Cathy and Pastor Barry on East Broadtop Railroad Pulling into Pocahontas State Park on the last day of August, we had ended our summer’s travels. We spent much of our last 2 weeks in Amish country, but finished the month at Shenandoah River State Park, our first time there. With Pastor Barry’s help, we managed to discover 2 new railroad excursions, after we rescued him from the side of the road in nearby Ronks, PA.
Dinner with Friends
Leaving the Poconos for Amish country, we moved to another campground near Manheim PA, with plans to explore the area for the next 10 days. After a relatively easy set-up, we sat down to relax when we got a call from Pastor Barry, who was vacationing nearby. Since we already had plans to meet him the next day, we weren’t surprised until we heard the reason for the call.
Leaving the Poconos for Amish country, we moved to another campground near Manheim PA, with plans to explore the area for the next 10 days. After a relatively easy set-up, we sat down to relax when we got a call from Pastor Barry, who was vacationing nearby. Since we already had plans to meet him the next day, we weren’t surprised until we heard the reason for the call.
Pastor Barry says goodbye to his car His car had been rear-ended, and while he was OK, he could use some help getting to his rental car. The timing was nearly perfect for us to help out, so we made our way to his location near the Strasburg Railroad, arriving shortly before the tow truck. However, since it was too late to make it to the rental car agency, we joined him for supper and agreed to pick him up early the next day.
Dinner with friends at the Shady Maple On a beautiful Saturday morning, we made the run to the Enterprise agency with Barry, and left in time to still make our lunch date with Nomad friends Barb and Mike Druck at the Shady Maple, an Amish buffet. Seated in a nearly empty section of the restaurant, we were able to talk, having a great time catching up and enjoying some great food. While buffets are pretty rare treats for us these days (which is a good thing), we do make the exception for Shady Maple.
Dave surveys a long line of coal cars at East Broadtop RR Riding the Rails
Being a railroad buff, Pastor Barry clued us into a couple of excursion trains in central PA. He had plans to see one of them, the East Broadtop, the day after our lunch together. It was going to be a long trip, so we hesitated at first, but finally signed up to join him. Meeting him very early on a Sunday morning, we drove an hour to Carlisle for the Carlisle UMC early service. By 10:30, we were pulling into the East Broadtop depot in Rockhill PA, another hour west.
Being a railroad buff, Pastor Barry clued us into a couple of excursion trains in central PA. He had plans to see one of them, the East Broadtop, the day after our lunch together. It was going to be a long trip, so we hesitated at first, but finally signed up to join him. Meeting him very early on a Sunday morning, we drove an hour to Carlisle for the Carlisle UMC early service. By 10:30, we were pulling into the East Broadtop depot in Rockhill PA, another hour west.
East Broadtop excursion train East Broadtop is an all-day event. This narrow gauge railroad served the iron ore, coal, and timber businesses from the mid 1800’s until the 1950’s, when the last worker walked off the site, leaving much of the site intact. A roundhouse, line-shaft driven machine shop complete with tools and machines, engines and rail cars were all left behind, and with investment over the past decades have been telling the story of this town’s rail history. A short excursion train runs behind one of the original steam engines. A tour through the shops includes firing up the line-shaft drive and some of the machines it powers. And there is also a trolley museum included with a trolley ride.
You can take in much of what we saw in our videos from that day.
You can take in much of what we saw in our videos from that day.
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Ma and Pa Railroad tickets A week later, we found ourselves an hour south, near the MD border at the tiny town of Muddy Creek Forks, PA at the Ma and Pa Railroad Heritage Village on their WW II encampment weekend. Once again, we got to take a ride on their excursion train, which is currently using the utilitarian work cars that took rail workers out to repair the tracks. This railroad has much more of the original village preserved, with a general store, mill, and several more houses and outbuildings. And a small but enthusiastic group of WWII re-enactors were camped on the grounds for the weekend, which enhanced the experience.
Baked Alaska sundae at The Jigger Shop in Mt Gretna Hiking to some Ice Cream
We had some opportunities to explore some different trails during our latest travels. In the Lebanon Valley, a rail-to-trail that led from the nearby town of Mt. Gretna to Lebanon and beyond gave us a chance to get some exercise on a mostly level shaded path. We hiked several miles around town, and were given a little history lesson of Mt. Gretna thanks to an eagle scout project with signs and recordings that told the story of failed amusement parks, excursion railroads and a nearby National Guard encampment. But one of the rewards of getting all that exercise is the treat in Mt. Gretna’s Jigger Shop Ice Cream. A local favorite for their elaborate sundaes, we made a few stops there to cool off with some of their creations.
We had some opportunities to explore some different trails during our latest travels. In the Lebanon Valley, a rail-to-trail that led from the nearby town of Mt. Gretna to Lebanon and beyond gave us a chance to get some exercise on a mostly level shaded path. We hiked several miles around town, and were given a little history lesson of Mt. Gretna thanks to an eagle scout project with signs and recordings that told the story of failed amusement parks, excursion railroads and a nearby National Guard encampment. But one of the rewards of getting all that exercise is the treat in Mt. Gretna’s Jigger Shop Ice Cream. A local favorite for their elaborate sundaes, we made a few stops there to cool off with some of their creations.
View from Culler's Overlook at Shenandoah River State Park When it was time to move on south, we pulled into Shenandoah River State Park near Front Royal VA on the last Monday of the month. This beautiful park gave us the chance to hike by the river and along the ridge, enjoying the soothing sound of the water and the breathtaking view of the valley below. Making our way along the trail to the park’s Visitor Center, we enjoyed its interpretive displays and cooled off in the patio with a view of the valley and, what else, some ice cream.
Spraying our work clothes with insect repellent Getting Ready for Cabin Work
Since our next stop would be Pocahontas, we took some of our time at Shenandoah River to spray our work clothes with Permethrin, hoping to keep the ticks and chiggers away both on our hikes in the park and when working around the cabins. The need to keep the bugs away was reinforced by Cathy’s recent bite during the East Broadtop visit. A painful yellow fly bite turned into a minor emergency when her arm began to turn red and swell. A week’s course of antibiotics did the trick, but a little more prevention is always a good thing to avoid a repeat trip.
Dave continued to communicate with Pocahontas about on-going work and planning for the fall project. We ordered some replacement hoses for the Cabin Work days and arranged from some deck work on one of this year’s buildings.
Since our next stop would be Pocahontas, we took some of our time at Shenandoah River to spray our work clothes with Permethrin, hoping to keep the ticks and chiggers away both on our hikes in the park and when working around the cabins. The need to keep the bugs away was reinforced by Cathy’s recent bite during the East Broadtop visit. A painful yellow fly bite turned into a minor emergency when her arm began to turn red and swell. A week’s course of antibiotics did the trick, but a little more prevention is always a good thing to avoid a repeat trip.
Dave continued to communicate with Pocahontas about on-going work and planning for the fall project. We ordered some replacement hoses for the Cabin Work days and arranged from some deck work on one of this year’s buildings.
Back in Virginia By month’s end, we were on our way to Pocahontas State Park, which would be our home for the next few months as it has been in the fall for many of the last few years. Time to start working on the Cabin Work Week preparations in person.
Poster from the East Broadtop RR excursion trains Parting Shot
The East Broadtop railroad carried passengers as well as freight. One of its summertime destinations was the nearby Methodist Camp Meeting in Pogue PA, where there would be “Excellent Sermons by Prominent Ministers".
The East Broadtop railroad carried passengers as well as freight. One of its summertime destinations was the nearby Methodist Camp Meeting in Pogue PA, where there would be “Excellent Sermons by Prominent Ministers".
