Railfest
Every 4th Saturday in August, Railfest, an event celebrating Tamaqua, Pennsylvania’s rich railroad history takes place in downtown Tamaqua, Schuylkill County.
A passenger train from the Reading and Northern Railroad will arrive at the Tamaqua Station at 11:30 bringing visitors from outside the area to the Tamaqua Railfest and many other sites in the downtown area and beyond. The train will consist of a R&N RR diesel locomotive and vintage passenger coaches. The train will board at the Outer Station in Reading, PA. Tickets are available for the trip to the Tamaqua Railfest by contacting the railroad Passenger Dept. at 610-562-2102 or by visiting their website.
The central focal point of the Tamaqua Railfest is the outdoor vendors and exhibitors located all around the outside of the 1874 Tamaqua Railroad Station in the center of town.
Other Railfest participating historic sites, museums, craft breweries, restaurants, antique shop, model railroad exhibits, blacksmithing demonstrations, etc. are mostly within walking distance from the Tamaqua Railroad Station.
Surrounding the Station, visitors and rail fans will find railroad and mining themed vendors and exhibitors, rail themed crafters, local and regional railroad, historical and preservation organizations, Reading Railroad items for sale, photographers selling prints of railroads and mining scenes, displays of original railroad antiques, mining artifacts, vintage train whistles, and antique railroad signs, model trains and accessories for sale, photographs for sale, coal region souvenirs, shirts, hats, and mugs, artist Shelby Van Cleef selling original paintings of railroad and mining themed artwork, author Vince Hydro selling books on railroading and mining, Reading and Northern Railroad souvenirs, Diesel engine cab tours, guided walking tours of historic railroad sites, bus tours of Lehigh Anthracite mining operations, Station Gift Shop open, Tamaqua postage stamp souvenirs, browse the historic 1874 Station, Lakeside Winery, Revere Brewery booth, and several strolling costumed reenactors.
Static railroad displays located around the Station on Saturday include the newly repainted and lettered PP&L fireless locomotive F restored by Tamaqua SOS, a railroad two man pump car, A railroad speeder car, a model T Ford L&NR RR pickup truck, the Anthracite Railroaders Memorial, Rarick’s Coal vintage hi-lift coal delivery truck, two railroad cabooses from the 1940s, a mine lokie from Atlas Powder Co., a large chunk of Anthracite coal, a replica coal mine car, PP&L Plymouth gas powered engine, 1870s P&R RR crossing watchbox, and original REA Express Carts. In Depot Square Park visitors can check out the beautiful fountain, gazebo, flower beds, magnolia trees, chunk of Anthracite coal and the large colliery bell from the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co.
The Tamaqua Railfest is presented by the new Tamaqua Railroad and Tourism Committee