Colebrookdale Railroad
Garden Cafe Car
Overview
HeadquartersBoyertown, Pennsylvania
LocaleBoyertown-Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Dates of operation2014 (2014)–present (present)
PredecessorEast Penn Railroad
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length8.6 miles (13.8 km)
Other
Websitewww.colebrookdalerailroad.com
Route map
mi
12.7
 Barto
12.0
 Eshbach
11.1
 Bechtelsville
9.4
 New Berlinville
8.2
 Boyertown
Ironstone Creek
6.4
 Colebrookdale
Ironstone Creek
Manatawny Creek
3.4
 Pine Forge
Harrisburg Line
to Reading
0.0
Colebrookdale Junction
 Pottstown
Harrisburg Line
to Philadelphia

The Colebrookdale Railroad, also known as the Secret Valley Line or colloquially as The Colebrookdale, 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 with plans eventually to have trains originating from Pottstown as well. 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 select cars, and to rent the caboose for birthday parties.[2]

They currently operate a consist of 5 train cars: deluxe coach, dining car, cafe car, lounge car, and parlor car. The fifth passenger car entered service in mid-November 2020 and is a cross between a parlor car and a coach car. The deluxe coach and parlor car are fully restored with their final interiors but the dining and cafe cars have yet to receive their final restoration.

They also have an open-air gondola and a PRR caboose. Other cars not yet restored include a private car named Voiture Lynnewood, a baggage car that will eventually serve as a child entertainment center for the train, and an immigrant sleeper named The Beaver currently stored at their restoration shops. They are not planning on starting restoration on any of these cars for at least a few more years.[3]

History

The original Colebrookdale Railroad started building the railroad line between Boyertown and Pottstown in 1865 to serve the iron ore industry along the Manatawny Creek and trains started running on September 6, 1869.[4] The line, which featured both freight and passenger service, originally continued further north to Bechtelsville and Barto before service was later cut back to Boyertown. 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 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation acquired the line and hired operators. The line was operated by the Anthracite Railway, the Blue Mountain & Reading Railroad, and Penn Eastern Rail Lines. In March 2001, Berks County acquired the line for $155,000 to keep it active; the line was soon sold to Penn Eastern Rail Lines.[5][6] The Colebrookdale Spur was abandoned by the East Penn Railroad (the successor to Penn Eastern Rail Lines) in 2008.[5][7][8]

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

The Berks County Redevelopment Authority reactivated the line,[9] with the Eastern Berks Gateway Railroad appointed to operate the line beginning in October 2010.[10] 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.[11]

The company's non-profit parent, the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust, was working on developing freight traffic on the line; however, business had to be turned away because tracks and bridges needed reinforcement to support the weight of modern railcars.[12] In early 2020 the railroad operators requested $25 million from the county government for infrastructure improvements. A $40 million loan from the Federal Railroad Administration was approved starting in 2022 to completely rebuild the line and extend it to Bechtelsville.

As of 2022, the railroad has acquired two steam locomotives as part of their new steam program. In addition, the railroad is currently redeveloping their yard for more space to store their equipment, and they're transforming parts of their own parking lot into an Edwardian garden that will serve a variety of community events, as well as providing more parking space for their passengers.[13]

