Kiski Junction Railroad in Schenley, Pennsylvania
Heritage railroad with a museumNo longer operating; the line is described in the past tense
The Kiski Junction Railroad was a small shortline based at Schenley, Pennsylvania, running about six miles along the Kiskiminetas River and, in its tourist years, carrying passengers in mixed trains pulled by a restored 1943 Alco S-1 switcher.
- Former 6-mile shortline
- Reporting mark KJR
- Route first built in 1856
- Restored 1943 Alco S-1 switcher
- No longer operating
Kiski Junction Railroad at a glance
- Hours
- No longer operating
- Admission
- None; no public attraction operates
- Best for
- Rail history readers and photographers
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
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Taking the kids to Kiski Junction Railroad? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Schenley.
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A river junction railroad with two jobs
The Kiski Junction Railroad, reporting mark KJR, was a short-line railroad northeast of Pittsburgh. It was based in Schenley, the small community where the Kiskiminetas River flows into the Allegheny, and its track followed the Kiskiminetas shore for about six miles. Rail historians trace the route back to 1856, and the line was once part of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
The KJR earned its keep as a working freight road. It hauled scrap metal for an Allegheny Ludlum plant on the line, handled local grain interchange for a time, and tried to serve a reactivated coal mine. Alongside that freight work it offered seasonal tourist rides, often as mixed trains led by a carefully restored 1943 Alco S-1 switcher that had been built for the United States Navy. One rider recalls taking a trip in 2007. The railroad no longer operates.
What remains along Schenley Road
There is no museum or ride to visit today. Rail fans who photograph abandoned lines have shared views of the former Kiski Junction right of way from Schenley Road, so the track corridor can still be seen from public roads. Please stay on public property and off any remaining track.
Don’t miss
- The 1943 Alco S-1 switcherThis Navy-built diesel switcher was restored for the tourist trains and often led the mixed trains that carried passengers.
- The river junction at SchenleyThe railroad's home sat where the Kiskiminetas meets the Allegheny, the geography that gave the line its name.
For young rail fans today
Because the railroad no longer runs, there are no rides or exhibits for children here. Families looking for a train day in western Pennsylvania will do better at one of the operating museums listed below.
Plan your visit: tips for Kiski Junction Railroad
- Do not plan a trip expecting a ride; the line is a former operation.
- If you photograph the old corridor, stay on public roads such as Schenley Road.
- For an operating train outing nearby, look at the museums listed on our Pennsylvania page.
Remembering the crews
The Kiski Junction was a small operation, and the restored Alco switcher and the seasonal passenger trips show real care by the people who ran it. Today its memory lives on mostly through photos and stories shared by rail fans and former riders.
Places to ride or explore instead
The Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum in Gibsonia is about 17 miles away, and the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington is about 45 miles off if the kids want a real ride. Heading east, the Portage Station Museum is roughly 56 miles away. See all of Pennsylvania's train museums for more.
- Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad MuseumGibsonia, PA · about 17 mi
- Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway historical collectionPittsburgh area, PA · about 24 mi
- Derry Station Railroad Heritage MuseumDerry, PA · about 31 mi
- Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical Societywestern Pennsylvania, PA · about 44 mi
- Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumWashington, PA · about 45 mi
- Portage Station MuseumPortage, PA · about 56 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
I love that this little line ran right along the river. In our book, Rally sits by an arched window and says hello to a white bird over the ocean. A train that hugs the water gives you that same window seat feeling, even over just six miles. It makes me a little sad that families cannot take this ride anymore.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
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Work or volunteer at Kiski Junction Railroad?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Kiski Junction Railroad: 20 questions about the old line
What was the Kiski Junction Railroad?
The Kiski Junction Railroad was a short-line railroad, reporting mark KJR, based in Schenley, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh. It ran about six miles along the Kiskiminetas River, hauling freight and, for a time, carrying seasonal tourist passengers. It no longer operates today.
Is the Kiski Junction Railroad still running?
No. The Kiski Junction Railroad is a former operation, and a rail fan photo of the old line at Schenley notes that it was working not too long ago. There are no current rides, tickets or posted hours, so do not plan a visit expecting a train.
When did the Kiski Junction Railroad close?
No closing date is posted in the published histories of the Kiski Junction Railroad. Tourist trips ran at least into the 2000s, since one rider recalls a trip in 2007, and the line is now a former operation. Local rail history groups may know the exact year.
Where was the Kiski Junction Railroad?
