Ice Cream Train Pulls Into Station

The first two dispatches of the Everett Railroad "Ice Cream Special" pulled in to the historic Roaring Spring train station during the weekend of May 18 and 19. There are 10 scheduled trains throughout the summer and fall that run from Hollidaysburg to Roaring Spring and back, with a one-hour layover at the station that includes a bowl of Ritchey's ice cream along with an opportunity to view the historic spring and the displays in the restored train depot.

The Klich family from Hamilton, Ontario, came to Pennsylvania for the weekend specifically to ride trains. The youngest, Marcel (left), 3, loves trains, so the family spent Saturday in the Pittsburgh area at Kennywood amusement park's new attraction, "Thomas Town." Five rides there are based on the talking steam engine and his friends from the popular books and television program by British author, Rev. William Awdry. Knowing they were in "train country," mother Joanna decided to search the web for other rail-riding options for Sunday and came upon the Everett Railroad excursion. The family headed to Roaring Spring Sunday afternoon, arriving just in time to greet the train. Joining their younger brother on the platform is Veronika (front), 13, and Mateusz (middle), 11, along with their father, Paul (right). The family rode the train back to Hollidaysburg and then went on the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona.

The event is organized by the Roaring Spring Historical Society, in conjunction with the Everett Railroad. The society welcomes new members to their monthly meetings the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the train station. For more information, visit "Roaring Spring Historical Society" on Facebook.