Imagine riding in style aboard a plush, classic Art Deco train, with dining services, air conditioning and large windows to take in the rolling scenery as you head down the track. A common way to travel 60 years ago, vintage railroading is envisioned again- this time with Honesdale, Pa., the Birthplace of the American Railroad, your destination.
Passenger service with tourists in mind eventually may be able to make the trek, boarding in New York City and heading to Honesdale, taking in historic sites, hotels, resorts, recreational amenities and natural beauty that has made Wayne County and the surrounding area famous.
What is becoming more than a dream was described to a packed audience Thursday night for the Greater Honesdale Partnership (GHP) Annual Meeting. The first key speaker at the gathering in the Wayne County Visitor Center was Al Siebold, Managing Director, Stourbridge Railway.  A division of the Morristown and Erie Railroad in New Jersey, the Stourbridge Railway is refurbishing the 25 mile rail line from Honesdale to Lackawaxen and preparing for both regular freight customers and enhanced excursion trips.
“Stourbridge Railway” of course highlights the enduring symbol of Honesdale’s legacy, the Stourbridge Lion. The locomotive by that name, the first to operate in America on commercial track, took Honesdale into history books in 1829. What was a three mile journey has extended in importance, as Wayne County promoters of late have added coal to the fire and proceeded full steam.
Siebold asked the crowd to picture luxury railroading return, with all the possibilities for the local economy. He rebuffed reference to Honesdale’ s rail line spur as a “dead end.” Rather, he said, “We can make Honesdale the place you arrive at the end of a splendid journey.”
Morristown & Erie, which was resurrected from bankruptcy, today has about 500 miles of track in five states. Siebold said that bigger railroads call them the “Red Menace” because of their red locomotives, and the fact that take over defunct rail lines and make them profitable.
He referred to a shining example in Rockland, Maine, which Siebold said looks some what like Honesdale and is also the end of a rail line. Morristown and Erie revived the railway, and with help from a state grant, the line now thrives as a a market for both freight and tourist trains. They use restored, streamlined stainless steel rail cars from the 1940’s and 50’s. Historic sites and fantastic scenery of the Maine coast highlight the adventure.
Morristown & Erie has this vision for the Stourbridge Railway. Siebold said that are foreseeing train trips coming up for weekend stays in the area, and are not meant to compete with commuter bus lines. On the other hand, Siebold mentioned, on the Maine route, the success of their venture has since attracted Amtrak to begin regular passenger service in the area.
Corporate, luxury train trips can also be arranged.
He said that the venture will take the cooperation of local merchants, the GHP, Chamber of Commerce and WEDCO. “We may step on toes” along the way, he added, while reminding of the great economic potential of the plan.  “We have the depth of management” to complete the project he said. “We have the largest stable of luxury [railroad] equipment east of the Mississippi.”
Siebold at one time owned Pullman Coaches Ltd., which took luxury vintage trains on special excursions. He said that experiencing the Pullman train era is like riding on a great ocean liner of the past.
On-line:
Rockland, Maine railway: www.maineasternrailroad.com.
Morristown & Erie Railway: www.merail.com.