To celebrate its acquisition, Reading & Northern Railroad (R&N) welcomed over sixty guests on a passenger train trip through the Humboldt Industrial Park on Tuesday, July 26, 2016.
Reading & Northern acquired the rights to provide rail service to Humboldt from CAN DO, the region's premier economic development organization, on January 1st, 2016. On that day RBMN took over the rail freight service from Norfolk Southern Railroad.
R&N welcomed representatives from the Humboldt freight customers, CAN DO, Congressman Barletta's office, and other local and regional groups. R&N's Passenger Department arranged for two ninety-minute trips through the Park complete with lunch. The passenger cars included one of the famous Open Air cars that are popular on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railroad, the passenger arm of the R&N, as well as private cars owned by Andy Muller, Jr. One of the private cars, The Black Diamond, is more than 100 years old and was built by Jay Gould for his daughter, Helen in 1889.
Mr. Muller, who was the host for the day, welcomed all the visitors and repeatedly thanked the customers for their business and CAN DO for its confidence in the R&N's abilities.
Both trains left on schedule; a hallmark of R&N and LGSR service. In fact, R&N is one of the only freight railroads in the nation, if not the only one, that offers all customers a guaranteed two- hour service window.