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The Delaware River Railroad Excursions
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The Delaware River Railroad Excursions
All Aboard the Mine Train Adventure! ⛏️
Hop on the scenic River Train with Delaware River Railroad Excursions for a thrilling stop at the Susquehanna Mining Company — a hands-on gem-panning experience that's perfect for families, adventurers, and anyone who loves a bit of "ol' time" fun!
Board the train in Phillipsburg, NJ (departs at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, or 2:00 PM on weekends from May 2 to November 1, 2026), and disembark at Snyders Station — home to the Susquehanna Mining Company and our seasonal Corn Maze. You'll have about 1 hour and 50 minutes (nearly 2 hours) on site to explore before catching your return train north (they run every 2 hours).
What Awaits at the Susquehanna Mining Company?
This is a classic placer mine — where heavy gems and minerals naturally settle in ancient streambed deposits after being washed downstream from their original sources. (Think gold rushes and treasure hunting, but with real gemstones!)
Picnic in Paradise
Relax in our beautiful shaded picnic grove under gigantic pine trees — right next to the mining area and gift shop. Bring a lunch (and maybe some goodies from earlier stops) and enjoy a peaceful afternoon in the countryside. There's plenty of time to eat, play, and pan!
How to Add the Mine Train
It's just a $6 add-on to your regular River Train ticket — an affordable way to turn a scenic ride into a full gem-hunting adventure! (Purchase during booking or on site for the experience.)
Come spend a relaxing, fun-filled afternoon discovering hidden treasures, laughing at mine lore, and making memories in the great outdoors!
The Susquehanna Mining Company is a Placer Mine. Placer mining (/ˈplæsər/)[1] is the mining of stream bed (alluvial) deposits for minerals. This may be done by open-pit (also called open-cast mining) or by various surface excavating equipment or tunneling equipment. Placer mining is frequently used for precious metal deposits (particularly gold) and gemstones, both of which are often found in alluvial deposits—deposits of sand and gravel in modern or ancient stream beds, or occasionally glacial deposits. The metal or gemstones, having been moved by stream flow from an original source such as a vein, are typically only a minuscule portion of the total deposit. Since gems and heavy metals like gold are considerably denser than sand, they tend to accumulate at the base of placer deposits. Placer deposits can be as young as a few years old, such as the Canadian Queen Charlotte beach gold placer deposits, or billions of years old like the Elliot Lake uranium paleoplacer within the Huronian Supergroup in Canada.The containing material in an alluvial placer mine may be too loose to safely mine by tunnelling, though it is possible where the ground is permanently frozen. Where water under pressure is available, it may be used to mine, move, and separate the precious material from the deposit, a method known as hydraulic mining, hydraulic sluicing or hydraulicking.
Feel free to make the most of your stay. You will be on site for one and a half hours so there is plenty of time for a nice picnic! We have a beautiful picnic grove under 3 giganticpine trees just adjacent to the mining activity and Mine Store gift shop
You will be at the mine site for almost 2 hours. Don't worry there is plenty to do. You can buy speciality and upgraded bags of mine rough ( ore) and pan for rubies and gems. You will be amazed at what you find!
Crack a Geode! We have geodes foe sale from smal to extra large. We will show you how to crack them yourself to see the amazing crystals inside.
Feel like playing a game?
We have GIANT checkers, Teather Ball, Horseshoes and Corn Hole boards for you to use, all free of charge. Our on site gift shop has snack and sodas, but, we suggest bringing a picnic lunch as there is a beautiful picnic grove at the Mine. Come spens a relaxing and fun afternoon in the country!
Also at the store you may buy additional bags of mining "rough. We have upgraded Gem Bags, Fossil Bags as well as our famous "Mother Load"(10 pounds) and "Mega Strike" (20 pounds) bags!
For an additional fee ( only $6.00) add the Susquehanna Mining Company to your adventure. Learn the amusing and trajic history of the mine and pan for gem stones you can take home! From late August to the end of October play the game where getting lost is half the fun! Come explore the Corn Maze. this is also only a $5.00 add on when purchasing tickets.
While riding the River Train, stop at the Susquehanna Mining company for a 1.5 hour adventure and tour. Pan for Gem Stones you can take home!
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