From July 30 to Aug. 3, 31 men and one 13-year-old gathered at the inn to continue a 32-year tradition started by brothers Dave Abeles, 48, and Ben Abeles, 46, and train-loving friends and family spanning three generations.

They visit local rail-related sites like the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, the Horseshoe Curve, local restaurants and other sites like the Johnstown Flood Museum.

But mostly the trainspotter raconteurs relax, reconnect, and enjoy the rumble, sight, and smells of the trains that come down the Norfolk Southern mainline that runs to the Horseshoe Curve, 10 miles away. Up to 60 trains go by at all hours of the day and night, including the Amtrak and R.J. Corman Pa. lines. It’s a slice of railfan heaven where there is no rush, no uncertainty and no travel. Just comfortable chairs in which to sit, wait and watch the three tracks where the trains always come.

The former Pennsylvania Railroad’s main line remains actively used by Norfolk Southern. Built in 1866 as The Callan House — 12 years after the Horseshoe Curve’s completion — Pittsburghers vacationed here to escape the summertime city heat. It then became a hotel and apartment building.

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Dave Abeles (left) of Lebanon, N.J., talks with co-owner Alex Lang in the dining room.

Tom Davis, a retired educator, founded the The Station Inn in 1993 upon his retirement from education. A lifelong railfan and world traveler, Davis created a space where railroad enthusiasts from all walks of life enjoy each other and the daily stream of trains.

It’s a dream that’s being preserved by current co-owners Alex and Leah Lang. Alex is a lifelong railfan and a frequent inn visitor since his teens. By day, he’s an IT manager for a group of railroads based out of Pittsburgh. After college, he helped Davis by building the bed and breakfast’s website to attract guests.

After Davis died in 2021, the couple, who live in Aspinwall, Allegheny County, purchased the inn from his estate in 2022 as a “side project,” Lang said. “I can’t get away from trains. I love trains and have been into trains my whole life.”

Alex Lang made his first visit in 1994 to the inn and never stopped. Befriended by Davis, he graduated college and created the inn’s website. Leah and Alex were married at the Horseshoe Curve and had their reception at the Station Inn in 2010.

Under the Langs, the focus has been on making repairs and refreshing the interior while retaining its charm. Day-to-day tasks are handled by a staff of four employees under general manager Michele Sheehan of Loretto, who has worked there for 15 years. She’s often found handling duties like grating gouda cheese to make a new dish, homemade macaroni and cheese. When the guests sample it, it receives rave reviews.

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / The Station Inn Bed & Breakfast railfan guests watch the mainline from the front covered porch.

The Langs keep Davis’ dream alive: a meeting place to bring together people from all walks of life bound by a common love of railroading.

Continuing a tradition

In 1994, Dave Abeles, then 17, spotted an inn advertisement in a train magazine. Taking his brother and three friends, the New Jersey teens began a long Labor Day weekend retreat.

“I don’t know that any of us slept at all the whole time. We were so excited. We sat on the front porch, drank Pepsi and ate Sheetz pizza,” Dave Abeles recalled.

“It was heaven for four days. Every time a train came, we went nuts. Running around, taking pictures. I still have all the slides from that trip. It was awesome.”

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / General manager Michele Sheehan of Loretto grates cheese.

Back then, during the Conrail days, “trains were getting longer. They were buying new locomotives and there were 60 to 80 trains a day,” Dave Abeles said. “There were coal load outs — all stuff we don’t have as prevalent in New Jersey.”

While the guys’ weekend dates change, its intent remains: to enjoy a respite from everyday life, renew relationships, and watch the rails. The teenagers have matured into men and fathers and have marked life milestones from the passing of relatives, bachelor parties prior to wedding vows, later divorces and other life changes. The sons invited their fathers and now their own sons are enjoying the tradition.

Their story is shared by Jack Trabachino, his father, John, and his son, Christopher, 13. Jack’s first visit was in 1995 and he started bringing his father. This was Christopher’s third visit: his first at age 9 and second at age 11.

As they sat at a table on the front porch enjoying a Jersey Mike’s sub, Christopher said he was looking forward to playing bumper pool.

