Ashland, PA
Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train
4.8· 629 Google reviews
At a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-11- TypeHeritage railroad & tourist attraction
- LocationAshland, PA
- Rating4.8 ★629 Google reviews
- UpcomingTue, Aug 11
About Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train
Pioneer Tunnel pairs two distinct anthracite-region experiences on Mahanoy Mountain. Visitors can ride an open mine car 1,800 feet into a former horizontal drift mine, then take a separate narrow-gauge steam trip behind Lehigh Valley Coal Company No. 123 along the mountainside. Both tours are first come, first served and include short walks on rough ground, so the official seasonal schedule, weather, footwear, and accessibility needs should be checked before the drive to Ashland.
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See Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train
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Ways to Ride
Choose the visit that fits your groupPrimary train experience
Narrow-gauge Steam Train
Ride about three quarters of a mile around Mahanoy Mountain behind 1927 Vulcan 0-4-0T No. 123, stopping for views and interpretation of bootleg mining, strip mining, and the Mammoth Vein.
See official details →Signature underground tour
Anthracite Mine Tour
An open mine car travels 1,800 feet into the mountain. Visitors then walk with a guide about 400 feet below the surface to see coal seams, gangways, manways, and chutes.
See official details →Before or after either tour
Onsite mining collection and gift shop
The main building displays mining artifacts, while the shop carries locally made coal and mineral items, mining and railroad books, rocks, fossils, and train souvenirs.
See official details →Schools and organized groups
Educational programs
The nonprofit offers programs for preschool through twelfth grade tied to local history and Schuylkill County's industrial era; groups should arrange details directly.
See official details →Upcoming Events
Complete official date check
2026 special-event calendar
These dates come directly from the operator. USA Train Rides adds trip-planning details only when they are backed by reviewed sources.
Plan Your Visit
- SeasonThe current official seasonal table shows tours Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00am-3:00pm, from June 3 through Labor Day, then Saturday-Sunday, 10:00am-3:00pm, in September and October. Holiday hours are marked TBD
- Trip LengthThe steam train is about 30 minutes over a three-quarter-mile route; the separate underground mine tour lasts about 35-40 minutes
- ArriveTours are first come, first served. Arrive 15-20 minutes before the desired tour time and call ahead if timing is critical
- ParkingThe reviewed official pages do not publish parking instructions or a parking fee; use the mapped Oak Street entrance and call 570-875-3850 if you need parking guidance
- AccessibilityThe operator says it can accommodate non-motorized wheelchair users, but both tours include short walks on rough, uneven ground. Call ahead for limitations and assistance
- WeatherThe regular-tour pages do not publish a general weather or cancellation policy. Check conditions and call before traveling in poor weather
- RestroomsThe reviewed official pages do not describe restroom locations or accessibility; call ahead if this is important to your visit
- Good ForFamilies with school-age children, steam and industrial-rail fans, mining-history visitors, geology interests, photographers, and educational groups
Find the Depot
The Trains
The steam ride uses Lehigh Valley Coal Company No. 123, a narrow-gauge 0-4-0T built by Vulcan Iron Works in 1927 for the nearby Park Place Colliery. Long known at Pioneer Tunnel as the Henry Clay, the locomotive was returned to an earlier Lehigh Valley Coal Company paint scheme in 2024. The mine tour uses open-air mine cars pulled by a battery-operated mine motor. A second lokie, former No. 119, is a restoration project rather than the advertised passenger locomotive.
History
Vulcan Iron Works built the locomotive now identified as Lehigh Valley Coal Company No. 123 for Park Place Colliery service.
The Pioneer Tunnel anthracite mine ceased commercial operation.
Ashland Community Enterprises established the preservation attraction and Pioneer Tunnel reopened to visitors on Labor Day weekend.
The restored lokie began carrying visitors on the three-quarter-mile mountainside steam route.
The Henry Clay locomotive was returned to an earlier Lehigh Valley Coal Company No. 123 paint scheme.
See full history
Pioneer Tunnel was an underground anthracite mine that ceased operating in 1931. In the early 1960s Ashland community leaders selected the abandoned mine as a preservation and tourism project, uncovered and rehabilitated the portal, and formed Ashland Community Enterprises. The attraction reopened on Labor Day weekend in 1962, initially taking visitors into part of the mine on foot. Today the nonprofit carries visitors 1,800 feet underground by mine car and operates a separate steam ride on the mountainside, preserving both mining and narrow-gauge industrial-rail history.
Around the Depot
Begin onsite with Pioneer Tunnel's mining collection and gift shop, then add downtown Ashland's Mothers' Memorial for the community story behind mine closures and worker migration. Knoebels is the stronger family extension when the trip can absorb a regional drive and several additional hours.
Photo by JJonahJackalope via Wikimedia Commons · Public domainAshland Mothers’ MemorialCoal-town historic siteDowntown AshlandA WPA-era hillside memorial that explains Ashland’s worker migration, homecoming tradition, and civic response to mine closures.Plan this stop →
Photo by Joshua Wilmot via Wikimedia Commons · Public domainKnoebels Amusement ResortRegional family attractionRegional side tripA family-owned free-admission amusement resort with classic rides, wooden coasters, food, museums, picnics, pool, and camping.Plan this stop →Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
Compare rentals on Discover Cars →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Tours & Activities near Ashland
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
Browse nearby tours →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Pioneer Tunnel tours?
They are separate experiences. The steam train runs about three quarters of a mile around Mahanoy Mountain and lasts about 30 minutes. The mine tour uses a battery-powered mine motor to travel 1,800 feet underground and lasts about 35-40 minutes.
Do I need advance Pioneer Tunnel tickets?
The operator says regular mine and steam tours are first come, first served. Arrive 15-20 minutes before the desired tour time and call 570-875-3850 when timing, group size, or accessibility could affect your visit.
How cold is the Pioneer Tunnel mine tour?
The mine averages about 48-52 degrees Fahrenheit. Bring a sweater or jacket even on a warm day and wear sturdy footwear for the rough, uneven walking surfaces.
Is Pioneer Tunnel wheelchair accessible?
The operator says it can accommodate non-motorized wheelchair users, but both tours involve short walks on rough and uneven ground. Call 570-875-3850 before visiting to discuss the current equipment and limitations.
Are pets allowed on the mine or steam train tours?
No pets are allowed on the tours except registered service animals, according to the current official tour pages.
Is the locomotive still called the Henry Clay?
The locomotive was long known at Pioneer Tunnel as the Henry Clay. In 2024 it was returned to an earlier paint scheme identifying it as Lehigh Valley Coal Company No. 123, the identity used on current tour pages.
Is a 2026 Santa Train schedule available?
Not on the reviewed official pages as of August 11, 2026. The Santa Train page describes the experience but directs visitors to watch for a future schedule, and the hours table marks holiday timing TBD.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 11, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official home page, address, phone, and contact email
- Official current seasonal hours table and stale-year warning
- Official steam-train route, locomotive, duration, access, and arrival guidance
- Official mine-tour depth, duration, temperature, access, and arrival guidance
- Official nonprofit, mine, lokie, and restoration history
- Official attraction overview and educational programs
- Official gift shop and onsite collection information
- Official event page showing no remaining dated 2026 event
- Wikimedia Commons Pioneer Tunnel image category and file metadata