Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway: Trademark of the Reading & Northern Railroad

I was gifted tickets for a round-trip tour on this railway - specifically in the dome car. And while I'd likely never have thought to do this on my own, it was definitely a beautiful experience. The gorge was gorgeous, the train comfortable and spacious, and the guide informative and engaging. I'd definitely consider taking this ride again.

LOVE the small town! Great location! The train ride was meh. 🫤 Their YouTube videos make this sound so tempting and entices you in the best way but I have to be honest and say it was okay. I'm wondering if it was also because of the noisy family in front of me? They were worshipping the two year old with "Oooooo's" and PLENTY of "Awwwwww!" which came to be a bit annoying cause I couldn't hear what the overhead tour guide was saying. I think the souvenir ticket added a great touch. If you're in this town, make sure you visit the neighboring stores, especially the silly goose. That's a great novelty store and I promise you you'll go broke in there. Oh! Be sure to use a bathroom prior to using the one on the train. That restroom was filthy, tiny and stunk to the high heavens.

Such a fun and memorable experience! The ride itself was beautiful — you can choose between open-air cars and enclosed cars with windows. The scenery through the gorge is stunning, especially in the fall. The car hosts were super friendly and pointed out interesting landmarks along the way so we could get great photos. My two toddlers loved it! We went on a Tuesday in late October and were able to buy tickets on-site. Arriving about 20 minutes before departure was plenty of time to get tickets, and board comfortably. Definitely worth doing if you’re visiting Jim Thorpe!

We took the Santa Train Ride with Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway (Trademark of the Reading & Northern Railroad) and it was an absolutely awesome experience! The ride was beautifully scenic, and the holiday decorations made it even more magical. Santa and the staff were so warm and friendly, making the trip fun for both kids and adults. The atmosphere was festive, joyful, and perfect for the holiday season. We truly enjoyed every moment and highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a memorable Christmas outing! 🎅🚂✨

This was a very cool experience. My wife and I took a train ride as one of our anniversary excursions. It was fun and cool to hear about some of the history of the area, as well as view the scenery. I would have given it 5 stars, however there isn't adequate signage directing you where to go and I found that the workers weren't super helpful. The attendants on the train were good though.

I recently took the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway train trip out of Jim Thorpe, PA, and it was such a pleasant experience! The ride takes you through some absolutely beautiful scenery along the Lehigh River and deep into the Pocono Mountains. The fall foliage made it even more breathtaking — it’s the perfect time of year to go if you love the colors of autumn. Get there early if you're visiting during peak season — the town and the train was crowded, especially on weekends in the fall. There is no booking in advance option in this period! The train itself has a charming, old-fashioned feel, with both open-air and enclosed cars. The ride lasts about 45 minutes to an hour, and it’s just the right length — long enough to enjoy but not so long that it drags. The narration over the speakers gave us a bit of history about the region and the old railroad line, which added a nice touch without being too intrusive. The staff were friendly and helpful, and boarding was smooth and well organized. Jim Thorpe itself is a lovely little town, so it’s worth making a day of it — grab lunch, walk around the shops, and then hop on the train. Overall, the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway is a great, family-friendly experience that offers a peaceful way to enjoy some of Pennsylvania’s most scenic landscapes. Highly recommended!

Went for the 4 PM ride — the golden light was beautiful, and the open-air car made it nice to enjoy the breeze and scenery. The train conductors were friendly and shared interesting info with us, though the PA announcements were hard to hear because of the train noise. The ride itself is short (about 45 minutes) and doesn’t really go deep into the mountains — you only see a small part of them. It’s easy to get tickets on weekdays, and overall it’s a pleasant, relaxing experience — just a bit overhyped if you’re expecting dramatic mountain views.

This train is beautiful, vintage decor, great service, beautiful views. It isn't a long ride, which I was fine with, I paid about $75 pp which included a small breakfast of sausage, egg, fruit and mimosa/coffee. It was just ok for me, my husband was happy to finish his and mine. We enjoyed this very much and highly recommend it.

The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Train Ride is one of those experiences that really reminds you how beautiful Pennsylvania can be. The views are absolutely stunning from start to finish. Rolling mountains lush forests winding rivers and scenery that looks like it belongs on a postcard. Whether you're into photography nature or just relaxing and taking it all in this ride delivers some unforgettable sights. The only thing that kept it from being a full five stars is that it was extremely busy. And I mean extremely. The lines were long the station was packed and getting to your seat felt a bit chaotic. It wasn't a deal breaker but it definitely added some stress to what is supposed to be a calm scenic outing. Once you're on the train though the views make you forget the crowds pretty quickly. The service was ok. The staff was polite and helpful enough but with so many people it felt like they were just trying to keep up. They answered questions and kept things moving but it wasn't particularly warm or personal. Not bad just fine. The ride itself is smooth relaxing and absolutely worth doing. The open windows give you fresh air and amazing photo opportunities and the narration gives some interesting facts about the area without being too much. It's a great activity for families couples and anyone who loves the outdoors. Overall it's a solid four star experience. The views are breathtaking the ride is enjoyable and even with the crowds it's something I'd recommend doing at least once. If you're planning to go just try to arrive early and be prepared for a busy day. Once you're seated and rolling through the gorge it's more than worth it.

