I doubt that. People don't go to Tamaqua to play tourist. Jim Thorpe is a well established ( Switzerland of America" ) tourist destination and will remain that train or no train.

Andy Muller understands cash flow better than most and you can take it the the bank that his operation will be back in Jim Thorpe sooner than later.

IMHO-Ross Rowland

There are hundreds of former tourist towns that have died off over the years, and hundreds that have replaced them. Just look at Atlantic City for an example.

Tourist towns stay that way only as long as they protect their major draws and don't treat the tourists as ATM machines. Several who have greatly increased the tourism taxes, made parking almost impossible, decided motorcycles are more important than families, ran off major events, didn't continue advertising, etc., are now dead. Generally all it takes is a community's leadership that takes it all for granted.

Meanwhile, some towns that no one cared about ten years ago are now hot attractions. New brew pubs, a restored house or museum, etc., can suddenly make a place attractive.

Tastes change, and can do it quickly. Generally all it takes are a few positive or negative actions. While the train may return to Jim Thorpe in the future, the tourists are also just as likely to discover a new destination.

Bart

What isn't clear from this latest announcement is whether Tamaqua is going to be the new destination for excursions out of Reading instead of Jim Thorpe or in addition to there. In nearby Lansford is the No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum. A shuttle connection would be a boon for this attraction. Are the Lehigh Gorge trips going to originate there? That would make the trip up the gorge MUCH longer. With the new bridge, trips for the gorge could bypass Jim Thorpe. I would think Nesquehoning would be a logical base for those trips. Of course, who knows what is going on behind the scenes? Andy is holding all the cards.

Ross, they go for the foliage. The trees in Tamaqua and the trees in Jim Thorpe look a lot alike.

Tamaqua's ex-RDG Station is restored and now has a restaurant in it. However, the platform was removed after passenger service ended in 1963 (Iron Horse Rambles in 1964). The main track is some distance from the building.

They're building a boarding platform now. RBMN had been originating passenger trips there while the Lehigh Gorge trips were running from Jim Thorpe.

The climb up to Haucks from Tamaqua is scenic; not nearly as well known as the Lehigh Gorge. The Hometown Bridge does hive a spectacular view.

Phil Mulligan

Back in the early 90s, my son and I rode an excursion to Jim Thorpe behind steam engine #425. The train suddenly stopped on the Hometown Bridge. Some individuals were bungee jumping off the bridge. If that wasn't bad enough, their bungee cord was fastened to the rail. Had we not stopped, someone would have had a quick trip to the bottom.

So let me get this straight.

Having to pay the tax in Jim Thorpe was bad.

Having the town of Tamaqua build a taxpayer funded platform is good.

I think it's worth pointing out the hypocrisy at play here.

Do as I say.....not as I do !!!!

Ross Rowland

The relevant line is ambiguous:



It's not specified whether Reading & Northern, the town, or even the restaurant in the depot is "building a boarding platform now."

Did I miss some article or whatnot that specified that Tamaqua is building said platform?

The Borough of Tamaqua and the RBMN are jointly building the platform. The Borough is putting up $36,000 and they expect $20,000 in donations.

Here's WNEP Channel 16:

https://wnep.com/2020/01/22/passenger-p ... n-station/

In Reading Company days, Tamaqua was the Division Point between the Reading and Shamokin Divisions. Trains recrewed there and usually yarded. The station was in the middle of a wye* where the Schuylkill Valley Branch came over from Pottsville Junction.

Phil Mulligan

* Yes, R.Co.'s Reading Outer Station was also in the middle of a wye. However, RBMN's new Reading Outer Station is at a different location.

It should be noted that this is hardly Tamaqua's "first rodeo," as the saying goes. The BM&R/Reading & Northern has run numerous other excursions to and through Tamaqua in the past, and partially as a result of such attention they not only have a preserved station (restaurant and ice cream parlor), but also a preserved crossing guard shanty and tower (albeit as small a "tower" as you can imagine), and two cabooses, a fireless steamer, and two "critters" on display. There's also a nice mini-park across the tracks from the depot.

I seem to recall that the town put on small street festivals for visits by BM&R trains in the 1980s/1990s. The town may not be a Jim Thorpe--yet--but to some extent that could be part of its charm--more authenticity, less crass commercialism (again, yet).

Ironically, the current Google Earth Pro aerial view of downtown Tamaqua includes two of the railroad's RDCs parked directly outside the Tamaqua station!
https://goo.gl/maps/ZfKx1Mq51F6DYFiM7

On Sandy's Google view, abandoned Pottsville Jct to Shamokin leg of the wye is clearly visible. The King Coal between Phila and Shamokin platformed on that leg as it ran via Pottsville and the Schuylkill Valley Branch.

In earlier years, some passenger trains split at Port Clinton with most of the train going to Pottsville via the Main Line and the rest to Shamokin via the Little Schuylkill Branch and Tamaqua.

Reading Co. ran several Iron Horse Rambles with Tamaqua as the destination; also those Rambles running via the Catawissa Branch changed to diesel at Tamaqua. (the steam engine(s) ran lite via Gordon and Shamokin to West Milton, where they pulled the train back to Reading and the diesels took them to their origins.)

Phil Mulligan

Reading & Northern announces the dispute has been resolved and trains will return starting this weekend: https://www.rbmnrr.com/happenings/2020/2/11/reading-amp-northern-rr-reaches-agreement-with-jim-thorpe-to-restore-passenger-service

So, who’s all surprised by this?

Not I. It was inevitable that they would work this out as they need each other to continue the success developed over years of working together.

Glad for all concerned its now in the past.

And let's all thank Andy Muller for all he and his team do to keep the steam flame burning brightly !!!

Ross Rowland