Ashland, Pennsylvania: Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine Tour
RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report
- Address:
- 2001 Walnut St., Ashland, PA
- Directions:
- East side of town. Ashland is at the intersection of Hwys 61 and 54. Turn left (from Hwy 61) or right (from Hwy 54) onto 20th St., then follow the signs to the Pioneer Tunnel. Bring a sweater or jacket; the temperature in the mine averages 52 degrees.
- Hours:
- Summer daily 10-4:30; off-season hours vary. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 570-875-3850
- Admission:
- Adults $10.00
- RA Rates:
- Major Fun
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Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine Tour
Travel by rail a third of a mile into a mountain to experience the dark, chilly world of an anthracite coal mine. The mine closed in 1931; it's been open as an attraction since 1962.
Roadsideamerica.com Report... [03/02/2014]Visitor Tips and News About Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine Tour
Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.
Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine Tour
Great place to visit if you have kids who are into the video game Minecraft! The look on my son's eyes when he saw real coal in the ground was great. Tour is good for seniors, as most of the walking is on nice flat terrain, even in the mine.
Nice gift shop and snack shop. Get a bag of "Lookie Wheels" (funnel cake snack in the shape of a steam engine wheel) for the road.
[E. Barone, 07/12/2014]Just scrolling through all of your wonderful news and I came across the Coal Mine Tour PA, in the New Tips section. The Tour being described is none other than the Pioneer Coal Mine in Ashland (next to famed Centralia, PA). I took the museum tour about 2 years ago when I visited Centralia and indeed, you do go 1,000 feet down into a very chilly mine and they do turn out the lights! The tour is actually very insightful and run by the gosh-darn nicest old miners you have ever seen.
In addition, the country's oldest running steam locomotive runs on a small 5 minute jog up a mountain. When you get to the top the guide spins some tales about mining and claim jumpers, as well as the "tragedy" of neighboring Centralia (best viewed in the morning, when the heat of the ground burns off the dew in great clouds of steam!).
[Dave Inkpen, 03/10/1999]You take the coal train down in the mine for 500 feet, then walk the next 500 in. The temperature is always a cool 55 degrees. Really scary when they turn out the lights.
[Dan Carlin, 02/11/1999]Nearby Offbeat Places
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