I was so excited to go for scenic train ride. We drove about 100 miles in 2 hours and then the last mile took about 1/2 hour. The street was completely backed up with traffic from people who were also going for a ride. The traffic and lack of parking added a lot of stress to the situation but we just made it! I regret not reading reviews or looking into the parking situation before going. Seating on the train also seemed like a free for all. After walking past a ton of passengers who were taking 2 person benches for themselves, we found seats on the last car. They had snacks and hot chocolate for sale. I was disappointed that they did not recycle or seem to care about the waste from their snacks. I wasn't too impressed with the scenery but having s Santa clause come by was a nice touch. When we got back to the parking spot, I got two tickets! I noticed a lot of other cars got tickets too. It seemed like this location is a hot spot for tickets. I was going to fight the tickets but it said that they have to challenge within 3 days. Of course it wasn't the businesses fault completely but I had a bad experience and won't be going back.

Me and my companions tried this vintage scenic train ride during the peak of autumn. Expect long parking lines as this is the time of the season when a huge amount of people love to go leaf-peeping. It took us about an hour to move two miles in congested traffic to reach the center of the town, parking was extremely difficult, but luckily someone informed us to go park at Mauch Chunk Lake Park where a shuttle will bring us to the town and then back to the Lake Park for a fee. There was a very long line to purchase and avail train tickets which took us more than an hour to get to the front line. Train tickets were affordable enough. Tips: sit at the right side of the train where you will be able to see more scenic views and the River. Parking can be a challenge, so plan to arrive early to secure a spot. Visit the railway's website for the most up-to-date information on schedules. Watch out for some people who will try to cut in line when purchasing a train ticket. The train ride is about 45 minutes, relaxing and peaceful, often enjoyed by families/costumers. For some, the train ride experience can be underwhelming due to the limited views. I like the part where the back support of the seat can be adjusted so that riders can face towards where the train is going. The restored vintage train cars and locomotives are a highlight for many. The narration during the train ride was clear and loud enough for everybody to hear and understand. Embarkation and disembarking are systematic enough to keep the flow of riders going. Our overall train ride experience was good, delightful and fun.

Crazy busy place when you get into town. Parking will be a challenge. Grabbed tickets and headed for the trains. Got the open-air car. When you board I suggest sitting facing away from town. This will be the best views. Lots fun and worth the money IMO

A top attraction that should never be missed when in Jim Thorpe especially during autumn season. The train ride is 45 minutes total with a great view of Lehigh gorge River and the Lehigh state park. It is the best way to see autumn leaves in PA. We were lucky to be on peaks season last week and witnessed the colors at its ending beauty. The town was crowded during the visit but our patience paid off for us in getting tickets despite the long wait to be on preferred ride time. Looking for parking spot was a struggle. Luckily our hubbies found thru a referral a paid shuttle ride to let our car parked in a state park and use their service ride back and forth to the station. Are we doing it again, sure why not.

This is a nice low key thing to do when visiting the area. This was our first time on this railway experience. You can buy you tickets online but have to get a paper ticket at the ticket booth in order to get on the train. I had had surgery the week before so I was using a walker. The ticket taker was very stern about not having the walker in the way while on the train. We folded it up and stored in by the doors, as we wouldn't have ever let it block anyone's way. The benches face the sides of the train cars. There was a decent amount of people for a Tuesday morning, which was great to see. It was a nice experience. They have a snacks for sale in one of the train cars as well. We got water and the prices were extremely reasonable!

