By Mark Schiele

The Lansdale Founders Day celebration includes a unique experience this year on Aug. 23. Mixed in with the usual fanfare is a chance to take a train ride and sample beer from area breweries at the same time. 

The first-ever Lansdale on the Rails: First Class Beer Tasting Car excursion, will be a taste of something different.

The event will feature three departure times: 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8 p.m. 

Passengers will board the famous New Hope Railroad’s No. 40 vintage steam train and sample different brews on an historic ride through history. 

Some of the area breweries that have signed on include Round Guys, Well Crafted, Ten 7, and McAllister. The train will also include non-drinking cars; the beer tasting car is for passengers aged 21 and over only. 

The train traverses the rails between Lansdale and the old West Point Pike station along the Stony Creek Branch. The line was originally constructed to connect the North Penn area with operations in the Norristown area. It has not seen regularly scheduled passenger operations in several decades. 

While on board, a live narrator will relate many interesting stories and facts about the railroad and its history. 

All rail trips begin at the Lansdale SEPTA station and run north along the old Reading Railroad Bethlehem line, turning back at Souderton. 

For ticket information go to www.newhoperailroad.com 

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