Members of the North American Rail Car Operators Association will visit Tamaqua and Jim Thorpe on Sunday as part of a Port Clinton-based excursion, bringing their Speeder train cars.

Speeder cars are small, motorized rail cars that were used to carry railroad workers who were responsible for maintaining the railroad right of way and making repairs.The workers carried their tools and supplies with them on the Speeder cars and sometimes had several other cars coupled together to carry more supplies and more workers."The tour this weekend is a private tour for owners of these unique Speeder cars and their invited guests," said Dale Freudenberger, secretary of Tamaqua Save Our Station.Members of the nonprofit NARCOA group will showcase their vintage, restored motorized rail Speeders as they ride the rails between Port Clinton and Jim Thorpe.Tamaqua will serve as a stopover point for one hour, allowing visitors to get off, stretch their legs, take photos of their cars in front of the Tamaqua Station, and lastly, as a stop to use the portable toilets up near the cabooses, Freudenberger said.Tamaqua SOS organization will welcome the visitors to come in and view the main Concourse Visitors Center room and also visit the gift shop.Approximately 50 of the self-propelled, gasoline-powered Speeder cars are expected to make the trip, carrying around 100 people on their cars.In fact, the excursion is listed as a sellout and has a waiting list, according to the NARCOA website."We anticipate their arrival in Tamaqua at roughly 9:30 or 10 a.m. April 12 for their one-hour stopover," Freudenberger said.The group will also stop over in Tamaqua on its way back from Jim Thorpe to Port Clinton approximately 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.