The only reason I'm giving this two stars is that it was pet friendly and they even gave a cute little complimentary ticket to my dog. I think that was the only time I smiled during our trip here. If you absolutely love trains, then you are probably one of the people who gave this a high rating and you might very well enjoy this railway. I like trains, and this is the third I have ridden in the last month but this is the only one that has been a disappointment. We drove a little over an hour one way to come down here on the suggestion of a stranger we met in Scranton at the train yard. He was also traveling with his dog and said this was a must do. I think it's awesome that they allow dogs and I definitely saw a lot of people with their pups. Unfortunately for me personally, that's where the joy ended. We arrived early and purchased the "Crown Class" or first class seats. Afterwards, as we were looking on the electronic display, we realized they sell about 700 tickets per train ride, so you really don't have to come early to ensure that you get tickets. Some people weren't arriving 15 minutes before departure to purchase theirs . What you do have to come early for is parking. The parking is terrible here. We witnessed a hit and run. We witnessed a woman screaming at one of the parking attendants. And, as we were leaving, because the lot was full, a woman stopped traffic to let us pull out and then tried to pull into the parking area the wrong way. The price is not unreasonable at $8 flat fee for the whole day, but they do charge you a processing fee if you pay from your phone like we did, instead of feeding dollar bills into the little machine. We walked around the town while we were waiting, but that was pretty disappointing for us too. Not much was open and there was not a lot for us to do. We returned to the train station to wait and the fumes can get pretty bad. When we did board, the car was packed, and after we sat down, I realized that our seat was right by a heating vent. There were too many people for us to switch seats and I feel I should also say this was on a weekday morning. I was incredibly warm during the first half and for some reason cold air started coming in through the vent for the second half so I had to put my jacket back on. The entire ride was just really disappointing from start to finish. First of all, the car was full and loud and when the guide came over the speaker, we couldn't hear a word he was saying. Then some of the elderly people on the car started getting upset and yelling that they couldn't hear him which made it even worse. Once people quieted down and we were on the way I could hear a word or two now and then, but the gentleman that was narrating the tour was so incredibly monotone and sounded so bored. It was terrible. The conductor in our car did try to point out other things and be more lively towards the end but it was just too little too late. The train goes for about 20 minutes, stops, and then goes backwards the exact same way. So you have 20 minutes of views that just actually aren't very good. There's really nothing to see. We went in the fall and the foliage was nice but we saw better foliage on the drive there than we did on the train. It was a really disappointing experience and we definitely would not do it again. We have even changed our plans for our visit to New Hampshire so as to not go to another train we were planning on visiting that sounds eerily similar to this one. I cannot recommend it at all, but I hope if you do choose to come here you have a better time than we did.

We enjoyed our train experience, taking a relaxing fall foliage ride through the woods of Northeast Pennsylvania. We booked the standard train seating, which had cushioned seats that could be moved to the direction the train was moving. There are toilets on the train for any last minute emergencies, and commentary along the ride. Overall, we our family had such a great excursion. It was well worth the trip and just 45 minutes. We'll be back!

Very quick buying tickets in person. The lines moved fast once we could board. We got a great seat and the ride was awesome! It was a 45 minute ride and felt like it went by so quick, wish we had more time. Will definitely do it again in the future.

Nice nostalgic train ride for $24. Good for people who have never been on a train. Clean cars. Lasts about 45 minutes.

I was very excited to do this railway after seeing so many reviews on it. It was a little chaotic getting on the train as the signs to line up wasn't exactly visible. The ride is for 70 minutes and it was difficult to hear the announcer. The train was kind of dirty. The floors were sticky and unfortunately as we departed, there was a ton of garbage left on the train. I can't say I would do this again.

The train ride and overall experience were interesting, and we really loved learning the history . That said, the "scenic" aspect was a bit underwhelming--perhaps it's more impressive in the fall when the foliage is at its peak cause besides a 2 ft waterfall and glimpse of the river you don't see much. Perhaps this is due to this railroad being repurposed from industry to tourism (refer to history below). Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway Back in the 1800s, this was the route of the world's first gravity railroad--a clever system that used nothing but gravity to move coal downhill from Summit Hill to Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe). The loaded cars would glide down the mountain under their own weight, and then mules (and later steam power) would haul the empty cars back up. It was an engineering marvel of its time and helped fuel the Industrial Revolution. Today, that same historic line has been reimagined as the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, where visitors can sit back and enjoy a relaxing ride through the gorge, surrounded by forested mountains, rocky cliffs, and sweeping views of the Lehigh River. Lehigh River Its name comes from a Native American phrase meaning "where there are forks," a reflection of the river's many bends and branches. These waters, once central to coal transport, are now a playground for outdoor adventurers--perfect for whitewater rafting, kayaking, fishing, and riverside hikes.

I was looking forward to riding this train because it is dog friendly (Dogs ride free). We went on a cold, rainy winter day. The train has several different seating options. We selected the crown class at $24 per person. The train was clean with restrooms. The ride was 70 minutes round trip. On board, they had restrooms available and a cafe with coffee, hot chocolate, bottled drinks and prepacked foods. No hot food. However, you can bring food on board but no alcohol. This train had characters on board. I didn't think much of the views. There were dead trees and the views of the river. Nothing grand. If ever the views might be worth it at peak foliage Fall time. The train ride was relaxing. I enjoyed the fact that it was pet friendly the most. I probably wouldn't ride again. It was a nice experience!

Took a ride on the Lehigh Valley railroad while visiting Jim Thorpe PA. We had an entire train car to ourselves in April because for whatever reason, everyone jammed themselves in the other car. Well, lucky us we could do whatever we wanted, sit or stand whenever and wherever we wanted, And basically had one heck of a good time. My only complaint is that the service for speakers in the car was horrible. It sounded like Beeker from the Muppets. They really need to get that fixed. We missed easily 30% of the narration along the trip.

I was really looking forward to this train ride, but was a bit disappointed. The trip wasn't very long and you came back the same way you went, so you saw the same stuff twice. It was a nice ride, but you really didn't see much other than trees and water. I guess I was hoping for more. The narrator was hardly audible, which made the trip a little less appealing because we could not hear anything he was telling us about the trip and the history of the area. Not to mention with had one of those 'know it all's' behind us that didn't shut his mouth the entire ride. I would do it again, but maybe a different ride - the Reading and back ride - and definitely a different car that was either open, or had windows that could be opened.

