What’s Going Down in Boyertown?(colebrookdale railroad)

Your weekly guide to the events and happenings in and around Boyertown, PA

What to do? Where to go? Here is your one stop list of community events, music, arts, food, business specials, and historic events in Boyertown and beyond…

As a Boyertown graduate, a real estate agent at Glocker Realty, and also a proud member of Building a Better Boyertown, I have had the joy of watching our little town grow. I enjoy having any part in helping our community to move forward. I hope this weekly blog will help shine a light on all the great things happening in and around Boyertown, PA

Here is what’s going down during the week of 8/6 – 8/12/2020

HISTORY OF COLEBROOKDALE RAILROAD – The Colebrookdale Railroad Secret Valley Line looks much the same today as it did to the pioneers who first ventured along the scenic water ways centuries ago. The Railroad cuts through the heart of the Schuylkill Valley’s earliest iron industries and the sites of the first iron works in Pennsylvania.

Let’s take a step back in time to 1720 when Thomas Rutter built Pennsylvania’s first cold blast furnace. He named it “Colebrookdale” after the leading iron furnace in England. The Colebrookdale Furnace is credited with starting the Pennsylvania iron industry. As industry grew along the Manatawny and Ironstone Creeks, so did the formation of two industrial towns, Pottstown and Boyertown. In the mid 1800’s the need for transport between, to, and from these towns was clear. In 1865 construction began on the Colebrookdale Railroad line between Boyertown and Pottstown. In 1869 the trains started running both freight and passenger service. The Colebrookdale Railroad was leased by the Reading Railroad (yes, the same Reading Railroad in the Monopoly game) until 1976. At that time, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation acquired the line. The new owners hired the Anthracite Railway, the Blue Mountain & Reading Railroad, and Penn Eastern Rail to operate the line. Then in March 2001, Berks County acquired the line to keep it active and soon sold it to Penn Eastern Rail Lines. The Colebrookdale Spur was abandoned by them in 2008.

That brings us to 2010 when, the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust, a non-profit organization formed to redevelop the rail line as a tribute to local history and a tourism attraction for Boyertown and Pottstown. With the help of many volunteers, craftsmen, and visionaries, this dream came to fruition in 2015 as the train left the depot on its first of many scenic railway tours.

Today you can ride the Colebrookdale Railroad as they did a century ago. The train and its cars have been meticulously restored to their former beauty. The friendly conductors are dressed in period attire. The ride offers deep history, abundant wildlife, interesting rock structures, several bridges, and flowing creeks. With a variety of ride options, excursions, and themes, this is truly the best railway experience around.

Unfortunetaly the Colbrookdale Railroad is temporarily closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but work to restore more cars and construction on the Boyertown and Pottstown stations continue. The BIG NEWS is, USA TODAY has nominated the Colebrookdale Railroad as one of 2020’s 10 Best Scenic Railroads in America. They would love to place #1, but they need your help! PLEASE VOTE daily until August 17th by clicking the link below!

VOTE HERE!

Events List

THURSDAY 8/6/2020

• Minions *Kids Summer Movies!* The State Theatre, Boyertown Only $1 admission! Movie at 10am & 1pm
• Altered Ego (live music) – Tiki Bar Spring Mountain, Schwenksville 7pm
• Thursday Trivia – Iezzi’s on 3rd, Boyertown 7-9pm
• Grease – The State Theatre, Boyertown
• The Fun Zone (carnival) – Douglassville 4-9pm

FRIDAY 8/7/2020

• Carbo (live music) – Ortino’s North Side, Perkiomenville 6-9:30pm
• Michael Kropp (live music) – The Markley Grille at Bella Vista Golf Course, Gilbertsville 6:30-9:30pm
• Raiders of the Lost Ark – The State Theatre, Boyertown
• The Fun Zone (carnival) – Douglassville 4-9pm

SATURDAY 8/8/2020

• Moto Meet Up! – Sweets Cafe, Bechtelsville 8am
• Chicken BBQ – Oley Fire Company 11am-2pm
• Joe Miralles (live music) – Adello Vineyard & Winery, Perkiomenville 2-5pm
• Raiders of the Lost Ark – The State Theatre, Boyertown
• The Fun Zone (carnival) – Douglassville 4-9pm

SUNDAY 8/9/2020

• Michael Kropp (live music) – The 19th Hole at Swamp Pike Pub, Gilbertsville 1-4pm
• Adam Motto (live music) – Adello Vineyard & Winery, Perkiomenville 2-5pm
• Raiders of the Lost Ark – The State Theatre, Boyertown
• The Fun Zone (carnival) – Douglassville 4-9pm

MONDAY 8/10/2020

• The Never Ending Story – The State Theatre, Boyertown

TUESDAY 8/11/2020

• Barrel Bingo Night – Barrel & Ale, Boyertown 8-10pm
• The Never Ending Story – The State Theatre, Boyertown

WEDNESDAY 8/12/2020

• No Kids Movie Today ☹ *Kids Summer Movies!* The State Theatre, Boyertown Only $1 admission! Movie at 10am
• The Never Ending Story – The State Theatre, Boyertown

That’s what it is! Keep on chuggin’ down the track… If you don’t want to miss any events, make sure to subscribe to this weekly blog.

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If you would like your event posted email me at jeff@glocker.com

For real estate assistance contact Jeff Frederick at jeff@glocker.com or call/text at 610-766-2028