Canal-Rail Excursion
April 5, 2025
The tour was sold out and a great success! Pictures from the tour will be posted here and on the Schuylkill Navigation Facebook page.
The Friends of the Schuylkill Navigation and our sponsor the American Canal Society invite you to join us on an ALL-DAY EXPLORATION of the Upper Division of the Schuylkill Navigation canal system in Berks and Schuylkill Counties.
Riding the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad from Reading Outer Station to Port Carbon, PA (Note: Riders may board at Port Clinton instead, but will miss the Berks County segment.)
We will be using two 1950s vintage Budd cars (rail diesel cars) of the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad. Scroll down this page to the silver cars.
We’ll travel the route of the top 38 miles of the 108-mile slackwater-canal system built 1816-1828 by the Schuylkill Navigation Company.
Our train will stop for hikes to Leesport Lock House, the newly cleared Lock 27, the Crosscut Canal at Auburn Bridge, the Auburn Tunnel, and Firth Docks at the Head of Navigation.
Schuylkill Navigation historians will narrate on the northbound train and guide the walks.
The train will depart READING OUTER STATION promptly at 9:30 AM. Estimated arrival time back is 5:00 PM. (Port Clinton riders boarding time TBA.)
Fare: $85 per person, limit 2 tickets, minimum age 12. Option for $15 hoagie lunch.
We are hoping for good weather, but the trip will go on regardless.
BE AWARE that the train has steep steps, and April is tick season. Excursion is designed for walkers; non-walkers will have long wait times onboard.
Background info on the Canal-Rail Excursion to come. Meanwhile, see Maps 1-38 here (reverse the order) to study the 1827 version of our Navigation route.
General Questions: sandysorlien@gmail.com
Payment Concerns: americancanals@gmail.com