Scenic train ride at Jim Thorpe, PA . Train is powered by diesel engines with vintage coaches built way back 1917. Train ride is informative with a narrator throughout the 60 minute round trip ride. Staffs are well dressed and polite. They're helpful and friendly. There's a visitor center with clean restrooms and wonderful staff. Outside the visitor center are tents of vendors selling different kinds of sandwiches,pastries, pizzas, popcorns and various refreshing drinks. Big parking space for a fee. We had a wonderful time visiting this place.

My husband tried to take me here to try to cheer me up, ive had a lot of loss & im very pregnant. We drove 2 hours to get there and couldn't find a reasonable place to park. I am 6 months pregnant & walking 2 miles through the town is not an option. They don't even offer shuttles. We bought tickets ahead of time and saw how many people were showing up and it didn't look like it could possibly be enjoyable that crowded. The lines were chaotic and people were everywhere. We initially thought it was a festival but no it was just disorganized. What's the point in buying tickets early if you're going to be jammed in anyways & wont be able to even park to go. Then when we reached out they said parking isn't there responsibility. But the space to park & attendants is a reflection of them & their lack of taking responsibility is a reflection of them as well. I will not change my review. Im not the only one complaining about how disorganized the lines are and the parking is. If you don't want this kind of review maybe do something about it. I will definitely be posting this in multiple places & telling everyone how disorganized it is. BTW. It can be done & done well. Maybe look into other rail lines that offer similar experiences throughout the country because ive been on several & this was the worst.

This by far is the most unfriendly and non handicapped able business I have ever delt with! To begin with there were only 7 handicapped parking spaces for visitors compared to at least 14+ handicapped spaces for "county employees". Marking of employee parking was only indicated from one direction and the only reason we did not get a ticket is another visitor had told us after we parked and before the very zealous parking attendant made it to our car. Even the "Visitors Bureau" were rude and said "I dont see how this is my problem" after we commented on the lack of handicapped spaces. The only good thing I can say is the ticket office for the train traded our ticket for the next train since we missed our original train because we had to find available parking and walk a great distance. Upon boarding the train it was absolutely extremely difficult and not at all disability accommodating for really any disability with steps 2-3 feet between, I almost didn't make it and needed significant help from my wife. The train touted to be very nice for leaves however there was more of a view of a river and rocks. We saw more leaves on our drive to Jim Thorpe than we did on the train. Also, they dont say anything about the train going backwards for half of the trip and several people on the train got nauseas from this. Jim Thorpe is also very much a disability unfriendly town!! Sidewalks are rough and have many obstacles. Traffic lights have no indicators for the handicapped. The county workers were rude and always has a "that's your problem not mine attitude"! We finally got the mayors office phone number from the lady at the "Visitors Bureau" desk and have had no luck getting through to any one after many calls over several days although the first prompt is "if you have a complaint against the police force" which says a lot. On the train they touted that "13 million" visitors come through Jim Thorpe every year, a figure I find ridiculously false but if true, just incredibly sad!! Avoid both and do some other towns in the Poconos and you will have a much better time!!!

Awfull experience, please dont waste your time.they have parking lot but entrance was blocked so we parked two miles far from station. on the way to train station we seen many parking spot avaiable. no communication. so we came to buy tickets there were over 700 peoples waiting at the line why not open additional tickets counter while you expected that many visitors. cheap city officials . jim thorpe would make tons of money but terrible management, no clear directions on everything and only volunteers aval close to train station. busy day saturday you only open one tickets booth for many peoples thats awfull idea and poor management skills. it will be our last visit will never go back. please do not waste your time to go there.

If you like a scenic ride to see small lakes and nature, you may very well enjoy the railway ride. Our family paid for some upgraded seats to sit up high in a dome for better view. I liked how the usher would come onto the intercom and provide history and stories through the ride. There are also photo books passed around to see. If you want drinks or snacks, the concession stand is downstairs. Bathrooms are available too. The only reason why I knocked off two stars here is a) parking isn't free and you have to pay at the city machine to park. The machine is a pain to use. B) the scenic view riding back is the same view going forward and it would be nice to have the railway ride in 360 round directions. C) you can move the seats to face each other if you are a family of 4. All the seats must face the same direction and they are sections to two seats so we can really talk and make eye connection. My husband found a way to move the seats so we can face each other without knowing that we were not allowed to do so until the train conductor told us. Guess we learned it now.

