George Hart in front of his
ex-Canadian Pacific Ten Wheeler
No. 972 at York, Pennsylvania
in 1966.

A Tribute to George M. Hart
1919 - 2008

Known as Pennsylvania's "Mr. Railroad," George M. Hart started a rebirth of Jim Thorpe in 1971 when he relocated his passenger excursion operation to town.

It is hard to dispute the importance of Mr. Hart to tourism in Jim Thorpe. His company, Rail Tours, Inc., provided train rides to visitors in Jim Thorpe for over 30 years. He began the business at a time when there was little else to attract visitors.

He was the Founding Director of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in 1969, a position he held until retiring in 1983.

The Jim Thorpe Chamber of Commerce and our entire community is deeply indebted to this man, who was a model of fairness, perseverance, good citizenship and dedication, and a great credit to our town.
 

The Jim Thorpe Chamber of Commerce
October, 2009