Project 113 and the Reading & Northern Railroad will bring Santa to Minersville this month.

Santa trains will operate from Minersville on Dec. 13 and 14. Three trips each day will travel south from the Minersville Station, a 14-mile, 70-minute round-trip, with departures at 10:30 a.m. and 1 and 3:30 p.m. Santa rides every train and talks with every child.

The Reading & Northern Railroad will provide the train and its crew along with diesel locomotives this year while Railway Restoration Project 113’s steam locomotive undergoes its federally required boiler inspection.

The purchase of a ticket to ride in Minersville this December will help Project 113 complete the work on the 0-6-0 and bring it back into service.

You may buy tickets online at rbmnrr-passenger.com/santa-minersville, or call the Reading & Northern Passenger Department at 610-562-2102. Please bring your emailed confirmation with you on the day of the train ride, and you will pick up your printed tickets at the station.

You may also call Project 113 at 570-544-8300 and someone can hold tickets for you at the station, but you must still make payment, by cash or check, before Dec. 13. In addition, you may buy tickets in-person only at the Minersville Borough Building, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Fridays. Checks should be made out to Project 113.

On the days of the trips, riders must park at the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit/Schuylkill Technology Center at 17 Maple Ave., Pottsville (a mile south of Minersville), and ride buses to the Minersville Station. Please arrive at the parking area at least 45 minutes ahead of your train time. For directions, visit RRProject113.org/parking-directions.

Anthracite-burning locomotive Number 113 turned 100 years old in 2023. With the cooperation of partner Reading & Northern, Number 113 powers passenger excursions from Minersville a few times each year. A nonprofit, Project 113 works to preserve the history of railroading in Schuylkill County.