I was so excited to take this train ride from Jim Thorpe into scenic Lehigh George State Park. The ride is 70 minutes long with the exception of October. It's their busiest time so the train ride is 45 minutes long instead of 70 minutes long but covers the same distance to accommodate all the people. The views change with the seasons. I chose their first class lounge accommodations for the ride. We were the first car in the lineup. I got the last train that ran that day at 4:30pm. These trains fill up quickly. We were on a beautiful diesel train dating back to around 1917 with very comfortable seating large padded armed chairs on either side of our car and air conditioning. There is also two booths to sit in for a party of 4 if you bring your own food on the train and want a table. All seating is on a first come, first served basis. We received a complementary nonalcoholic drink, and a bag of chips for the ride. There was a lovely bar area on my train that served hot fresh coffee and nonalcoholic drinks and snacks. Snacks and beverages are also available prior to boarding in the town as well as outside the Jim Thorpe Train Station.The prices are based on accommodations. The train schedule is as follows: The train runs,11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 4pm weekdays. The train runs 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, and 5pm on the weekends.In October even more with shorter durations. I was here the end of September and they added an additional train ride at 4:30 pm. Our ride was 70 minutes long. SEATING OPTIONS ARE STANDARD COACH, CROWN CLASS COACH, OR OPEN-AIR. PRICING IS THE SAME AS ANY OTHER TIME OF YEAR. VISTA CLASS DOME AND FIRST CLASS LOUNGE. The conductors were great, very friendly and knowledgeable. We had two and they gave us a thorough history of the train and the surrounding areas. We were given advanced notice to look for certain sights along the way which made it fun. This is a great way to take a break and take in the beautiful scenery, especially in the fall months. At the train station there was a dressed up bear shaking hands and taking pictures with everyone. Kids love this! We purchased our tickets directly at the train station, but you can also purchase your tickets online too. If you purchase your tickets online, you will need to check in at the ticket booth with your email confirmation to receive your tickets.Make sure you arrive at least one hour prior because parking is very limited. We had a wonderful time on Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railroad

70 min train ride through the gorge (out and back). Open air carriage (no windows) but not open top. I suppose it's worth doing but since it follows a walking path I think most people are better off walking or cycling the path instead. I saw bicycle rental shops in the town. Booking the ticket online was easy. Picking up the ticket at the station was unfortunately a poor experience, the sales agent was unhelpful and condescending.

Fun activity in Jim Thorpe, PA. We rode in the domed rail car which is spacious and air conditioned. Unlike other reviews, we were able to hear all the narration. I was prepared to not hear it since I'm hard of hearing. That was not the case. Yes, it's not real scenic since the trees block much of the view of the Lehigh river but it was still a good time. FYI, they recommend arrival 60 minutes prior to departure. Probably because the parking lot is huge. The city or county charges $8 to park. Boy, they're cleaning up on that daily. Still, worth the trip.

It wasn't worth a full day. There were pretty sections (mostly the river) but it was a little over 2 hours each way in the train. Then they drop you off for 4 hours which initially seemed like it wouldn't be enough, however there really isn't a ton to do there so it was so much more than we needed. The 'festival' was SO packed it was uncomfortable. The shops are all pretty much on one street and small. So when you have normal traffic plus a festival, plus multiple train cars full of people, you can't even enjoy being in them because there's no room to walk and if you stop, there's 50 people right behind you. It would be cute to stop at if you were driving through and found it, but beyond that, there's nothing there that I would make the trip for. There wasn't anything really "kid friendly" as it was just walking and shops so you'll also need money to spend. (I.e. our 10 year old was pointing out adult slogans that he found funny, which were located just below the penis puzzle) We successfully came home with two wooden animal noise maker things. ‍ And not perfectly preserved bats for $90?!?!?

Run from this rip-off. You sit on a train for 70 minutes (35 minutes out and 35 minutes back to the station the exact same route). There is no commentary, view is not particularly interesting, especially if you are seated on the left side (not closest to the the river). For $24.00 a ticket, it is a waste of time and actually quite boring. Walk the free river path - you'll enjoy it more.

JIM THORPE, PA: Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway is a unique and fun attraction that is dog friendly! Take a vintage coach excursion through the beautiful countryside of the southern Poconos. "...Well behaved dogs are allowed to ride on any of our 70-minute or 45-minute Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway trips. They will even get their own special ticket, which is free of charge. Be sure to let your ticket agent know!" You can buy tickets online for the regular train rides and winter rides, but the autumn leaf rides must be purchased in-person. We went on the Autumn Leaf excursion to see the leaves changing their colors. The train runs everyday for 3 trips and their are also Santa Claus Special plans and Winter Character trains. We rode in an open-air train with long wooden seating facing the windows for perfect views of the scenery. There are other seating options available for your comfort. The ride is narrated with the history of the train and surrounding area, but we found it hard to hear with the train noises and lots of people. If your dog cannot handle loud noises, this may not be for you. Arrive at least 1-hour before the ride time you want to take because the train is very popular and although there is a large parking lot, it fills up fast. Once done, stroll around downtown Jim Thorpe for an adorable town, cute shops, and nice restaurants.

A fun ride. Glad we took it. We got tickets for the elevated scenic cars. Glad we did. Higher up. Nice view. AC on a very hot day was appreciated. A good value.