There are a dozen men in conversation on the porch seated at sturdy wooden chairs. Some have their laptops open on a 6-inch shelf, others are in deep conversation while others watch the tacks. A breeze and a cold beer offers some relief from the 80-degree sunny afternoon. It’s a relaxed atmosphere as the men sit awhile, go inside to enjoy the cookie bar or take a siesta.

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Scott Sorenson (left) of Newark, N.J., and Heath Hofmeister of Raritan, N.J., relax in the lounge.

Gathered around a large custom-made dining table, Heath Hofmeister of Raritan, N.J., said, “The experience has grown and evolved as we have evolved.” He’s only missed one weekend since 1999. The one exception was to be best man in a wedding.

Rail history preserved

Inside from the front door, a “wall of honor” showcases local and national media coverage of the inn — the only non-train-related memorabilia displayed. Hundreds if not thousands of artifacts such railroad yard signs, lamps and even an old steam engine bell provide rail-related ambiance throughout.

“It just shows up,” Alex Lang said. “A lot of it was here and everything has a story but I don’t know what all the stories are.”

One story he does know is about the lighted electric control panel at the entrance to the first floor game room area. It’s from the former Cresson control tower. It dominates the threshold into the new gathering space transformed from Davis’ living quarters. The only air conditioned bedrooms are in this renovated section.

While redecorating this area, they couldn’t find any railroad-themed memorabilia. A request on social media solved the problem.

“People came out of the woodwork and just sent us stuff. They didn’t ask for any money. This collage of stations, this New Haven Railroad sign is off of a passenger car. It’s a big community.”

The Langs have “spruced up” the 10 guest rooms, which have a maximum capacity of 34 people. Named for defunct railroad lines, each bedroom area has a full-bath shared by those guests.

“I kind of think of this place as a church and we’re the caretakers. It’s not really ours except for on paper. I think of it as a community that we’re supporting,” Alex Lang said.

Downstairs bar revived

Downstairs in the basement, they’ve resurrected a bar area built in 1904 and last renovated in the 1990s. It closed in 2005. The Langs rejuvenated the speak-easy style bar space and expanded into a former storage area for more seating.

Liquor license in place, the new Yard Office Lounge will open later this fall complete with a full-time bartender. It will feature classic cocktails, local beers and small bites.

They retained the multi-colored tile floor around the long wooden bar with its original tin roof overhead. At the highest point of the massive serving sideboard, some of Davis’ cremains sit in a glass jar, a very old whiskey bottle on his right and to his left, an empty pint glass emblazoned with a logo recognizing the 30th anniversary of the Abeles’ first visit. It’s a shrine to Davis, who loved railroading, bringing people together, and telling stories while sipping whiskey.

When the bar was open under Davis, it served as a place to network and learn. Davis, who had a doctorate from Harvard in education, was a world traveler and “classy guy,” Alex Lang said.

“Tom knew all the facts and figures. If there was something he didn’t know, he knew who to call. He was well connected in the rail industry.”

Adjacent to the bar area is a new gathering space. Removal of a dropped ceiling revealed more of the original tin ceiling. A new epoxy floor, leather arm chairs and sofas sourced from thrift stores blend the new with classic comfort.

Along the walls are railroad scenes shot in black and white by the inn’s first artist-in-residence Michael Froio of Philadelphia. Froio shoots in the style of noted PRR photographer William H. Rau. The inn’s second artist-in-residence, Julie Fether Rockwell, starts in December. A Huntingdon resident, she serves as the first archivist for the East Broad Top Railroad Archives and Special Collections. She has also curated four exhibitions of Rau photography at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art.

A heavy steam engine bell welded to a stand by a railroad machinist stands guard near the bar’s outside exit. Given by a “friend of a friend, friend’s neighbor,” Alex Lang said, it takes “five guys to ring it” even using a pulley system.

“It’s a tradition of this group, when they kick a keg, they ring this bell,” Alex Lang said.

For all the refurbishing and refreshing, the men attending this gathering through the Abeles brothers said it has remained a one constant in their ever-changing lives.

“It’s a family reunion. Our brotherhood is not by blood, but by the railroad,” Hofmeister said.

“It feels like home,” Jersey City resident Tom Sweitzer said.

“It’s a community,” Dave Abeles said. “There is almost nothing in my life that is the same as it was 32 years ago besides the fact that we come to the Station Inn.”

Mirror Staff Writer Patt Keith is at 814-949-7030.