Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society in Scranton area, Pennsylvania
Rail preservation groupTrain ridesNRHS chapter; meets monthly September to June and runs excursions with Steamtown
The Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley RHS: Holiday Express Trains is the northeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, founded in 1973 to honor the railroads of the anthracite coal fields, from the Stourbridge Lion of 1829 to the lines running today.
- NRHS chapter founded in 1973
- Preserves DL&W depots at Moscow
- Holiday Express Trains with Steamtown
- 48th annual rail calendar for 2027
- Sentimental Journey slide show each November
Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society at a glance
- Hours
- No public hours; monthly meetings September to June, second Thursday at 7 pm
- Admission
- Excursion fares and event prices are posted on lwvrhs.org
- Train rides
- Excursions to Moscow with Steamtown, including the Holiday Express Trains in the holiday season
- Seasonal events
- Holiday Express Trains to Moscow, Moscow summer excursions, Sentimental Journey slide show, Annual picnic at the Moscow station
- Best for
- Rail fans, photographers and families riding the Moscow excursions
- Best ages
- All ages for the excursions
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society? 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 Scranton area.
Rally Takes the Train
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Fifty years of keeping the anthracite railroads in memory
The Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley RHS: Holiday Express Trains was founded in 1973 as a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, chapter number C132. Its purpose is to honor the history of railroading in northeastern Pennsylvania, and its story reaches back a long way: the chapter points to the first run of the Stourbridge Lion in Honesdale in 1829 as the start of a rail tradition that still runs through the region's northern anthracite coal fields today.
The society shares its name with the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railroad, better known as the Laurel Line, a third rail electric interurban that carried commuters between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre from 1903 to 1952 and hauled freight until 1976. Fittingly, the chapter's publication is called Laurel Lines.
Over the decades the chapter's volunteers have taken on real preservation work. Their biggest ongoing project is caring for the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western passenger and freight depots at Moscow, Pennsylvania. They also gather the region's best rail photographers for the Sentimental Journey slide show every November, and they have published a calendar of historic local rail scenes every year; the 2027 edition is the 48th. In 2018 the chapter celebrated its 45th anniversary while hosting an NRHS conference, and it raises funds for restoration projects around the Scranton area.
Moscow station, excursions and a slide show
The chapter is not a museum with daily hours, so the way to see its work is to ride, attend or look. The restored former DL&W depots at Moscow are the chapter's home base for events, including its August picnic and the Santa visits during the holiday trains. Working with Steamtown National Historic Site, and in 2026 also with the Iron Horse Society, the chapter helps bring excursion trains to Moscow.
In November, the Sentimental Journey slide show brings together the work of great photographers of the region's railroads. Each year's calendar collects color and black and white images of local rail scenes of the past, and the chapter's website keeps a Looking Back archive of past trips, from the Railfest Flyer rail excursion to the 2019 Ride the Bloom outing.
Don’t miss
- The Moscow depotsThe former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western passenger and freight depots at Moscow, which the chapter works to preserve, are where many of its events happen.
- Holiday Express Trains to MoscowRun with Steamtown National Historic Site, the 2026 season is the 17th year Santa has met the trains at the Moscow station.
- The annual rail calendarThe 2027 edition is the 48th, with a color cover and color and black and white photos of the region's railroad past.
- Sentimental Journey slide showA November tradition that gathers the region's best rail photographers for an evening of images.
- Laurel LinesThe chapter's publication, named for the Scranton to Wilkes-Barre interurban that shares the society's name.
Santa at the Moscow station
The best way for families to meet this society is aboard the Holiday Express Trains to Moscow, run with Steamtown National Historic Site, where Santa waits at the Moscow train station. Summer excursions to Moscow are another chance for kids to ride a real train and see the historic depots the chapter cares for.
Monthly meetings and the slide show are aimed at adults, though older kids who love trains and photography may enjoy the Sentimental Journey show in November. Check the chapter's website for each season's excursion dates and ticket details.
