Rockhill Trolley Museum in Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Trolley and streetcar museumTrain ridesTrolley rides Fridays to Sundays, May 1 to October 25, 2026

Pennsylvania's first operating trolley museum, the Rockhill Trolley Museum runs restored streetcars, interurbans and PCC cars on a country line in Rockhill Furnace, and every ride ends with a look inside the carbarn and restoration shop where volunteers keep them going.

  • Pennsylvania's first operating trolley museum
  • Founded in 1960
  • Carbarn and shop tour included
  • Trolleys from Porto and Rio
  • Two PCC cars
  • Next door to the East Broad Top

Rockhill Trolley Museum at a glance

Hours
Fridays to Sundays, 12 pm to 5:15 pm, May 1 to October 25, 2026; departures at 12:45, 2:00, 3:15 and 4:30 pm
Admission
Trolley ticket includes the carbarn and shop tour; see the Hours and Fares page for current prices. Group rate (12 or more): adults $11, ages 2 to 12 $9
Train rides
Round-trip trolley rides of 35 to 45 minutes, Fridays to Sundays in season
Seasonal events
Porto 172 at Williams Grove Fall Fest, Run-A-Trolley
Plan for
About 1.5 hours with the carbarn tour
Best for
Families with young kids and streetcar fans
Best ages
Toddlers to age 12
Parking
See the museum's Campus Map and Parking page
Accessibility
Not all vintage trolleys are accessible; contact the museum ahead and it will try to make arrangements.

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Rockhill 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 Rockhill Furnace.

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.

Volunteers who brought the trolley bell to coal country

The Rockhill Trolley Museum was founded in 1960 and calls itself Pennsylvania's first operating trolley museum. It is owned by Railways to Yesterday, Inc., a nonprofit with its corporate headquarters in Allentown, at the far eastern end of the state, while the museum itself sits in Rockhill Furnace in Huntingdon County, next door to the narrow gauge East Broad Top Railroad.

The museum's purpose is to collect, restore and run trolley, interurban and transit cars, especially those with ties to Pennsylvania. Its roster reads like a map of the state's old streetcar lines, from York, Johnstown, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Lewistown, with a few welcome travelers from Portugal, Brazil and California. Some cars are in regular service, some come out only for special occasions, and several are stored waiting their turn in the shop.

Everything here depends on volunteers. Members run the trolleys, give the carbarn tours, staff the store and spend long hours on restoration. The ride itself carries a bit of local history too: near Cummins Road, the motorman pauses beside the most visible remains of the Rockhill Iron Company and tells the story of the furnaces that gave the town its name.

A country trolley ride and a peek in the carbarn

Your ticket covers a round-trip ride of 35 to 45 minutes on one of the museum's operating trolleys, which can include an open car, high-speed interurban cars, two PCC cars and work cars. Listen for the ting-ting of the bell, the growl of the gears and the ticking of the air compressor as the car rolls through the countryside. After every trip, volunteers lead a tour of the carbarn and shop, where cars waiting for restoration and work in progress are on view.

Before or after your ride, stop at the museum store and the food pavilion. The museum also offers Run-A-Trolley experiences and hosts groups from weddings and reunions to school and scout trips.

Don’t miss

  1. Porto No. 172A 1929 single-truck car from Porto, Portugal, so popular it travels to the Williams Grove Fall Fest near Mechanicsburg in October 2026.
  2. Rio No. 1875A 1912 Brill open car from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, built with open sides instead of closed walls.
  3. York Railways No. 163A rare curved-side Brill car built in 1924 for York, Pennsylvania.
  4. Philadelphia PCC No. 2743A 1947 St. Louis Car Company PCC from the Philadelphia Transportation Company, one of the museum's two streamlined PCC cars.
  5. Johnstown No. 311A 1922 double-truck Birney safety car built by Wason for the Johnstown Traction Company.
  6. San Diego Trolley No. 1019A 1982 Siemens-Duewag U2 light rail car from San Diego, a modern contrast to the century-old cars.