The railroad was based in Schenley, Pennsylvania, at the point where the Kiskiminetas River flows into the Allegheny River, northeast of Pittsburgh in Armstrong County. Directory listings give its address as 130 Railroad St, Schenley, PA 15682. The track followed the Kiskiminetas shore for about six miles.
Where can I find Kiski Junction Railroad photos?
Rail fans have posted photos of the former Kiski Junction line, including a view taken from a driveway on Schenley Road looking northwest, in a Facebook group about abandoned rail lines. Rail history sites that document shortlines and tourist railroads also show the line and its Alco switcher. The railroad itself does not run an official photo page.
Are there Kiski Junction Railroad reviews?
A Tripadvisor listing exists for the Kiski Junction Railroad in Schenley, and rail fans have shared memories online, including one person who recalls riding the line in 2007. Because the railroad no longer operates, older reviews describe a ride that is not available today. Treat them as history rather than as trip advice.
Is there a Kiski Junction Railroad bridge?
Published histories of the Kiski Junction Railroad do not single out a particular bridge. The line ran along the Kiskiminetas River near its meeting with the Allegheny, so river crossings and trestles are a natural question. Rail history sites that cover the KJR, such as HawkinsRails, are the best place to look for photos and details.
How long was the Kiski Junction Railroad?
The Kiski Junction Railroad was about six miles long. It ran along the shore of the Kiskiminetas River from its base at Schenley, where that river joins the Allegheny. Its short length made it a true shortline, serving a handful of local customers plus seasonal tourist trips.
What did the Kiski Junction Railroad haul?
Its main freight work was hauling scrap metal for an Allegheny Ludlum plant located on the line. For a time it also handled local grain interchange, and it attempted to serve a reactivated coal mine. Alongside this freight business, the railroad ran seasonal tourist passenger trains.
Did the Kiski Junction Railroad offer passenger rides?
Yes, in its operating years. The Kiski Junction Railroad offered seasonal tourist passenger service along the Kiskiminetas River, often as mixed trains that combined passenger and freight cars. Those rides are no longer offered, since the railroad is now a former operation.
What locomotive did the Kiski Junction Railroad use?
The tourist trains were often pulled by a beautifully restored 1943 Alco S-1 switcher that was originally built for the United States Navy. An S-1 is a small diesel switching locomotive, well suited to a short line like the KJR. Regional rail history groups may know where it is today.
How old was the Kiski Junction Railroad route?
Rail historians say the route was first constructed in 1856, which makes the corridor much older than the Kiski Junction company itself. Before the KJR, the line was part of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and rail fans still refer to it as the former Kiski Junction, ex PRR.
What does KJR stand for?
KJR is the reporting mark of the Kiski Junction Railroad. Reporting marks are the short letter codes painted on locomotives and cars so railroads can identify who owns each piece of equipment. Kiski is the local short name for the Kiskiminetas River, which the line followed.
Can I visit the old Kiski Junction Railroad line?
There is no attraction to visit, but rail fans have photographed the former right of way from public roads such as Schenley Road. If you go to look, stay on public property, respect private driveways and land, and keep off any remaining track or structures.
Is there a phone number for the Kiski Junction Railroad?
Older business directories list a phone number for the Kiski Junction Railroad at its Schenley address, but because the railroad is no longer operating we have not listed it here. The line has no current official website, email or social media account.
Is the Kiski Junction Railroad good for kids?
Not anymore, since there are no rides or exhibits. Families with train-loving kids will find more at operating museums nearby, such as the Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum in Gibsonia, about 17 miles away, or the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, which offers trolley rides.
Did the Kiski Junction Railroad run Christmas trains?
Published histories of the Kiski Junction Railroad describe its seasonal tourist service only in general terms and do not mention holiday or Christmas trains. Since the line no longer runs, look to operating museums and tourist railroads elsewhere in Pennsylvania for Santa trains this year.
Which railroad owned the Kiski Junction line before the KJR?
Rail fans describe the line as the former Kiski Junction, ex PRR, meaning it had been part of the Pennsylvania Railroad before the shortline took over. Rail historians trace the original construction of the route to 1856. Regional rail history groups can tell you more about the handover.
Where is Schenley, Pennsylvania?
Schenley is a small community in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh. It sits where the Kiskiminetas River flows into the Allegheny River, which is why a railroad junction grew up there. The Kiski Junction Railroad took its name from that meeting point.
What train museums are near Schenley, Pennsylvania?
The Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum in Gibsonia is about 17 miles away, and the Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railway historical collection is about 24 miles away. The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington is about 45 miles off, and the Portage Station Museum, Gallitzin Tunnels and Allegheny Portage Railroad are all roughly an hour east.
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