Plan your visit: tips for Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society
- Watch lwvrhs.org in late summer for Holiday Express Train announcements.
- Monthly meetings are at the Petro Truck Stop meeting room in Avoca at 7 pm.
- Buy the annual rail calendar through the chapter's merchandise page.
- The (570) 344-9728 phone number is listed as temporary, so check the website for updates.
The Holiday Express Trains to Moscow are a December highlight around Scranton. Steamtown National Historic Site and the chapter announced the 17th annual run for 2026, with Santa waiting at the Moscow train station that the chapter helps preserve. Dates and tickets come from Steamtown and the chapter's website, and our list of Christmas train rides in Pennsylvania has more holiday options across the state.
A chapter of volunteers
The society is a volunteer chapter of the National Railway Historical Society led by elected officers, including president Vee A. Pauli, and a board of directors. You can support it by joining through its membership chair, buying the yearly calendar, riding the Moscow excursions, or donating toward its restoration projects. Members meet monthly and gather for a picnic in Moscow each summer.
Scranton's rail attractions
The chapter's partner, Steamtown National Historic Site, is about 15 miles from its mailing address, as is the Electric City Trolley Museum, which covers the region's electric railways. The Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour is nearby too. See all Pennsylvania train museums for more.
- Electric City Trolley MuseumScranton, PA · about 15 mi
- Steamtown National Historic SiteScranton, PA · about 15 mi
- Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour / rail-history exhibitsScranton, PA · about 15 mi
- Lehigh Gorge Scenic RailwayJim Thorpe, PA · about 33 mi
- Honesdale Wayne County Historical Society / Stourbridge Lion replicaHonesdale, PA · about 39 mi
- Stourbridge LineHonesdale, PA · about 39 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
When the Holiday Express pulls into Moscow, someone is always waiting on the platform with a smile, and this year it is Santa. In our book it is Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform, holding out a hand to help Rally aboard. I like to think every station needs a welcoming face. My kids are learning to read, and they love sounding out his name. Find more on our train books for toddlers list.
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
- Train museums in Pennsylvania: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Pennsylvania
- Halloween train rides in Pennsylvania
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society?
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.
Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society: 20 FAQs
What is the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society?
It is the northeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, chapter C132, founded in 1973. The chapter honors railroading in the region's anthracite coal fields, preserves the former DL&W depots at Moscow, publishes a yearly rail calendar and helps run excursions with Steamtown National Historic Site.
Is there a Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway museum in Scranton?
The society does not run a museum with regular public hours. Its historic work centers on the former DL&W passenger and freight depots at Moscow, its excursions, its slide show and its calendar. For indoor rail exhibits in Scranton, Steamtown National Historic Site and the Electric City Trolley Museum are both about 15 miles from the chapter's mailing address.
What was the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railroad?
The Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railroad, better known as the Laurel Line, was a third rail electric interurban line. It carried commuters between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre from 1903 to 1952 and continued freight service until 1976. The historical society shares its name, and its publication is called Laurel Lines.
What are the Holiday Express Trains to Moscow?
They are holiday excursions run by Steamtown National Historic Site and the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society, with Santa coming to the Moscow train station. The chapter announced the 17th annual Holiday Express Trains for 2026. Check lwvrhs.org and Steamtown for current dates, times and ticket prices.
Does the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society run train rides?
The chapter partners on excursions rather than running its own railroad. In 2026, Steamtown National Historic Site, the Iron Horse Society and the chapter announced two summer excursions to Moscow, beginning on Saturday, June 20, plus the Holiday Express Trains. Watch lwvrhs.org for the next season's trips.
What is at the Moscow train station in Pennsylvania?
Moscow is home to the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western passenger and freight depots, which the historical society has made a major ongoing preservation project. The station is the destination for the chapter's excursions with Steamtown, the place Santa greets the Holiday Express trains, and the site of the chapter's August picnic.
When was the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society founded?
