Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, Pennsylvania

Written By Kelsey Cecil

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

Trolley and streetcar museumTrain rides

Born in 1954 when three Pittsburgh trolleys rolled under their own power onto a piece of abandoned interurban track, the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum now cares for more than 50 streetcars and electric railway cars and runs restored ones on its own line north of Washington.

  • First trolley operation in Pennsylvania, 1954
  • More than 50 streetcars
  • Streetcar Named Desire car No. 832
  • 28,000 sq ft Trolley Display Building
  • Seen on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  • Mostly volunteer run

Pennsylvania Trolley Museum at a glance

Hours
Check pa-trolley.org for current hours
Admission
Check pa-trolley.org for current ticket prices
Train rides
Vintage trolley rides on the museum's line, described by travel sites as a four-mile round trip
Seasonal events
Santa trolley rides, Bunny Trolley, Pumpkin Patch Trolley, Washington County Fair trolley shuttle
Plan for
About 2 hours
Best for
Families with young kids, Pittsburgh-area history fans
Best ages
Toddlers to age 12

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 Trolley Museum? 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 Washington.

Page 1 of 8

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

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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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.

Three Pittsburgh trolleys and a stretch of abandoned track

The museum grew out of a group of Pittsburgh electric railway fans who, in 1949, bought a small four-wheel Pittsburgh Railways car, M-1. Pittsburgh Railways stored it for them at its Ingram Car House, along with Pittsburgh Railways 3756 and West Penn Railways 832. When the interurban line from Pittsburgh to Washington was abandoned in 1953, the club bought 2,000 feet of it in Chartiers Township, next to the old County Home stop. On February 7, 1954, the three trolleys ran to the new site under their own power, the first trolley museum operation in Pennsylvania.

After years of restoration and building a power station and carbarn, the site opened to the public in June 1963 as the Arden Trolley Museum. Volunteers kept building. Between 1979 and 1995 they laid a new mile of track along an old Pennsylvania Railroad branch to the Arden Mines, adding stations at the County Fairground and a loop at Arden. In 2004 they extended the original line to a second loop at McClane School, so single-ended cars could run continuously.

That same September, flooding from Hurricane Ivan badly damaged the museum, and volunteers repaired it. The 28,000-square-foot Trolley Display Building opened in May 2005 to keep about 30 cars indoors and out of the weather. In November 2023 the museum opened its Welcome and Education Center on Electric Way, with interactive exhibits, a theater, meeting rooms and a gift shop. Through it all, the restoration work has been carried mostly by volunteers.

A trolley ride, a car barn and a hall full of streetcars

Most visits begin at the Welcome and Education Center, with its interactive exhibits and gift shop, and include a ride on a restored trolley over part of the old Pittsburgh to Washington interurban route. Travel sites describe the ride as a four-mile round trip, and the museum is known for a trolley simulator among its newer exhibits.

The collection spans more than 50 cars: passenger streetcars, freight and maintenance cars, a few railroad locomotives and historic trolley waiting shelters. Most come from Pennsylvania, with others from Toledo, New Orleans and even an open-sided car from Brazil. Cars that are waiting for restoration, or that do not fit the museum's 5-foot 2.5-inch Pennsylvania trolley gauge, are displayed in the Trolley Display Building, including a J.G. Brill Brilliner and an early Pittsburgh horse car.

Don’t miss

  1. New Orleans streetcar No. 832Built by Perley Thomas in 1923, it ran on lines including Desire, made famous by A Streetcar Named Desire, and appeared in Life magazine in December 1947.
  2. Pittsburgh Railways M-1The little four-wheel car the founders bought in 1949, the very start of the collection.
  3. Philadelphia streetcar No. 5326Fred Rogers rode and operated this car when Mister Rogers' Neighborhood filmed at the museum in 1984.
  4. The Terrible TrolleyAdded in 2023 to celebrate the Pittsburgh Steelers, former PCC No. 1713 is set to wear the team's black and gold.
  5. J.G. Brill BrillinerBrill's answer to the PCC streetcar, one of the rarer cars on view in the Trolley Display Building.
  6. Pittsburgh Railways No. 4393The car that carried the last paying passengers on the Pittsburgh to Washington interurban line before it was torn up.

