I was driving on Route 309 today, about 20 minutes south of Tamaqua, and noticed that the train was out at a fairly new facility named Bear Rock Junction, so I stopped by for a ride. They run a 15 inch gauge Crown 4-4-0 built in 1959. It is the same type used at Rough and Tumble and Knoebels. The locomotive burns bituminous coal. The engineers said that they tried anthracite, but it did not do well unless the engine was working. Since a lot of time is spent in the station, it is easier to keep up the fire with bituminous coal. The ride costs $1.50 and is a lot like a giant model railroad, with an artificial tunnel, bridge over a lake, and a 4 percent grade that gives the little engine a chance to make a lot of noise on the last leg of the trip.
The train runs every 15 minutes noon to 9:30 PM, Fridays through Sundays through October. Here are some shots from today:
More photos at:
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563735885JlLmJi