Four stars instead of five due to "people mountain people sea" situation on weekends. The scenic rail is definitely worth it as long as you can find parking in Jim Thorpe. On weekend, parking there is a nightmare if you arrive after 10:30 am. The town is overwhelmingly packed with tourists, more than they could handle properly. Everything took an effort--I mean everything literally. Long line for coffee, for food, or even for restroom. So if you can, definitely don't come on a weekend.

I hadn't ridden on this railway in many years, but now that I'm living through our three year old's love of trains, I imagine I'll be riding the rails out of Jim Thorpe again sometime soon. For the record I've always been a fan of trains, but his passion for them has rekindled my love for them and at times taken over our house!! :) Parking is found on the street and in a large pay parking lot along the tracks, close to the station and shared with the folks going river rafting. $8 gives you parking for the day so plan on walking the town from there if you want to keep your sanity. The town can get pretty packed if there are other events going on. IMPORTANT - Take a picture of your license plate because you have to type it in at the kiosk!! Our tickets were for Crown Class Coach - $2 more per adult than the standard coach which comes to $24 a piece, kids are $10 ----- "this coach offers guests a more comfortable ride than our standard coach car. Features plush, larger seats- similar to a charter bus. This car offers clean restrooms, air conditioning, and is heated in the winter months." ----- The seats were comfy, the bathroom was clean and there was plenty of room for us and the kiddos. We were pulled by a Reading and Northern RBMN 2013, a GP 38-2, "which was recently purchased from Norfolk Southern in 2020. It is the latest engine to be painted at Port Clinton. Engines like this are used in both freight and passenger service". The trip was 70 minutes long and narrated the entire way. You learn a lot about the history of history Jim Thorpe (founded as Mauch Chunk which means Bear Place in the language of the native Munsee-Lenape Delaware peoples). I think both sides of the trip out have cool features, but the right side may have had more to see. A neat little waterfall can be seen from the left side near the end of the first half of the trip. The land is protected so you'll see old telegraph/telephone poles some still having wires attached, some old railroad buildings which I hope they restore one day, a section of the first oil pipeline, and of course natural beauty of the area. The staff member who rode along in our car was kind and very knowledgeable about the area and railway. You can't go wrong riding with these guys, but plan your visit ahead and show up early. The train station is perfect for pictures and there are plenty of places to eat and explore (old Jailhouse, Packer mansions, shops). Thanks guys for a great experience!!

With the completion of a railroad bridge across the Lehigh River in Jim Thorpe in 2005, the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway was born. The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway continues Jim Thorpe's rich railroading history, which dates back to the Switchback Railroad that opened in 1827 to haul coal from mines down to the canals along the Lehigh River. Jim Thorpe is at the heart of the Pocono Mountains, and the scenic railway is the crown jewel. Whether you're here for the colorful face of fall or the sweet breeze of spring, there's never a bad time to experience the thrill of the Poconos. Trains leave year-round from the historic Mauch Chunk Station, which was built by the Central Railroad of New Jersey in 1888. It features vintage stage coaches updated to meet modern standards of comfort. The entire trip is narrated, giving you a rundown of the area's storied past and pointing out all the can't-miss landmarks. Explore the beauty of the Pocono Mountains like never before. Comfortable, vintage coaches built as early as 1917 are pulled by diesel engines through breathtaking places on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. During the regular season (though we went in summer, i thought Fall is the best season), ride the rails from Jim Thorpe into Lehigh Gorge State Park. The narrated out-and-back trip follows the majestic Lehigh River over bridges and into the Lehigh Gorge State Park. The view along this magnificent route changes with the seasons. Even if you aren't riding this train, make sure to take a few minutes to enjoy this beautiful station and the bustling square around it. Stats: Ticket: $24/adult Duration: 70 Mins (to & fro) Coach: I preferred an Open coach. though there are AC coaches as well Pets: You can even bring dogs along for free on this 70-minute drive! Parking: municipal parking is available, $12/day. But if you find a parking slot in the streets it's only $1/hr. so try to reach there early morning for cheap parking and also to avoid late rush otherwise sometimes it takes 45 mins-1 hour to enter in this town on weekends.

Handicap warning* There is NO drop off zone for people in need. Front is blocked by employee only parking, orange cones blocking spaces and large metal fence around premises. Parking is the city of Jim Thorpe. Not by the railroad. The handicap parking is past the train ticket booth on right side across the train tracks. It was closed off, so we had to roll down our window and ask where we are to park. The lady moved cones to let us through but all the labeled handicap spots were taken. The first available spot was all the way at the dead end of the row! Wayyyy too far for my family member to walk but we didn't know! Parking Spots are so tight my family had to unload prior to parking in the spot. My family member had to walk wayyyyy further than they truly could handle. Uneven surfaces everywhere! People everywhere dodging them! And the bathrooms, had the handicap accessible walkway blocked off!! WTF!! Are they serious. Boarding the standard train car. There are little red stones in lift area! Wheelchairs & walkers DONT roll on stones! And there is a small steep incline that was covered in loose stone making it difficult and a fall hazard! Staff was very helpful assisting with the lift and even moving others to another train car so families could sit together in the designated handicap area. However!! NO air conditioning on standard car! There are windows but NOT where the handicap seats are- leaving it VERY HOT! Are they serious!? I did not see this noted anywhere in the website to prepare or book a different train car! Overall, disappointing day out with a family member who required ADA accomodations. The area lacked true ADA accommodations making it easily accessible for everyone!! In general, parking is a free for all and nightmare. The traffic through town is horrible and should be regulated better. Leaving the handicap area, it only allows you to make a right hand turn. Traffic was SO bad, it's not like you could even go pick up your ADA member in a timely manner, not that there was an area to even do so!!

