On Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, #2102 will power a classic Reading to Jim Thorpe Iron Horse Ramble, doing so for the first time across the winter landscape of Berks, Schuylkill, and Carbon Counties. The train will depart Reading Outer Station at 9:00 a.m., make a station stop at Port Clinton, and continue to the classic destination of Jim Thorpe, where passengers will have more than four hours to explore the town, take photographs of the #2102, meet the crew, and experience a ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway.
Unlike previous years, passengers will be offered the chance to stay on the train and ride the “wye move” to turn the train consist to face south during the layover in Jim Thorpe. This option, the regional railroad says, will not only afford passengers extra—and rare—mileage, but also special photo opportunities while the train is prepared for the southbound trip. The train will return to Reading Outer Station in the evening. To help make this trip even more affordable, RBMN will offer Standard Coach tickets for $79.00 per passenger, and Crown Class Coach tickets for $99.00 per passenger. Additional upscale seating options will also be available by calling the railroad’s ticket office.
The second Ramble will operate from Reading to Jim Thorpe on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Again, passengers will have the option to ride the wye move over the Lehigh River bridges just west of Jim Thorpe; and again, tickets will be priced at $79.00 for Standard Coach and $99.00 for Crown Class Coach. Premium seating options will be offered as usual.
“These lower price points for our popular Iron Horse Rambles excursions are a way of saying ‘thank you’ to our loyal customers who have ridden these trips with us in the past; and as a means of attracting new customers who have never experienced a main line steam train ride,” said Owner/CEO Andy Muller, Jr.
The third and fourth Iron Horse Rambles for 2025 will continue a new tradition begun in 2024. Both will feature the #2102 operating over the entire length of RBMN’s Lehigh Division Main Line. On Saturday, June 21, 2025, #2102 will power a passenger excursion from Nesquehoning Regional Railroad Station to Tunkhannock, Pa., for the town’s 44th Annual Founder’s Day Festival. This event, sponsored by the Tunkhannock Business and Professional Association, features food and craft vendors, live music, entertainment, and more. Departure time is 9:00 a.m., and passengers will receive ample time to enjoy the festival before returning to Nesquehoning in the evening. Railfans, the railroad says, will marvel at the power of steam locomotive #2102 as it pulls the train upgrade through Lehigh Gorge State Park, over Penobscot Mountain, through the Wyoming Valley, and along the east bank of the Susquehanna River to Tunkhannock. Tickets will be priced at $99.00 for Standard Coach and $110.00 for Crown Class Coach. Limited additional premium seating options will also be available by phone.
The fourth and final Iron Horse Ramble will operate on Saturday, Aug. 23, from Nesquehoning to Pittston, Pa., for the annual Tomato Festival. This event features great food (including a spaghetti eating contest), rides, bingo, live entertainment, and the Little Mr. and Miss Tomato contests. As always, departure will be 9:00 a.m., and once more feature #2102 thundering through the Lehigh Gorge on its way to Pittston. Passengers will of course have lots of time to take in the Tomato Festival before returning to Nesquehoning in the evening. As with the June Ramble from Nesquehoning, tickets will be $99.00 for Standard Coach and $110.00 for Crown Class Coach. A limited number of premium seating options will be available by phone.
Tickets for the Iron Horse Ramble steam excursions will go on sale at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, by phone at 610-562-2102, or online at www.rbmnrr-passenger.com.
According to RBMN, which was named Railway Age’s Regional Railroad of the Year four times, in 2002, 2011, 2015 and 2020, there will be steam-powered excursions to Jim Thorpe during the railroad’s Fall Foliage Season, but information regarding those will come later. RBMN is also anticipating the return to service of the popular 4-6-2 steam locomotive #425 in the latter half of 2025. More information on that will also come soon.