Ring-a-ding rides and a carbarn full of big cars

A 35 to 45 minute trolley ride is about right for young kids, and the open car is a favorite on warm days. The bell, the motorman's controls and the carbarn tour after the ride give children plenty to watch and ask about. Children under 12 need to stay with an adult at all times.

Not every vintage trolley is wheelchair accessible, but the museum says it can make arrangements if you contact it before you go. There is a pavilion for picnics, and the museum asks that no one smoke or vape in its trolleys or buildings.

Plan your visit: tips for Rockhill Trolley Museum

  • Plan around the four departures: 12:45, 2:00, 3:15 and 4:30 pm.
  • Stay for the carbarn and shop tour after your ride; it is included in your ticket.
  • Pair the trolley with a train ride at the East Broad Top next door.
  • Call (814) 447-9576 during museum hours or (610) 428-7200 at other times.
  • Pets are allowed only by special arrangement, so ask before bringing a dog.

Railways to Yesterday and its volunteer crews

The museum is run by volunteer members of Railways to Yesterday, Inc., who operate the cars, guide the tours, staff the store and restore trolleys in the shop. You can help by becoming a member, signing up to volunteer (the museum keeps an online sign-up and requires volunteer clearances), or giving to one of its restoration project funds online or by mail.

Trains and trolleys around the Aughwick Valley

The East Broad Top Railroad is right next door, so a steam train and a trolley fit easily into one day. The Huntingdon County railroad history exhibits are about 18 miles away, and the Horseshoe Curve near Altoona is about 32 miles away. Browse more ideas on our page of Pennsylvania train museums.

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.

Our book's train starts in San Diego, where Rally peers out an arched window at the ocean and greets a white bird. So I was tickled to learn this Pennsylvania museum has a San Diego Trolley car, No. 1019, in its collection, all the way across the country from home. You can read why San Diego means so much to our family 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.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Rockhill 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.

Rockhill Trolley Museum: 20 questions riders ask

Where is the Rockhill Trolley Museum in PA?

The museum is at 430 Meadow Street, Rockhill Furnace, PA 17249, in Huntingdon County in south central Pennsylvania, between Harrisburg and Altoona. It sits next door to the East Broad Top Railroad and close to Raystown Lake. Mail goes to PO Box 203 at the same town.

What are the Rockhill Trolley Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 5:15 pm during the season, which runs from May 1 through October 25, 2026. Trolleys depart at 12:45, 2:00, 3:15 and 4:30 pm. The museum moved to this Friday to Sunday schedule because the East Broad Top runs rail bikes on its line other days.

How much are Rockhill Trolley Museum tickets?

Your trolley ticket includes the ride plus the carbarn and shop tour after every trip. The museum posts current individual fares on its Hours and Fares page and sells tickets online. As of October 2026, group rates for 12 or more on operating days are $11 for adults and $9 for children 2 to 12.

How long is a ride at the Rockhill Trolley Museum?

A trolley ride takes 35 to 45 minutes round trip through the countryside around Rockhill Furnace. Along the way, near Cummins Road, the motorman stops to talk about the Rockhill Iron Company beside the most visible remains of its furnaces. Allow extra time for the carbarn tour that follows each trip.

Is the Rockhill Trolley Museum open in winter?

Regular trolley rides run seasonally. The 2026 season runs from May 1 to October 25, so the museum is not open for regular rides through the winter. Bus tours and school groups can sometimes arrange visits on non-operating days. Call (610) 428-7200 outside museum hours or use the contact form to ask.

What trolleys are in the Rockhill Trolley Museum collection?

The roster includes New Jersey Transit PCC No. 6, York No. 163, Porto Nos. 172 and 249, Johnstown Nos. 311 and 355, San Diego Trolley No. 1019, Rio No. 1875 and Philadelphia PCC No. 2743. Valley Railways No. 12, Lewistown and Reedsville No. 23 and Philadelphia Suburban No. 61 are stored awaiting restoration.

Where can I see the Rockhill Trolley Museum roster?

The full roster is on the Collection page of rockhilltrolley.org, where you can click each car number for its builder, year, former owner and city. The museum notes that some operable cars run only on special occasions, and that much of its work equipment is historic in its own right.

