BOYERTOWN PA – A poignant weekend troop train event will encourage visitors to look down railroad tracks in Boyertown, and back into the history of “the second war to end all wars.”
The Colebrookdale Railroad, the Gen. Spaatz USAAF Museum, and the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles are teaming up to present a re-enactment and tour of a war troop train with activities surrounding its Saturday (Sept. 28, 2024) at 5 p.m. departure from the railroad’s station, 64 S. Washington St.
Discount tickets of $30 provide admission to both museums and the train yard, and are available online. Tickets also can be purchased in person Saturday after 10 a.m. at the station or either museum.
Separately, the railroad is offering tickets for a ride on the train itself. They can be purchased online at Colebrookdale’s website. Purchase of the train ticket also grants the Saturday admission to both museums.
Before and during the war, thousands of men and women left their hometowns and boarded trains that would take them to their first military assignments. They were full of anticipation and excitement, laughter and tears. For most it was their first trip away from family and friends. Many would not return.
Re-enactors will be present to guide visitors through this troop train send-off from the 1940s. It will include a special hospital operating theater car, and a vintage military vehicle display. The train depot will open at 3 p.m. for a military vehicle walk-around, and the troop train departure ceremony is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
The Gen Spaatz USAAF museum and the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles will be open during regular hours. Organizers encourage visitors to arrive early in Boyertown to visit the museums before heading to the train yard.
If you take the train …
For those who buy separate tickets to ride the troop train for its two-hour journey, Colebrookdale will present an onboard reenactment of how the military traveled by rail.
Seating and amenities during the trip depend on the ticket selected:
- Passengers in Dining Class will enjoy a delicious dinner, with dinner choices selected at checkout. Drinks and light fare are also available for purchase throughout the train from its à la carte menu;
- Passengers in First-Class do not receive dinner options, but will receive a complimentary beverage, a champagne toast, an hors d’oeuvres plate, and dessert. First-class cars are reserved for those age 13 and older; and
- Passengers in Coach Class can enjoy the train’s light-fare à la carte menu, with delicious seasonal snacks and beverages. No meals are served.
Photos provided to Travels With The Post by the Gen. Spaatz USAAF Museum
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