Visitors to Pennsylvania have the rare opportunity to board trains with their friends and families that were icons from over 100 years ago that had a great effect on how Americans saw their world around them from coast to coast. Some of the companies mentioned below have helped with the discovery of natural resources and the transportation of them. Other times, the rail companies were very involved with the Civil War in transporting troops and arms and also in the underground railroad movement which helped others gain freedom in the Northern States and Canada. There are plenty of accommodations available, including unique hotels in Pennsylvania. Listed below are some of the scenic train rides in Pennsylvania, USA to experience amazing vistas anytime during the year to see nature at its most beautiful with a backdrop of history’s landmarks and its most pivotal figures.
Popular railroad museum in Pennsylvania
- Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania: If you're a train fanatic, this museum is a must-visit spot. Complete trains, including locomotives and coaches are preserved in large warehouses at the museum. Ticket prices for adults start from 10 USD, while children below the age of two enter for free, and I think this would be a great place to take the family. According to ABC 27, it's a great place to visit for the summer.
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1. Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
Get your caboose seats before they’re filled on a vintage coach. The trains leave mid-morning to late afternoon daily throughout the year and runs on a 70-minute route most months. You should check the railroad’s official website for accurate schedules. Enjoy riding in an open car and feel the wind blow through your hair as you glide over bridges rising above the Lehigh River, travel through Glen Onoko falls, and into Lehigh Gorge State Park, some of the best places to visit in Pennsylvania. I’m pretty sure this will be a great ride for families holidaying together.
During the journey, passengers can enjoy taking in the high-rising cliffs, Poconos Mountains, and wildlife including blue herons, beavers, and other creatures along the route towards Old Penn Haven.
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
Website: Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
2. The Stourbridge Line
Hop on board the Pocono Express train at Honesdale station for an incredible journey traversing the Lackawaxen River. Choose from table cars, the retro decor of the 1950s car, or open-air cars which allow passengers to enjoy the amazing views of the breathtaking Pocono Mountain range up close.
Take an unforgettable journey in the autumn to enjoy the changing of the leaves from greens to vibrant reds, golds, and coppers while perhaps catching a glimpse of an American bald eagle soar overhead as the train chugs along the Lackawaxen River. I’m sure wildlife enthusiasts will have a blast with this one!
The Stourbridge Line
Website: The Stourbridge Line
3. Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad
Board the train at Middletown station for an 11-mile (17.7 km) journey meandering through Union Canal and Swatara Creek en route to Hummelstown. Listen to the narration of the history of the surrounding area and other facts concerning the rail line and south-central Pennsylvania during the 75-minute ride. Make sure to check the railroad’s official website for an accurate schedule!
On the way back to Middletown, passengers can enjoy musicians playing live music through the same scenery they just passed. For a truly unique experience, book a ride on the Moonlight Specials, Civil War, Train Robberies, or New Year’s Eve Celebration Train while in Middletown. I think this makes it a great option for history enthusiasts.
Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad
Website: Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad
4. Everett Railroad Company
All aboard for a truly unique journey via the Everett Railroad’s historic steam train for a fun excursion from Hollidaysburg Depot, through the Allegheny Mountains of Blair County, on the way to Martinsburg. The annual Autumn special train services are a delight, and I’m sure there’s no better way to take in all that autumn beauty than this train ride. Enjoy the slower pace as the train snakes through the Allegheny National Park over bridges while you take in the scenic beauty of the mountains clothed in their autumn attire and the expansive reservoir below.
Make sure to confirm route schedules on the official website before planning your fun train ride!
Everett Railroad Company
Website: Everett Railroad Company
5. Colebrookdale Railroad
After the conductor helps you board one of the restored cars, get ready for a two-hour expedition from Boyertown crossing over rushing creeks and climbing bridges towards the forests of the Secret Valley. The Colebrookdale Railroad offers themed train rides along the same route offering dinner, brunch with mimosas, or evenings with wine tastings.
The dinner menu changes during the year several times, so make certain to check ahead of time before booking. Gluten-free dining and vegan dining menus are available for passengers with dietary restrictions.
Colebrookdale Railroad
Website: Colebrookdale Railroad
6. Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
Make it aboard before the whistle blows or you will be missing an epic journey through Pennsylvania Oil Country. Departing from Titusville, the train passes through beautiful Oil Creek State Park which 100 years ago was unimaginably polluted due to oil drilling.
During this three-hour journey, passengers will see how left alone nature has recovered its beauty. Passengers will be able to take pictures of some of the park’s wildlife including groundhogs, bald eagles, ducks, deer, blue herons, and a rare black bear as the train makes its way through the forest.
Make sure to check the official website for accurate schedules, especially if you’re looking for seasonal trains! Tickets for adults usually go for about 40 USD.
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
Website: Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
7. Strasburg Rail Road
Jump on board one of the company’s locomotives for a unique tour departing Lancaster County, one of the best places to go on vacation in Pennsylvania, through the peaceful Amish countryside en route to Paradise with stops at Groff’s Grove or Leaman Place Grove. Passengers can disembark at either stop and enjoy a picnic lunch at Groff’s Grove.
Passengers will be able to enjoy seeing crops such as corn, alfalfa, soybeans, and tobacco along with livestock during the 45-minute ride through Lancaster County farmland throughout the year.
Make sure to check the official website for accurate schedules and seasonal events!
Strasburg Rail Road
Website: Strasburg Rail Road
8. Northern Central Railway
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
This railroad offers multiple excursions to different destinations, including Glen Rock, Hanover Junction, Seven Valleys, and Howard Tunnel. Trains usually depart from New Freedom station, and passengers can enjoy the beautiful countryside of York County with its sprawling farmland, lush pastures, crops, and livestock.
Passengers can enjoy stunning scenery, and sometimes even onboard commentary and live performances on the railroad. Seasonal events are also organized. The Northern Central Railway previously went by Steam Into History Inc., and you can get the accurate route schedules on the official website.
Northern Central Railway
Website: Northern Central Railway
9. WK&S Railroad
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Get your best flapper dresses and pearls on ladies and gents your best suits for a special train journey through lush farmland and green forests along the Ontelaunee Creek.
If you time your visit right you can even kick off your heels to pianists performing live American ragtime classics such as Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer” during the 40-minute roundtrip. The railroad offers other seasonal excursions as well, but make sure to check the official website for updated events and schedules.
WK&S Railroad
Website: WK&S Railroad
10. West Chester Railroad Co
One of the best things to do in Pennsylvania is to take a ride back 150 years on the 90-minute journey from West Chester and Glen Mills. Passengers will cruise past the rolling hills, lush pastures of Chester County, and thick green forests, and cross Chester Creek all the while passing by historic villages. During the fall months, enjoy the brilliant colors of the trees changing for the season along the same route.
Notable historic landmarks along the route for passengers to catch a glimpse of include the 19th-century village and station at Cheyney, Locksley Station which is located near an old iron slitting mill, and Frazier Farmstead synonymous with Revolutionary War fame prior to reaching Glen Mills’ Victorian station.
West Chester Railroad Co
Website: West Chester Railroad Co
Advance token to the nearest railroad station
Enjoy a top-rated weekend getaway in Pennsylvania by immersing yourself in the immense beauty of the state. Add a train ride to that visit and you’ll find yourself feeling nostalgic for a time when people enjoyed the slower pace of life and even a short ride from one station to the next was a great journey for them. Add to that experience, the impact these steel horses had as they galloped across landscapes richly endowed in American history and everyone will have an educational time. Passengers will enjoy the stunning beauty of national parks while twisting and turning through history with important figures including Abraham Lincoln before they depart and return to the present day.
History
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