Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society in Lewistown, Pennsylvania

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Lewistown, Pennsylvania · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Rail preservation groupA membership society; meet it through publications, online archives and the annual meeting

The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society is a nonprofit devoted to the collecting, researching, recording and preserving of technical and historical information about the Pennsylvania Railroad and its predecessor companies, and to sharing it with anyone who is interested.

  • Nonprofit founded in 1968
  • Publishes The Keystone
  • The Keystone Modeler for PRR modelers
  • PRR Chronology searchable online
  • 2027 annual meeting in Gettysburg

Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society at a glance

Hours
No public museum hours; online materials open any time
Admission
Membership society; join through prrths.org
Seasonal events
Annual Meeting (May 14 to 16, 2027, Gettysburg), DC Chapter meetings, Virtual meetings
Best for
PRR historians, researchers and model railroaders

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & 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 Lewistown.

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Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Recording everything about the Standard Railroad of the World

The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1968 according to museum directories, with a clear mission: to further learning and interest in the Pennsylvania Railroad and the companies that came before it. Its members collect, research, record and preserve technical, historical and practical information about the PRR's organization, operations, facilities and equipment, and the society works to make that knowledge available to anyone who wants it. Its earlier website carried the motto of preserving the heritage of the Standard Railroad of the World for future generations.

Much of that work happens on paper and on screen. The society publishes The Keystone, its long-running magazine, and The Keystone Modeler for people building PRR layouts and models. It also keeps a Digital Keystone Collection for members and runs chapters, including a DC Chapter, plus virtual meetings.

One of the society's proudest efforts is its home for the work of Chris Baer. Over more than 30 years, Baer compiled a chronology of the Pennsylvania Railroad drawn directly from actual company records: 188 volumes and 18,230 pages, arranged by date with citations, a bibliography and extras such as passenger train names. The society has hosted his chronology on its website since 2004. A 2024 version was presented to the society at an annual meeting in Harrisburg, and after Baer's death in mid-2025 the society put that edition online with a fast search tool across the whole collection.

Where the public can meet the society

There is no museum building to walk through. Instead, the society's collection lives in its publications and online archives. Anyone can start with the PRR Chronology on prrths.org, along with a companion article by Chris Baer describing how he gathered and processed the original PRR documents, first printed in the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society's Railroad History magazine. The tables of contents for each issue of The Keystone are posted online, and The Keystone Modeler is published on the site; its Summer 2026 issue covered models from the annual meeting, lighting Walthers Pennsy tail cars and operations on a PRR Shamokin Branch layout.

The biggest in-person gathering is the annual meeting, which includes a vendor room and model displays. The 2027 meeting is set for May 14 to 16, 2027 at the Eisenhower/Aspire in Gettysburg, moving to a Friday through Sunday schedule so the vendor room can stay open until early Sunday afternoon.

Don’t miss

  1. The PRR Chronology by Chris BaerSome 18,230 pages compiled from original Pennsylvania Railroad records over more than 30 years, now fully searchable on the society's website.
  2. The KeystoneThe society's magazine, mailed to members; the Autumn 2026 issue has gone out, and its table of contents is online.
  3. The Keystone ModelerA publication for PRR modelers with layout, structure and detailing articles, published on the society's website.
  4. The annual meetingA weekend of presentations, models and vendors; the 2027 meeting returns to the Eisenhower/Aspire in Gettysburg.
  5. Salvaging HistoryChris Baer's article on how the original PRR documents behind his chronology were collected and processed, offered as a free download.

For older kids who love the Pennsy

This is a society for researchers, historians and modelers rather than a family attraction, so younger children will get more out of a museum or train ride. Teens who build model railroads may enjoy The Keystone Modeler, and the model displays at the annual meeting can spark ideas for a home layout. The society has noted that some younger members register on-site because work schedules make it hard to plan ahead, and it is surveying members to make meetings easier to attend.

Plan your visit: tips for Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society

  • Start with the free PRR Chronology and its search tool on prrths.org.
  • Save the date for the 2027 annual meeting, May 14 to 16 in Gettysburg, now Friday to Sunday.
  • Use the contact form on prrths.org to reach membership, the store or donations.
  • Members can take the society's online survey about the future of annual meetings.

Officers, editors and members

The society is run by its members and volunteer officers, including president Dave Evans, treasurer and membership coordinator William L. Doering, public relations manager Frank Napoleon and webmaster Kenton E. Zahrt. You can support it by joining, buying from the society store, or making a donation through prrths.org, and members can help shape future annual meetings through the society's survey.

PRR history you can visit in person

From the society's Lewistown address, the Huntingdon County railroad history exhibits are about 24 miles away, and the East Broad Top Railroad and Rockhill Trolley Museum are both about 29 miles. Altoona's PRR landmarks are about 43 miles away. See every train museum in Pennsylvania.

Every train museum in Pennsylvania

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Reading about 18,230 pages of railroad records makes me think of all the train windows those pages describe, and all the faces that looked out of them. In our book Rally gets the best window seat, gazing out an arched window at the ocean and greeting a white bird. My mom dreamed up that view. Her story, and why I finally painted it, is on our story page.

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
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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.

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More for train families

Work or volunteer at Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & 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.

Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society: 20 FAQs

What is the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society?

It is a nonprofit society devoted to the Pennsylvania Railroad and its predecessor companies. Its mission is to encourage the collecting, researching, recording and preserving of technical, historical and practical information about the PRR's organization, operation, facilities and equipment, and to make that information available to interested people.

