TriCounty Area Chamber Of Commerce: Rep. Dean Visits The Colebrookdale Railroad

Press release from TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce:

August 19, 2021

News Release:  -Text as follows. Corresponding video available at:  https://youtu.be/mhi_q99btbo
 
 
U.S.  Representative Madeleine Dean made a special visit to Boyertown today.  The congresswoman gathered with other legislators and community leaders at the Colebrookdale Railroad to talk about improving the train’s railyard through a community project
development grant.
 
 
Dean has sponsored legislation that would provide the Colebrookdale with more than 1.3-million dollars - money Colebrookdale Executive Director Nathaniel Guest says would go toward improving accessibility and safety.
 
 
He says the railyard is at the heart of the Colebrookdale’s mission to help local communities and economies grow, as well as to create programs to both educate and empower people.
 
 
[SOT Nathaniel Guest, President, Colebrookdale Railroad
Preservation Trust]
“From this location, our ancestors made goods that were delivered all over the country, and all over the world.  And the countless joyous arrivals and tearful departures of 150 years and two world wars played out right in the very space where we’re standing,”
 
 
[SOT Guest]
“The site was blighted decades ago, but thanks to the work of donors and volunteers, it’s coming back to life as a train station, as a park, and as a community event space.  And today, just as they did a century and a half ago, tens of thousands of visitors from all over the
 

world come to understand Boyertown, and Pennsylvania, by experiencing this space.”
 
 
[SOT Dean]
I have been excited to tour this yard, to see  the extraordinary craftsmanship, and passion, and heart that comes to this.  And as we see - I hope - a light at the end of the tunnel of this pandemic, we must set our eyes on rebuilding, building back better, regenerating our communities, our economy, and our morale.  And this is a big part of rebuilding our morale.”
 
 
[SOT U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., 4th District]
When this is complete, we will continue to bring residents together in beautiful community spaces, attract tourism, and serve as an economic engine, not just a railroad engine.”
Dean says the funding proposal has been passed in the House. [SOT Dean]
“Now it is up to the Senate.  And be noisy, be squeaky, tell the Senate
we’ve got to get this done!  They still must complete their work on these and other projects, but House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro, who is just a marvelous leading woman, has assured us that every project included in the House Appropriations Committee Report Bills will be included in the House’s negotiating position.  We are gong to fight very hard for this one.”
 
 
Before heading back to work, Representative Dean and a number of the guests took a spin on railbikes,  The Colebrookdale is the first railroad in the U.S. to offer a rail bike program.
 
 
B-ROLL:
 
 
Rep. Dean & staff arrive, walk with CRR Pres. Nathaniel Guest Rep. Dean & Guest inside train, viewing informational displays Boyertown Mayor Marianne Deery and other guests on board train Other guests on board train
Rep. Dean & Guest in Lounge Car

Boyertown Mayor Marianne Deery at podium giving remarks
Cutaway of crowd listening to speakers
Rep. Dean & others ride railbikes
Rep. Dean boards the Doodlebug
Rep. Dean “helps” drive the Doodlebug Rep. Dean disembarks Doodlebug Doodlebug leaves
Railyard (pan) Railyard. (static)

This press release was produced by TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.