On Saturday, September 13, 2025, the railroad hosted three 70-minute round-trip diesel-powered passenger train rides from Mahanoy City to Tamaqua. The excursions drew nearly 600 riders, continuing the popularity of the event, which has now welcomed more than 2,500 passengers over the past three years.
In recognition of the strong community support, Reading & Northern donated $10,000 to the Mahanoy Area Chamber of Commerce. The contribution reflects the railroad’s pledge to invest in communities along its routes and to encourage more frequent passenger service in Mahanoy City, a borough located on one of the railroad’s freight lines.
“We are happy to visit Mahanoy City every year,” said Matt Fisher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Passenger Operations for Reading & Northern Railroad. “Over the past three years, we’ve seen thousands of riders enjoy these excursions. The borough and the railroad have been connected since their beginnings, and we look forward to continuing that partnership.”
Dawn Frye, Treasurer of the Mahanoy Area Chamber of Commerce, expressed appreciation for the railroad’s support. “The Chamber of Commerce is grateful for the opportunity to work with Reading & Northern. We’re excited to bring more train rides to Mahanoy City in the coming months and years.”
Headquartered in Port Clinton, Reading & Northern Railroad is a privately held company that serves over 50 customers across nine eastern Pennsylvania counties, including Schuylkill. The company operates over 400 miles of track, moves nearly 35,000 carloads of freight annually, and carries approximately 340,000 passengers on its steam and diesel-powered excursions. Recognized as one of the nation’s premier regional railroads, Reading & Northern was named “Regional Railroad of the Year” in 2020 by Railway Age magazine.