Mister Rogers' trolley museum

Families who grew up with Mister Rogers' Neighborhood may love knowing that Fred Rogers rode and ran a streetcar here in a 1984 episode. For kids today, the draw is the ride itself, plus the interactive exhibits and trolley simulator in the Welcome and Education Center and rows of big streetcars in the display building. The museum frames much of its programming around STEAM learning (science, technology, engineering, art and math).

Seasonal trolleys are built for young families: a Santa ride at Christmas, the Bunny Trolley at Easter and the Pumpkin Patch Trolley in fall. Hours and fares change by season, so check the museum's website before you go.

Plan your visit: tips for Pennsylvania Trolley Museum

  • Use 1 Electric Way, the newer Welcome and Education Center, in your GPS rather than the old Museum Road visitor center.
  • The museum is about 28 miles south of Pittsburgh and 3 miles north of Washington, close to I-70 and I-79.
  • Watch the website for dates of the Christmas, Easter and fall trolleys.
  • Call (724) 228-9256 to confirm hours, especially in winter.

The museum's holiday rides started with a Santa trip at Christmas, when Santa Claus joins riders on the trolley, and grew to include the Bunny Trolley at Easter and the Pumpkin Patch Trolley in the fall. Every year it also shuttles visitors by trolley from parking lots to the Washington County Fair. For more seasonal ideas, see our lists of Christmas train rides in Pennsylvania and fall and Halloween train rides in Pennsylvania.

Seventy years of volunteer restoration

From the club members who bought the first car in 1949 to the crews who laid a mile of new track by hand, this museum has been built largely by volunteers, and they still do most of its restoration work. The museum's stated mission is to tell the story of Pennsylvania's trolley era through preserving, interpreting and running its collection. Visitors help by riding, shopping in the gift shop, joining as members or volunteering; call (724) 228-9256 to learn how.

More rail history around Pittsburgh

About 21 miles away, the Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railway historical collection covers another regional line, and the Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical Society is about 22 miles away. Model train fans can head to the Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum in Gibsonia, about 32 miles north. See the full list of train and trolley museums in Pennsylvania.

Every train museum in Pennsylvania

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Old trolleys have tall steps up from the street, and I can picture small riders here reaching for a grown-up's hand. In our book, Rally has the same trouble: his short corgi legs cannot manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. If your kids like Rally, they can color him and his train with our free coloring pages.

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.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?

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 Trolley Museum: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?

The museum's Welcome and Education Center is at 1 Electric Way, Washington, PA 15301. The museum says it is about 28 miles south of Pittsburgh and 3 miles north of the city of Washington, convenient to both I-70 and I-79 and about four miles from the Meadows Racetrack and Casino and Tanger Outlets.

What are the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum hours?

The museum's schedule changes by season and for special events, so this page does not list fixed hours. Check the Plan Your Visit page at pa-trolley.org or call (724) 228-9256 before you go, especially for winter visits or holiday weekends.

How much are Pennsylvania Trolley Museum tickets?

Ticket prices can change, so this page does not list them. Special events such as the Christmas trolley may be ticketed separately, so check the event page too. See pa-trolley.org for current prices and online tickets, or call (724) 228-9256.

Are there Pennsylvania Trolley Museum ticket discounts?

The museum does not advertise standing discounts in its public listings. The museum runs educational programs for students, educators and lifelong learners, so it is worth asking about group or school rates. Call (724) 228-9256 or check pa-trolley.org for any current offers.

Can you ride a trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?

Yes. Riding a restored vintage streetcar is the heart of a visit. The museum runs its cars on part of the old Pittsburgh to Washington interurban route plus track volunteers laid toward Arden Mines, with loops at both ends. Travel listings describe the ride as a four-mile round trip.

What is in the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum collection?

