Showers early Saturday morning didn’t hamper Reading Blue Mountain and Northern’s grand opening celebration in Nesquehoning.

Nesquehoning resident Abbie Guardiani, who is a member of the Blueprint Community for the Panther Valley, even equated the little “spritz of rain” to a bride’s wedding day.

“It’s nothing but good luck,” she said.

Approximately 700 people rode the Iron Horse Ramble to the Pittston Tomato Festival, pulled by steam engine 2102, following the official ribbon cutting for the new Nesquehoning Regional Station.

Matt Fisher, senior vice president of passenger, welcomed everyone to the grand opening.

“Today is a very special day, even though this will be our fourth trip out of this location alone,” Fisher said. “This is our grand opening.

“... What makes this regional railroad station at Nesquehoning important is it can take people on the Reading and Northern main line to pretty much any location north toward Scranton or south toward Reading. It serves a great purpose,” he added, noting it helps all departments that make up the railroad. “This will be a great location ... and a very busy and active location as well for the freight side of the business.”

He welcomed several members of Nesquehoning Borough Council, the Carbon County Commissioners, Chris Barrett, president and CEO of Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau and Kathy Henderson of the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp.

Barrett thanked the railroad for making this a reality.

“If you look behind us and look at this rolling stock, you ask yourself, when was the last time you have seen this and it is now preserved in the United States here in the Pocono Mountains, which makes us very, very grateful,” he said, adding that the Muller family and the employees of the railroad have invested in the area through the expansion of train operations. “... It’s a tribute to Andy and his team and are very grateful for his resources and time.”

Henderson, who is retiring from her post in the chamber, thanked the railroad for investment in Carbon County.

“This is going to be such a great, great addition to Carbon County,” she said. “It’s going to bring in thousands of people and when you have a steam engine in town that is extra special.”

Carbon County Commissioners’ Chairman Michael Sofranko spoke about Muller and his vision.

“Him and his wife Carol care deeply about this community and this county,” Sofranko said. “They continue to invest it, like the investment you see here today. ... Andy is down to earth. Andy is easy to work with. Andy cares. Andy has a desire to be here and he talked about his dream of doing this and today dreams do come true.

“Thank you Andy and Carol for putting the investment in Carbon County and we wish you success,” he added.

Nesquehoning Councilwoman Mary Fox, a lifelong resident of the borough, said she was very impressed by Muller’s vision and made it a reality in the borough.

“It is fantastic and put Nesquehoning back on the map,” she said.

Guardiani added that the Blueprint Community group welcomes and supports the vision and future for this region.

Muller then spoke briefly, saying he never thought he would make so many people happy by playing with trains.

“I liked trains all my life and never dreamed that anything like this could ever happen,” he said. “Thank you everyone.”

Muller’s daughter, Christina Muller-Levan, executive vice president of strategic planning, then cut the ribbon, officially opening the newest branch for the railroad.

Muller purchased the north side of the former Kovatch Mobile Equipment buildings in 2022 and began moving several operations into the buildings.

One additional excursion will be leaving from Nesquehoning and traveling to Tunkhannock on Sept. 7.