Gov. Corbett visits Reading & Northern's Pennsylvania headquarters

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett on Monday visited the Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad Co.'s (RBMN) headquarters in Port Clinton, Pa.

During the hour-long visit, RBMN owner and Chief Executive Officer Andy Muller Jr. thanked Corbett for his administration’s support of the railroad’s plan to build a new railroad bridge across the Lehigh River near Nesquehoning. The $14 million project has been in the works for more than a decade, RBMN officials said in a press release.

In August, the state pledged $10 million for the bridge, with the remainder to be covered by the railroad. When completed in about 18 months, the bridge will offer the most direct and efficient route between Philadelphia and northeast Pennsylvania, and points beyond, RBMN officials said.

Muller also described to Corbett the process by which he built RBMN from a few miles of track to its current status as the largest privately owned railroad in Pennsylvania. RBMN operates a 320-mile regional rail system in nine eastern counties and employs more than 180 people.

In addition, the tour included a visit to the railroad's dispatching center and engine house, where 30-plus locomotives are maintained and repaired. The tour ended with a visit to Muller’s vintage private rail car, which is used for excursions along the railroad.