[railfans]] alike. The Rambles offer a unique experience in America: a steam locomotive working unassisted to pull a full length passenger train over a great distance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Iron Horse Rambles|publisher=Reading and Northern Railroad|url=https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/rambles|website=Reading and Northern Passenger}}</ref>
==References==
{{Portal|Trains|Pennsylvania}}
{{Reflist}}
==Further reading==
*{{Cite book|last=Bednar|first=Mike|year=1998|title=Anthracite Rebirth: Story of the Reading and Northern Railroad|edition=1st|publisher=Garrigues House Publication|isbn=0-9620844-9-2}}
==External links==
{{commonscat}}
*{{Official website|1=https://www.rbmnrr.com/}}
<!--
*[http://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/ Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad - Passenger Division]
*[http://www.lgsry.com/ Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway] railway operating on RBMN trackage
*[http://www.steamphotos.com/Railroad-Photos/Reading-Northern-Railroad-425/5225161_rWSwT RBMN Passenger Excursion Photos]-->
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef| before=[[Wisconsin and Southern Railroad]] }}
{{s-ttl| title=[[Regional Railroad of the Year]]| years='''2002''' }}
{{s-aft| after=[[Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad]] }}
{{s-bef| before=[[Arkansas and Missouri Railroad]] }}
{{s-ttl| title=[[Regional Railroad of the Year]]| years='''2015''' }}
{{s-aft| after=[[Central Maine and Quebec Railway]] }}
{{s-bef| before=[[Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad]] }}
{{s-ttl| title=[[Regional Railroad of the Year]]| years='''2020''' }}
{{s-aft| after= }}
{{end}}
{{Regional railroads}}
{{Pennsylvania railroads}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reading Blue Mountain Northern Railroad}}
[[Category:Pennsylvania railroads]]
[[Category:Spin-offs of Conrail]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Berks County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Transportation in Berks County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Heritage railroads in Pennsylvania]]