Climb aboard an open mine car and travel into the side of Mahanoy Mountain for a trip straight back into Pennsylvania’s vibrant past, back to when the coal mining industry thrived. Tucked away in Ashland, the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine invites visitors to experience an old coal mine on this coal mine tour in Pennsylvania.

Start your journey into the mountainside aboard a battery-powered open mine car, where you will travel 1,800 feet into the side of Mahanoy Mountain to the old coal mine. Business at the coal mine ended in 1931.
Flickr/James St. John
Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine's foreman inspects the mine daily while state mine inspectors visit regularly to ensure your adventure is a safe one.
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Disembark from your car once you enter the deep confines of the mine, where you'll get a firsthand look at the challenges miners faced when mining anthracite.
TripAdvisor/Nick d.
Your seasoned tour guide will help make history come alive as you explore the mine by foot. The tour typically takes about 35 minutes.
Flickr/James St. John

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Listen as your tour guide explains how the coal miners worked each day. Pictured below is the emergency phone miners used to contact the outside world.
Flickr/Douglas Muth
Head to the old-fashioned steam engine, upon emerging from the old coal mine. There, embark on a 30-minute ride aboard the Henry Clay, which will give you an up close look at strip mining in the area.
Flickr/James St. John
Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine welcomes visitor from April through October. Visitors are advised to dress comfortably and bring a jacket or a sweater as the temperature in the mine stays at a steady 52 degrees Fahrenheit.
TripAdvisor/Rickydee48
General admission tickets are available for the coal mine, the steam train ride, or a coal mine/steam engine train ride combo.
TripAdvisor/hikingtom
End your day's adventure with a quick bite to eat at The Jellybucket Cafe, which serves such aptly-named sandwiches as Centralia, the Mammoth, the Pioneer, and the Henry Clay.
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A children's menu is also available along with such favorites as French fries, pierogies, chips, and cookies.

Click play above to take a virtual tour of the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine as produced by Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau.

Click play above to take a virtual ride on the old steam engine that awaits when you visit Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine. (Video by Joseph Fusco)

Tour an old coal mine in Pennsylvania then climb aboard an old-fashioned steam engine train for a relaxing, educational afternoon at the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine. Have you been on this coal mine tour in Pennsylvania? Share your experience in the comments! If you enjoy traveling back in time, take a virtual tour back to the 1940s in Pennsylvania.

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coal mine tour in pennsylvania

Beth Price-Williams | August 28, 2020

What are the most unique things to do in Pennsylvania?

You’ll have little difficulty finding unique things to do in Pennsylvania. Remember reading about the old lady in a shoe? Well, you can visit a shoe just like that little old lady lived in when you visit Haines Shoe House. The unique house offers tours and even sells ice cream. Are you a fan of magic? You can’t go wrong with a visit to the Harry Houdini Museum in Scranton. Plan to spend at least three hours at the museum which promises an interactive experience, including a magic show performed by professional magicians.

What unique tours in Pennsylvania can I take?

For one of the most unique tours in Pennsylvania, make your way to Wolf Sanctuary in Lititz. The sanctuary is home to formerly abused and neglected wolves and offers tours for visitors. You can even join an evening tour on select nights throughout the year. Did you know that Pennsylvania is the snack capital of the United States? You can set off on your own tour of the snack food trail in Pennsylvania, which will take you to such fun and iconic sites as Hershey’s Chocolate World, Herr’s in Nottingham, and Julius Sturgis Pretzel Factory in Lititz. (Always check to ensure the attraction is open before hitting the road.)

Does Pennsylvania have any natural wonders?

If you’re looking for unique things to do in Pennsylvania, consider visiting some of its natural wonders (and there are quite a few of them). We’re all familiar with potholes in PA, but did you know we also have the world’s largest pothole? We do, and you can see it at Archbald Pothole State Park. To get an idea of how big it is, you’d have to pour 140,000 gallons of water in it to fill it up. At Ringing Rocks, on the other hand, you can take a hammer, and the rocks will make music. Other natural wonders in Pennsylvania include Hammersley Wild Area, Pine Creek Gorge, and Laurel Caverns.

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Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train, Oak Street, Ashland, PA, USA