The chapter was founded in 1973 as part of the National Railway Historical Society. It celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2018 while hosting an NRHS conference, and its yearly calendar reached its 48th edition with the 2027 calendar, a sign of how long volunteers have been documenting local rail history.
Where does the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley chapter meet?
Meetings are held September through June on the second Thursday of each month at 7 pm in the Petro Truck Stop meeting room in Avoca, Pennsylvania. There is no meeting in July, and in August the chapter gathers for its annual picnic at the train station in Moscow. Visitors interested in joining are a natural fit for a meeting.
How do I buy the LWVRHS railroad calendar?
The 2027 Railway Calendar went on sale in September 2026, and it is the chapter's 48th edition. It features a color cover with an assortment of color and black and white images of local rail scenes from the past. Order it through the merchandise section of lwvrhs.org or ask at a chapter meeting.
What is the Sentimental Journey slide show?
Sentimental Journey is the chapter's slide show held each November, bringing together great photographers to share images of northeastern Pennsylvania railroading. It is one of the society's major yearly activities. Check lwvrhs.org in the fall for the date, location and any admission details.
What is the Stourbridge Lion connection?
The chapter traces the region's rail heritage to the first movement of the Stourbridge Lion in Honesdale, Pennsylvania in 1829. That run is where the society's story of northeastern Pennsylvania railroading begins, continuing through the anthracite railroads to the lines that still operate today.
What is Laurel Lines?
Laurel Lines is the publication of the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society, edited by Katie Bischak. Its name echoes the Laurel Line, the nickname of the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railroad electric interurban between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Membership details are available through the chapter's website.
How do I join the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society?
Contact the chapter's membership chair, Ken Kertesz, through lwvrhs.org, or come to a monthly meeting on the second Thursday from September to June at the Petro Truck Stop meeting room in Avoca. As a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, it welcomes anyone interested in the region's railroads.
How do I contact the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society?
The chapter's mailing address is 30 Harford Ave, Shavertown, PA 18708, and it lists (570) 344-9728 as a temporary phone number. The website, lwvrhs.org, carries the latest news on excursions, the calendar and meetings, and is the most reliable place to check for updated contact details.
Are the Moscow excursions good for kids?
Yes. The Holiday Express Trains are designed for families, with Santa waiting at the Moscow train station, and summer excursions give kids a real train ride to a historic depot. Monthly meetings are better suited to adults. Check ticket details and age pricing on Steamtown's and the chapter's websites.
Does the chapter hold a picnic?
Yes. Each August, instead of a regular meeting, members gather for the annual picnic at the train station in Moscow, Pennsylvania. The 2026 picnic was announced on the chapter's events page. It is a relaxed way for members and prospective members to spend time at the depots the chapter preserves.
What past trips has the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley chapter run?
The chapter's Looking Back archive includes the Railfest Flyer rail excursion, a Ride the Bloom outing on Saturday, October 5, 2019, a 2018 visit to Moscow, Taylor Memories from 2010, and Leatherstocking NRHS events. These pages give a sense of the variety of trips members enjoy.
How can I donate to the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society?
The chapter raises funds for restoration projects, including its work preserving the Moscow depots. Contact it through lwvrhs.org or at the Shavertown mailing address to ask about donations. Buying the yearly calendar and riding the partner excursions also support the chapter's work.
Who leads the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society?
The chapter's president is Vee A. Pauli, with Ed Fortuna as vice president, Ken Kertesz as secretary and membership chair, Edward J. Zech as treasurer and chairman of the board, Neil Weinberg as historian, and Katie Bischak as editor. A board of directors and a webmaster round out the volunteer team.
What train museums are near Scranton?
Steamtown National Historic Site, the Electric City Trolley Museum and the Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour are all in Scranton, about 15 miles from the chapter's mailing address. Honesdale, home of the Stourbridge Lion replica and the Stourbridge Line, is about 39 miles away, and Jim Thorpe's Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway is about 33 miles.
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