Is the Pennsylvania Railroad Historical Society the same as the PRRT&HS?

People searching for a Pennsylvania Railroad historical society are usually looking for the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society, often shortened to PRRT&HS. Its website is prrths.org. The society also uses the prrths.net domain for official email, and an older site at prrths.com points visitors to the current website.

When was the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society founded?

Museum directories list the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society as a nonprofit founded in 1968. Since then it has grown into a national society with chapters, publications and an annual meeting, all focused on preserving the history of one of the largest railroads in the United States.

Where is the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society located?

The society lists its official street address as 150 Helen St., Lewistown, PA 17044, and its payment address as P.O. Box 640515, Pittsburgh, PA 15264. It works statewide and beyond, with activity mostly online, through chapters and at its annual meeting rather than at a single public museum.

Does the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society have a museum I can visit?

The society does not post public museum hours. Its collection is shared mainly through The Keystone magazine, The Keystone Modeler, the online PRR Chronology and its Digital Keystone Collection, plus the annual meeting. To see Pennsylvania Railroad equipment in person, visit one of the railroad museums on this site's Pennsylvania page.

How do I join the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society?

Membership is handled through prrths.org, where you can join and pay online. Questions about membership go to the membership coordinator, William L. Doering, through the contact form on the society's website. Members receive The Keystone magazine and access to member resources such as the Digital Keystone Collection.

What is The Keystone magazine?

The Keystone is the society's magazine on Pennsylvania Railroad history, mailed to members. As of October 2026, the Autumn 2026 issue has been mailed, and its table of contents is posted on prrths.org. Past issues are part of the Digital Keystone Collection, which has its own help desk on the society's site.

What is The Keystone Modeler?

The Keystone Modeler, or TKM, is the society's publication for people who model the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Summer 2026 issue featured photos of models from the 2026 annual meeting, adding lighting to Walthers Pennsy tail cars, operations on a PRR Shamokin Branch layout and a telephone exchange building. It is published on prrths.org.

What is the PRR Chronology?

The PRR Chronology is Chris Baer's detailed record of the Pennsylvania Railroad, compiled over more than 30 years from actual company records. It runs to 188 volumes and 18,230 pages, arranged by date with citations and a bibliography, plus extras like passenger train names and an introduction written by Baer himself.

Can I search the PRR Chronology online?

Yes. The society has hosted Chris Baer's chronology on its website since 2004 and now offers his 2024 version online with a fast global search tool. That lets readers run complex text searches across the entire collection at once instead of opening volumes one by one. Start at prrths.org.

Who was Chris Baer?

Chris Baer was the researcher who compiled the PRR Chronology from original Pennsylvania Railroad records over more than 30 years. His 2024 version was presented to the society at an annual meeting in Harrisburg, and he was still working on it when he died in mid-2025. The society also shares his article on how those documents were salvaged.

When is the next PRRT&HS annual meeting?

The 2027 Annual Meeting is scheduled for May 14 to 16, 2027 at the Eisenhower/Aspire in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the same venue as 2026. It moves to a Friday through Sunday schedule, and because the banquet no longer needs the vendor room, vendors can stay open until early Sunday afternoon.

Why is the PRRT&HS surveying members about annual meetings?

The society noticed attendance dropped between 2019 and 2022 and has not recovered, a 2026 survey suggested May may not be the preferred month, and some younger members register on-site because of work conflicts. It is running an online member survey, kept entirely within its own website, to shape future meetings.

Does the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society have chapters?

Yes. The society's event calendar includes chapter events, such as the DC Chapter, which scheduled a business meeting for Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 1 pm at the Paul Schulz House. The calendar also lists virtual meetings and annual meetings, and you can register for events directly on prrths.org.

Is the PRRT&HS good for model railroaders?

Yes. The Keystone Modeler is written for PRR modelers, with articles on detailing, structures and layout operations, and the annual meeting includes model displays that later appear in the publication. Modelers looking for prototype detail can also search the PRR Chronology and Keystone archives.

Is the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society for kids?

It is mainly for adult historians, researchers and modelers, so it is not a family outing in the way a train museum is. Teens who are serious about trains or model building may enjoy The Keystone Modeler and the annual meeting's model displays. Younger kids will have more fun at a Pennsylvania train museum or excursion.

How do I contact the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society?

Use the contact form on prrths.org, which routes messages to general information, the membership coordinator, the webmaster, the store manager or the donations administrator. The society does not list a working public phone number. Mail can go to its Lewistown street address or its Pittsburgh payment address.

Does the PRRT&HS have a store?

Yes. The society lists a store manager, Dave Evans, who also serves as president, and store questions can be sent through the contact form on prrths.org. Publications and other items are sold through the society, and the annual meeting's vendor room is another place to shop for PRR books and models.

How can I donate to the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society?

Donations are handled by the society's donations administrator, William L. Doering, who can be reached through the contact form on prrths.org. As a nonprofit, the society relies on members and donors to keep publishing The Keystone and to support projects like hosting and searching the PRR Chronology.

Where can I see Pennsylvania Railroad history in person?

From the society's Lewistown address, the Huntingdon County railroad history exhibits are about 24 miles away, the East Broad Top Railroad and Rockhill Trolley Museum about 29 miles, and Altoona's Railroaders Memorial Museum and Horseshoe Curve about 43 miles. All have pages on this site.

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