Which trolley will I ride at Rockhill?

That depends on the day. The museum has several operating cars, including an open car, high-speed interurbans, two PCC cars and maintenance cars, and it chooses which run. Some operable equipment is used only on special occasions. If you are hoping for a particular car, call (814) 447-9576 during museum hours to ask.

Is there a carbarn tour at the Rockhill Trolley Museum?

Yes. Carbarn and shop tours are offered after every trolley trip and are included in the price of your ticket. Volunteers show you cars in storage and restoration work in progress, which is a good chance to see equipment that is not running that day and ask questions.

Can I drive a trolley at the Rockhill Trolley Museum?

The museum offers a Run-A-Trolley program, listed under its Visit menu. Details such as price, age requirements and dates are on that page of rockhilltrolley.org. Contact the museum through its website form or call (814) 447-9576 during operating hours to book or ask questions.

Is the Rockhill Trolley Museum good for kids?

Yes. Children love the bell, the motorman's controls and the open car, and a 35 to 45 minute ride suits short attention spans. The carbarn tour gives them a close look at big streetcars. Children under 12 must be with an adult at all times, and the pavilion is handy for a snack break.

Is the Rockhill Trolley Museum wheelchair accessible?

Not all of its vintage trolleys are accessible, but the museum says arrangements can be made. Contact it before your visit so volunteers can try to accommodate your needs. Accessibility arrangements are handled by the operations department, reachable through the website contact form or by phone at (814) 447-9576.

Can I bring my dog to the Rockhill Trolley Museum?

Animals are allowed by special arrangement only, according to the museum's group visit rules. If you hope to bring a dog, contact the museum ahead of time through its website form or by phone at (814) 447-9576 to ask. Smoking, vaping, alcohol and tobacco are not allowed in the trolleys or buildings.

Does the Rockhill Trolley Museum host group visits and parties?

Yes. It welcomes birthdays, weddings, reunions, picnics, scouts, schools, church outings and tour groups. Groups of 12 or more on operating days pay $11 per adult and $9 per child. Non-operating day bus tours are $10 per person with a $300 minimum, and school groups are $5 per person, with reservations required.

Can you charter a trolley at Rockhill?

Yes. Charters of low-powered cars are $100 per hour with a two-hour minimum, and other cars can be custom arranged. Contact the bus group and charter scheduler at (717) 250-0499 or rockhilltrolley@comcast.net, or use the website contact form and choose Bus Tours. An extra fee may apply to reserve the pavilion.

Where is Porto 172 from the Rockhill Trolley Museum running?

Porto No. 172, a 1929 single-truck car from Porto, Portugal, is scheduled to operate at the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association's Fall Fest from October 23 to 25, 2026, at Williams Grove near Mechanicsburg. Schedule details are posted at wghsea.org.

When was the Rockhill Trolley Museum founded?

The museum was founded in 1960 and describes itself as Pennsylvania's first operating trolley museum. It is run by Railways to Yesterday, Inc., whose corporate office is in Allentown. From the start its mission has been to collect, restore and operate trolley, interurban and transit cars, especially those connected to Pennsylvania.

How can I volunteer at the Rockhill Trolley Museum?

Become a member and sign up through the museum's online volunteer system, which lists shifts for regular operating days, special events and other jobs. The museum requires volunteer clearances and has a code of conduct, both linked from its Contribute menu. You can also donate to ongoing restoration projects online or by mail.

How do I contact the Rockhill Trolley Museum?

Call (814) 447-9576 during museum hours, (610) 428-7200 when the museum is closed, or (814) 428-7200 as an alternate weekday line. The website contact form lets you pick a department, such as membership, group sales or the store. Group bookings can also go to rockhilltrolley@comcast.net.

What train attractions are near the Rockhill Trolley Museum?

The East Broad Top Railroad is right next door. Huntingdon County's railroad history exhibits are about 18 miles away, the Everett Railroad about 29 miles, and Altoona's Railroaders Memorial Museum and Horseshoe Curve about 32 miles. The Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site is about 37 miles away.

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