Passenger train returns to Mahanoy City for Community Day celebration
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - A pair of Reading and Northern employees stand ready as passengers board the first train excursion from Mahanoy City since 1994, seen on Sept, 9, 2023.
MAHANOY CITY – It’s been 60 years since the last regular passenger train left the station in the heart of this borough and over 20 since the last excursion.
Saturday, the train returned as part of the borough’s Community Day celebration.
“It’s going to spark memories for some and create memories for some,” Dawn Frye, a member of the community events committee in town, told the Sentinel. “It’s a huge day for Mahanoy City and hopefully it continues to bring positive change and the community out.”
The excursions were operated by the Reading, Blue Mountain, and Northern Railroad, which operates a freight rail line through town, serving Blaschak Coal and industries in Gordon and Mount Carmel.
Organizers said the last time a passenger rail excursion left town was 1994, and the Mahanoy Area Historical Society said regular passenger train service ended in 1963. At one time, organizers said, train rides and Community Day were synonymous.
“It’s [been] a lot of hard work,” Frye said of the effort to organize this year’s excursion. Part of that work included cleaning the area of the former train station at Main and Vine Street in town, as well as coordinating with the railroad and others.
The site of the former train station, just off of downtown, was where Saturday’s excursions began.
Three train trips were held Saturday throughout the day, heading east through the historic Mahanoy Tunnel to Tamaqua and back.
State Rep. Dane Watro and State Senator David G. Argall were on the first train that departed at 11am.
“I hadn’t been on a train like that since 1997 when I was stationed in Korea,” Watro told the Sentinel. “That tunnel felt like it was a mile long, and I understand that’s how they used to haul coal in and out of Mahanoy City.”
“I think the whole idea of the festival and the trains, it’s really good for Mahanoy City,” Argall added. “It’s exciting to see that number of people in the downtown and I hope we can all do it again.
Frye said Saturday morning that over 700 tickets were sold for the train ride.
The Community Day event spanned the majority of downtown Mahanoy City, with vendors selling food and crafts and more all along Centre Street. Hooligan and the Shenandoah All Star Polka Band performed on Linden and Main Streets respectively.
“We have over 40 vendors signed up. Local businesses, organizations, churches, fire companies, boosters,” Frye said. “Any type of food you can think of. Puerto Rican food. Soul food. Cheesesteaks.”
The Mahanoy Area Historical Society also hosted an open house during the event.
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