We were excited to ride the autumn leaf train. Parking: a lot of spaces but as they said arrive 1 hour before departure time Because you may have to walk a good distance back to the train. We rode in the open-air car, which wasn't bad. I suggest that if you plan on going in the fall, dress warm and bring gloves!!!! The scenery was amazing!!! We enjoyed and even went down to the river and enjoyed that. They have other trains that we will come back to try.

Paid extra for more comfortable seating and ended up locking knees with strangers. Views are beautiful but the forced friendship and extra fee was not a part of the relaxing date day my partner and I had expected. The website did not offer helpful insights. Took it from relaxing to public transit feeling very fast.

Perfect introduction to the scenic, natural beauty of the Poconos and the mining history of Carbon County. Book the glass-domed car and sit on the river side of the train for the best views. There aren't assigned seats, so line up near the boarding sign for your car at least 30 minutes before departure. There's ample parking ($15 a day on weekends) in the public lot be to the train station.

Wonder station staff ! So helpful! Speedy service and so friendly!! A great ride through the gorge! What beautiful nature and lovely sights! I loved the announcements letting me prepare for the waterfall and special views!! An absolutely gorgeous day riding on the rain road!! I highly recommend ! I would love to come back in the autumn!!

Boring! boring scenery, boring commentary, 70 minutes is too long when it's so boring. we were in the domed car, maybe the open air would have been more interesting. save your money.

Most expensive seat on the train and no view to see Waste of money If you must go ride the open car.

When you purchase tickets online well in advance, one assumes that it would be an easier experience. Rather, since these tickets are not printed out, you get to wait in line with everyone who's paying that day. What is so difficult about getting scanning devices to read the phone? Beautiful setting and trains otherwise - LOUSY System to deal with tickets.

Horribly run operation. My wife and I wasted a day and a considerable amount of money. It definitely was not worth the trip, hassle or expense. Town isn't very special either. When I tried to bring issues to the attention of staff I got the runaround with everyone saying it was someone else's responsibility. I then emailed them from their website and received no reply after more than a week waiting. Do yourself a favor and ride a different scenic train ride that values guests and is better run. If you do go, parking is horrendous. Beware that the parking lot next to the train station has nothing to do with it, although it appears that it is the actual parking lot for the station. There is a $25 parking fee there. Also, at this time of year they will run out of tickets midway through the day and they do not sell them in advance on their website. Unless you can arrive there early in the morning, don't waste your time. It will take well over an hour to get to the station once in Jim Thorpe. There is little to no signage for information or directions, the main street is narrow and there are few places to turn around. We will never visit Jim Thorpe or the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway again and advise others to skip it as well.

This train ride is a lot of fun! Some tips: * Parking will be tough. If you're able, park in the neighborhood above the station (literally above) and walk down the drive that leads past the Asa Packer Mansion. It's a hill and a hike, but there is plenty of free parking if you are able and willing to walk. * Plan ahead: If it's not peak season, you can order your ticket online. If it's peak season, it's first come first served. Arrive at the station early enough to get your ticket. The first available may be a couple hours away. If it is, that is fine! Explore the adorable town and take a hike on the trail. Nbd. *There are 2 ride lengths: 45ish minutes and 70 minutes. Up to you (and the time of day) which to choose. * If it's a nice day, sit in the open air cars, and try to get the window. There are seats that face forward/backward in some cars, or seats that face outward in others. *You can walk to other cars to look out, so don't feel you have to stay where you sit. * If you get a ticket for the engine room, there will be only 1 window. If you're all about engines and engineering, this is the seat for you! If you wanna see the view, pick another seat option. *There are speakers for the conductors to share facts about the train line. If you sit in the open air car, you will NOT be able to hear anything said over the speakers. If you want to hear the facts, sit in the closed cars or directly under the speaker in the open cars. * If you're lucky you may see a bald eagle. * We saw a bald eagle.

Went on a Wednesday, a lot of shops were closed which was a little disappointing, but we went on the train and went with the dome car seats which was a nice view, fun experience to check out, overall 7/10 experience with Jim Thorpe

I love the sound of a moving train. This video I caught the train stopping in White Haven Pa. In July of 2024. Dropping off a couple of passengers near the White Haven supermarket. I give it 4 stares and I have not taken the ride yet.

