Colebrookdale Railroad

Colebrookdale Railroad

Dining car
Locale Boyertown to Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Dates of operation 2014–
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length 8.6 miles
Headquarters Boyertown, Pennsylvania
Website http://www.colebrookdalerailroad.com/
Colebrookdale Railroad
Route map
Legend
 Barto
 Eshbach
 Bechtelsville
 New Berlinsville
 Boyertown
 Colebrookdale
 Iron Stone
 Pine Forge
 Mill Park
Reading Railroad
to Reading
 Pottstown

Reading Railroad
to Philadelphia

The Colebrookdale Railroad, also known as the Secret Valley Line, is a tourist railroad located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The railroad operates between Boyertown in Berks County and Pottstown in Montgomery County.

Operations

The Colebrookdale Railroad operates a variety of excursions originating out of Boyertown. The trains operated include a fall foliage train, Haunted History train, Santa Claus train, Valentine's Day train, Easter Bunny Express, Wine Tasting and Cheese Train, and Mother's Day and Father's Day trains.[1] The railroad also allows groups to charter the entire train or to rent the caboose for birthday parties.[2]

History

The inaugural excursion of the Colebrookdale Railroad on October 18, 2014, led by EMD GP10 7580 in Pennsylvania Railroad colors

The Colebrookdale Railroad started building the railroad line between Boyertown and Pottstown in 1865 and trains started running in 1869. The Colebrookdale Railroad was leased by the Reading Railroad who operated the line until 1976, when it became a part of Conrail. Conrail planned to abandon the line, but the state of Pennsylvania acquired the line and hired operators. In March 2001, Berks County acquired the line for $155,000 to keep it active.[3] The Colebrookdale Spur was abandoned by the East Penn Railroad in 2008.[4][5] The Berks County Redevelopment Authority reactivated the line,[6] with the Eastern Berks Gateway Railroad appointed to operate the line beginning in October 2010.[7] The company's non-profit parent, the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust, is working on developing freight traffic on the line. In 2011, a tourist railroad was proposed to operate on the line.[8] Tourist passenger operations began in early October 2014 with a series of "soft" trips, intended to work out any operational issues before the first full season in 2015. The Colebrookdale Railroad began regular tourist service on October 18, 2014.[9]

Project #5002

A group based in Boyertown is currently restoring a USATC S100 Class 0-6-0 tank engine #5002, built by H.K. Porter, Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA. Unlike her brothers and sisters that were settled over seas, #5002 was used for the Naval Yards in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1948, she was bought by the EJ Lavino Corporation, and she was used until the company diezelized. #5002 was then briefly used on the Tombstone Junction Railroad with her sibling, #5003, and was the last time she ran. After the Tombstone Junction Railroad, #5002 was put on display at the Kentucky Railway Museum. #5003's location right now is unknown. In 2014, a group was created to restore the little switcher, and in September 2015, the veteran was back on her home rails, and will operate when the restoration is complete. The group has been permitted the right to store the 5002 on the Colebrookdale Railroad for restoration.

References

  1. ↑ "Featured Excursions and Themes". Colebrookdale Railroad. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Charters and Groups". Colebrookdale Railroad. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Colebrookdale Spur". Reading Eagle. May 2, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  4. ↑ "EAST PENN RAILROAD, LLC-ABANDONMENT EXEMPTION-IN BERKS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES, PA". Surface Transportation Board. September 30, 2008. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
  5. ↑ Young, Mary E. (May 3, 2008). "Losing rail spur will hurt, Boyertown company says". Reading Eagle. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  6. ↑ Duran, Carole (June 23, 2010). "Board continues Boyertown rail freight facility plan". Reading Eagle. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
  7. ↑ Young, Mary E. (September 3, 2010). "County OKs lease with railroad to reopen Boyertown-Pottstown line". Reading Eagle. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  8. ↑ Reichl, Matthew (September 25, 2011). "Would you take the train from Boyertown to Pottstown?". The Boyertown Area Times. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  9. ↑ Dennis, Marian (October 18, 2014). "Colebrookdale Railroad unofficially opens with first public ride". The Mercury. Pottstown, PA. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
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