The museum holds more than 50 streetcars and electric railway vehicles, including passenger, freight and maintenance cars, a few railroad locomotives and historic trolley shelters. Most are from Pennsylvania, with others from Toledo, New Orleans and Brazil. About 30 are displayed indoors in the 28,000-square-foot Trolley Display Building.

Does the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum have the Streetcar Named Desire?

It has New Orleans streetcar No. 832, built by the Perley Thomas Company in 1923, which ran on several New Orleans lines including Desire, the line made famous by Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. The car was pictured in the December 15, 1947 issue of Life magazine when the play opened on Broadway.

Was the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood?

Yes. In a 1984 episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Fred Rogers visited the museum, rode Philadelphia streetcar No. 5326 and even operated it. The episode is a favorite connection for families from the Pittsburgh area, where the show was made.

What upcoming events does the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum have?

Recurring events include a Santa trolley at Christmas, the Bunny Trolley at Easter, the Pumpkin Patch Trolley in fall, and trolley shuttles to the Washington County Fair. Dates and tickets for the current season are posted on pa-trolley.org, so check there for the upcoming calendar.

Does the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum do Christmas rides?

Yes. During the Christmas season the museum runs a special trolley ride that includes a visit from Santa Claus. It was the first of the museum's holiday events and remains a family favorite. Check pa-trolley.org in the fall for dates and tickets, as holiday rides can fill up.

Can you have a wedding at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?

The museum does not advertise wedding packages in its public listings. The newer Welcome and Education Center does include theater space and meeting rooms, so it is worth asking about private events and rentals. Call (724) 228-9256 or check pa-trolley.org for current options.

Who owns the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?

The museum grew from a club of electric railway enthusiasts formed by members of the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, and it has been built and restored through a mostly volunteer effort ever since. The museum, rather than a private owner, operates the site, with a mission of telling the story of Pennsylvania's trolley era.

When was the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum founded?

There are a few milestone dates. The enthusiasts' club formed in 1946, bought its first car in 1949 and bought its track in 1953, which the museum cites as its founding year. Three trolleys arrived on February 7, 1954, and the site opened to the public as the Arden Trolley Museum in June 1963.

What is the Welcome and Education Center at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?

It is the museum's newest building, opened in November 2023 on Electric Way, about half a mile from the old visitor center and car barns on Museum Road. It houses interactive exhibits, a theater, meeting rooms, restrooms and the gift shop, and is the place to start your visit.

Is the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum good for toddlers?

Yes, it is well suited to young kids. A trolley ride is short and exciting, the display building puts big streetcars at eye level, and the Welcome and Education Center has interactive exhibits and a trolley simulator. Seasonal Santa, Bunny and Pumpkin Patch trolleys are designed with little ones in mind.

How long should I spend at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?

Plan on about two hours to ride the trolley, explore the Welcome and Education Center and walk through the Trolley Display Building. Rail fans who want to study every car can stay longer. The museum's location near I-70 and I-79 makes it easy to add to a day trip from Pittsburgh.

Is there a gift shop at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?

Yes. The gift shop is in the Welcome and Education Center on Electric Way, which opened in November 2023. It is a good stop for trolley-themed gifts for young riders. Purchases support the museum's mostly volunteer preservation and restoration work.

What is the Terrible Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?

The Terrible Trolley was added in 2023 to celebrate the success of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Former PCC streetcar No. 1713 is to be painted in the team's black and gold colors. Ask at the museum whether it is on display or running during your visit.

Was the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum damaged by flooding?

Yes. In September 2004, floodwaters from Hurricane Ivan caused substantial damage around the museum. It has since been repaired, and the large Trolley Display Building opened the following May, in 2005, helping protect much of the collection from the elements.

What train museums are near the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?

The Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railway historical collection is about 21 miles away, the Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical Society about 22 miles, and the Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum in Gibsonia about 32 miles. The Kiski Junction Railroad in Schenley is about 45 miles away.

Keep exploring

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Kelsey Cecil
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