Did not like the dome car first from the train. A lot of kids there did not make it enjoyable for a few minutes. As well, the AC didn't work if you ever chose a dome car choose one that's not the closest to the engine. But the rest was phenomenal.

My boyfriend and I came to Jim Thorpe on a whim. We came to visit a café but didn't realize all this town had to offer. It was actually Jim Thorpes birthday weekend and the town had a huge celebration in the little park by the train tracks. On a whim we decided to get tickets for a 1pm train ride. It was super easy, boarding started at 12:30 so we had some time to check out the little shops in town - which I highly recommend. They're adorable and honestly pretty affordable. I decided on the open air part of the train and it was the right choice, perfect for a hot day. You get the outside breeze flowing in every direction. For $20 it was absolutely worth it. Every staff member on board of this train was also so helpful and sweet. They did a great job of describing every detail of the passage. I'm absolutely coming back here in the fall when the leaves change because I'm positive that it's beautiful and breath taking. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is because I do wish the view was a little clearer to see the river. A lot of the passage was blocked by trees right in front of the river. Still a nice ride with beautiful views. Definitely a nice family activity or a day date idea.

Very pretty scenery with the fall colors. Remember to snap a picture of your license plate after you park and before you head to the parking kiosk. You'll need to punch it in to pay. But even before all of that, get there very early and if you can, get tickets for the first train ride. On a Monday at 11:00 it still ended up crowded and was probably pretty close to full. The conductor was witty and the announcer had some interesting facts and history about the area. The train goes along the river where you see rocks and trees and a little path with bikers and walkers. The fall leaf tour is 45 minutes long, not the 70 minute ride during the regular season. Prices are 22-24.00 dollars/ticket depending on where you sit. We chose standard and the seats for our party of four were tight. We are not tall people, so if your group is above average height, consider the more roomy cars.

I will attempt my best to be as honest as possible with this review so you don't need to waste time reading other reviews. I'll summarize the views from the left side of the train in the dome seats: trees, trees, trees, more trees, a rapid that lasts 5 seconds, trees, a rock with a tree on it. There was one waterfall... if I went streaking across a field you'd see something comparable to the size of the waterfall (thank you for those that assume I'm saying the fall is huge.) Aside from the babies screaming at the top of their lungs in excitement to see another tree, the trip made me want to fall asleep which means it was a $96 (for three) plus $8 parking comfy seat ride. The most exciting thing was actually getting off the train because it meant I could walk faster than the train moved. But all in all, what beats nature? Nothing. What beats a train going through nature? Saving your money and hiking through nature on your own two feet that will move faster and get closer to God's beautiful creation. Decide to touch grass rather than being a zoomer afraid of sunlight and enjoy saving $100 and hopefully your ears when you don't need to hear 5 kids crying. I love trains, I love nature, but this trip was a train wreck

Had a great time here. This is a nice small town and it was nice to learn the history and enjoy a scenic ride on the train. The train ride was 70 minutes in total. There's choices to sit in the dome, outdoor, or standard car. There's a bathroom.

As a rail fan I often find these historic railroads a bit depressing: nostalgic and a anachronistic. This one is the exception. The 70 minute round-trip doesn't take you very far but gives you a good sense of the beauty of the Lehigh River Gorge, while offering a variety of cars, from traditional coaches to open air and even a dome car. You can even ride in a caboose or, if you're early and lucky, ride in the diesel engine. Very friendly and helpful onboard staff made the ride really fun. One negative: Jim Thorpe is a tiny town clogged with too many cars! Parking ($8 per day) near the station is limited and on weekdays about half the lot is just for County employees. Much of the lot is also for river rafters. Handicapped spaces at a premium though on-site staff will do their best to accommodate you.

This was just OK to me. And perhaps it was the day we chose to do it. It was a packed Sunday of Memorial day weekend. The weather was beautiful and everyone seemed to have the idea to come ride the train. They even added a 430 time. We went on the 3:00 train ride. We were told to line up at 230 to board but we didn't even end up boarding until close to 3. I am wondering if they took the train to fill it up with diesel because of the 4:30 addition? Not sure but it was there and then it left so we all stood there hot and sweaty with a crowd of hot and sweaty tourists. Boarding the train was a little chaotic. Everyone was shoving in like we were escaping something. We weren't able to get an open air car but we did get seats in a car with open windows which was fine by me. The trains were clean and the seats were fine. But oh boy did we pick the wrong train. There were probably a dozen or more little kids and they all were either crying or screaming. It was comical to try and relax and look out and just hear all of the noise lol. As far as sight seeing I am guessing we were on the wrong side of the train because we didn't see much. It was beautiful scenery but it wasn't breathtaking. And the water was on the right side of the train so I didn't want to have to look over a family who was also trying to wrangle a screaming kid. The man over the loudspeaker was great. He gave us a lot of history and tried to point out wildlife and landmarks as we went. The ride says 70 minutes but it was more like 55 which was fine. We were hot and needing beer.