Locomotive roster

Currently rostered units

Formerly rostered units

Rolling stock

References

  1. ↑ "Featured Excursions and Themes". Colebrookdale Railroad. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Charters and Groups". Colebrookdale Railroad. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  3. ↑ "The Project - How We're Changing Things". Colebrookdale Railroad. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  4. ↑ Davis, Larry (October 5, 1950). "Barto Rail Line Halt Causes Little Stir". The Pottstown Mercury. pp. 1, 20. Retrieved August 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. 1 2 "Eastern Berks Gateway Railroad". Colebrookdale Railroad. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Colebrookdale Spur". Reading Eagle. May 2, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  7. ↑ "EAST PENN RAILROAD, LLC-ABANDONMENT EXEMPTION-IN BERKS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES, PA". Surface Transportation Board. September 30, 2008. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
  8. ↑ Young, Mary E. (May 3, 2008). "Losing rail spur will hurt, Boyertown company says". Reading Eagle. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  9. ↑ Duran, Carole (June 23, 2010). "Board continues Boyertown rail freight facility plan". Reading Eagle. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
  10. ↑ Young, Mary E. (September 3, 2010). "County OKs lease with railroad to reopen Boyertown-Pottstown line". Reading Eagle. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  11. ↑ Dennis, Marian (October 18, 2014). "Colebrookdale Railroad unofficially opens with first public ride". The Mercury. Pottstown, PA. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  12. ↑ Shuey, Karen (10 February 2020). "Colebrookdale Railroad asks Berks County for $25 million". ReadingEagle.com. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  13. ↑ Colebrookdale Railroad Weekly Update 4/21/2021, retrieved 2021-04-26
  14. ↑ "Pictures of CRR 5128". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  15. ↑ "Pictures of EBGR 9". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  16. ↑ "Pictures of EBGR M55". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  17. ↑ Vasil, Jim (March 24, 2021). "Colebrookdale RR to run steam locomotive in 1-2 years". Allentown, PA: WFMZ-TV. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  18. ↑ Burkhart, M.T. (March 29, 2021). "Colebrookdale Railroad Acquires Former LS&I 2-8-0 No. 18". Railfan & Railroad. White River Productions. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  19. ↑ Weekly, Berks (2023-04-08). "Colebrookdale Railroad acquires steam locomotive #5288 from Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum". Berks Weekly - Local News, Entertainment, Traffic, Weather, Sports. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  20. ↑ "Ex-CN 4-6-2 heads to Colebrookdale Railroad". Trains. Kalmbach. August 2023. p. 49.
  21. ↑ "Project 02: US Army Transportation Corps 5002". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  22. ↑ "Pictures of ATSF 2627". rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  23. ↑ "Minnesota Transportation Museum - MTM is pleased to announce the acquisition of CF7 MNTX 454, former GLLX 2627 which last served on the Colebrookdale Railroad in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. Originally built as Santa Fe 21, an EMD F3A, the unit will serve as a major parts source to restore MTM's Great Northern F7A 454A to operation. The unit is currently en-route from its former home to MTM's Jackson Street Roundhouse near downtown Saint Paul. Once all necessary parts are secured from the unit, the remainder will be scrapped. Approved by the MTM Board in 2018, this acquisition would not have been possible without the generosity of the John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust and the BNSF Foundation. Many thanks to all who are making this occasion possible! Photo credit: F units, E units, FA's, PA's and other Diesel Cab units Group | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  24. ↑ "Rent Our Caboose". Colebrookdale Railroad. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  25. ↑ Colebrookdale Railroad Weekly Update 5/20, retrieved 2021-09-23
  26. ↑ "Pictures of EBGR 5038". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  27. ↑ "Pictures of EBGR 4970". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  28. ↑ Colebrookdale Railroad Weekly Update 6/16, retrieved 2021-11-20
  29. ↑ "ADA Accessible Palace (Valhalla) Car". Colebrookdale Railroad. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  30. ↑ "Pictures of HRS 729". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  31. ↑ Colebrookdale Railroad Weekly Update, 12/16, retrieved 2021-12-20
  32. ↑ Colebrookdale Railroad Weekly Update 9/22, retrieved 2021-10-24
  33. ↑ Boyko, Steve. "The LYNNEWOOD". Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  34. ↑ The Diplomat's Journey from Virginia to Pennsylvania, retrieved 2021-10-24
  35. ↑ Colebrookdale Railroad Weekly Update, 11/25, retrieved 2021-11-29
  36. ↑ "Colebrookdale Railroad - The Secret Valley Line". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
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