Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway: Trademark of the Reading & Northern Railroad — Attraction in Jim Thorpe

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 the 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...

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...

I am not sure why all these people are putting 4 or 5 star reviews and calling the train ride "scenic," but I can assure you that it was not. It was a grand waste of our time and effort. I know people are like "oh you're going to Jim Thorpe, so you have to ride the train," but they are all so very wrong. My Fiancé and I rode the train in the middle of July. We paid over $60 for the two of us to sit in the top dome for the best views. We sat on the side of the train closest to the town and, what a mistake that was. Apparently, that is the "mountain facing side of the train." If you decide to waste your time and money and ride the train, SIT ON THE FAR SIDE!!! Do you know what we got to see for our $60? Trees and rocks, just trees and rocks. In the very beginning of the ride for about 30 seconds you go over a bridge with some water which is the 1 picture everyone posts here but that's it, well at least if you are sitting on the "mountain side" of the train. The other side follows the Lehigh River, but it was barely visible through the trees and not visible at all from where we were sitting. What really had me over the edge was that they didn't even switch the train around so that the other side could see the river on the way back. They just put the whole thing in reverse. IT WAS A TERRIBLE RIDE. I heard at least 5 other people on the train say how it was not very scenic at all. By the time they started pushing us backward, half the passengers on the train were on their phones, even the half with a better view. Maybe it looks nice in the winter with no trees, so you can see the water better (if you sit on the correct side of the train), but I doubt it's worth the money. Do yourself a favor and skip the train. The money you will spend can be better spent filling your belly across the street at Molly Maguire's Irish Pub, which ended up being my favorite place in the town of Jim Thorpe, instead of falling asleep on a...