Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad acquired the 5.5 mile Locust Valley Line from the Locust Valley Coal Co. The sale was effective June 8.

RBMN has been operating the line, which runs from Laurel Junction in Delano Township to an area near Mahanoy City in Mahanoy Township, Schuylkill County, since it was returned to service in 2006. By acquiring it, RBMN will be better able to pursue industrial development along this line, which has many excellent sites due to its proximity to Interstate 81.“This acquisition continues our efforts to acquire and operate contiguous railroad lines in our service territory,” said Andy Muller Jr., chief executive officer of RBMN. “We believe through our economies of scale that we can deliver better service at lower prices to customers throughout the region. The Locust Valley purchase is part of that overall strategy.”RBMN was named “Regional Railroad of the Year” three times by Railway Age magazine, receiving the honor in 2002, 2011 and 2015.Headquartered in Port Clinton, RBMN serves major businesses in nine eastern Pennsylvania counties. It handles freight to and from all points in the United States, as well as import and export traffic, and transports a variety of materials including anthracite coal, plastics, wine, lumber, paper, grains, chemicals, metals and sand.It owns more than 1,000 rail cars and 35 locomotives and employs more than 200 people. Through its sister company, Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, passenger excursion service is offered. Last year, more than 100,000 guests rode on the LGSR trains.