Train Museums in Pennsylvania: Every Railroad Museum by Town
- 45 museums
- 33 towns
- 22 with train rides
- 1 free
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Pennsylvania holds Staple Bend, the first railroad tunnel in the United States, built for the Allegheny Portage Railroad, and a short drive away freight trains still swing around the 1854 Horseshoe Curve. This page gathers 45 museums, heritage railroads, rail parks and preservation groups across more than 30 towns, and it is one stop in our state by state guide to train museums. Type your town into the finder to see what is closest.
Families tend to start in Lancaster County, where Strasburg puts a steam railroad, the state railroad museum, a toy train museum and a model layout within a mile of each other. Scranton adds a National Park site in a real railyard plus a trolley ride through a tunnel nearly a mile long, and Altoona tells the story of the people who built and ran the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Below you will find quick picks, a map, a card for every museum, rough drive times from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, day trip pairings and notes for parents. Hours and fares change often, so check each museum page before you load the car.
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Quick picks: where to start in Pennsylvania
Best first visit with a toddler
Strasburg
Seventeen trains and more than 180 animated scenes fill one barn, and about an hour is enough for little legs.
Biggest collection
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Strasburg
More than 100 locomotives and cars sit indoors and out, with Stewart Junction for hands-on play and a 1915 street scene.
Best steam train ride
Strasburg
A narrated 45-minute round trip to Paradise behind steam, with open air cars where kids can hear the whistle up close.
Most to climb aboard
Steamtown National Historic Site
Scranton
Kids can walk through a mail car and cabooses, watch the turntable and see Big Boy No. 4012 in a working roundhouse.
Free village with a cheap ride
Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage Village
Muddy Creek Forks
Village admission is free, and the motorcar ride on the original Ma & Pa main line is $10 for adults on summer Sundays.
Best trolley ride near Pittsburgh
Washington
Ride a restored streetcar on a piece of the old Pittsburgh to Washington interurban line, then see about 30 trolleys indoors.
Rail fan road trip stop
Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark
Altoona
A funicular climbs to an overlook where freight trains bend around an 1854 curve that is still a busy main line.
Every train museum in Pennsylvania, town by town
45 museums in 33 towns, A to Z by town. Tap any museum for its own page: the full story, what to see, what kids can do, hours, tickets, contact details and 20 answers to the questions families ask.
Altoona: 3 train museums
Railroad City pairs the Railroaders Memorial Museum with the Horseshoe Curve on a combo ticket, while the Altoona Works shops are still rebuilding locomotives today.
Historic rail site
Altoona Works
The Pennsylvania Railroad's huge shop complex, once called the Standard Railroad Shops of the World. Its Juniata Shops still rebuild and repaint locomotives today. For exhibits, start at the Railroaders Memorial Museum nearby.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHistoric rail site
Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark
Watch trains bend around the famous 1854 Horseshoe Curve from an overlook reached by funicular or stairs, with a small museum, films and gift shop below. Open April to October, Wednesday to Sunday; train rides are not offered here.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRailroad museum
Railroaders Memorial Museum
A museum about the people of Railroad City, set in the Pennsylvania Railroad's 1882 Master Mechanic's Building, with life-size dioramas, films and a roundhouse holding K4 No. 1361. Combo tickets add the Horseshoe Curve; closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsBoyertown
Heritage railroad with a museum
Colebrookdale Railroad
A nonprofit railroad running restored Edwardian-era cars on the Secret Valley Line out of Boyertown. Rides range from one-hour cider and Santa trains to two-hour dining trips. Park at 64 South Washington Street.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCollegeville
Rail preservation group
Pennsylvania Live Steamers
An all-volunteer live steam club, founded in 1946, with thousands of feet of ridable miniature track in Collegeville. There are no public run days: rides are for members and their guests, and associate memberships are available.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsDerry
Outdoor rail park
Derry Station Railroad Heritage Park
A small outdoor park in Derry that preserves the borough's railroad history with a railroad display and artifacts. Its big day is Derry Railroad Days each September; hours are not posted, so plan a short stop.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsEnola
Rail preservation group
Historical Society of East Pennsboro
An all-volunteer local history museum at 51 Miller Street in Enola, open Tuesdays and Thursdays, with second Saturday tours of the museum and the Enola Miller House. Railroad history is part of the township story it tells.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsGallitzin: 2 train museums
The Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and the Gallitzin Tunnels Park are about 2 miles apart, one telling the canal era story and the other showing today's main line trains.
Historic rail site
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
A National Park Service site near Gallitzin that tells how canal boats were hauled over the Allegheny Mountains on inclined planes. Start at the Summit Level Visitor Center, then walk about a third of a mile to Engine House No. 6 and the Lemon House.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsOutdoor rail park
Gallitzin Tunnels Park & Museum
Watch Norfolk Southern main line trains roll through the Gallitzin Tunnels, then climb into a restored 1942 Pennsylvania Railroad N5C caboose. The volunteer-staffed museum across the street adds exhibits, a theater and a gift shop, open Tuesday to Sunday.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsGibsonia
Model railroad museum
Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum
A nonprofit model railroad museum north of Pittsburgh whose main exhibit is a 40 by 100 foot HO scale layout of the Pittsburgh to Cumberland rail line, set in 1950s western Pennsylvania. Check wpmrm.org for open dates.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHamburg
Railroad museum
Reading Railroad Heritage Museum
More than 70 Reading Railroad locomotives and cars, including the first production GP30, shown on docent-led yard tours. Open Saturdays and Sundays, closed January 15 to March 1, with holiday model trains each winter.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHollidaysburg
Heritage railroad with a museum
Everett Railroad
A working freight railroad that runs steam and diesel excursions from its Hollidaysburg station, behind 1920 Mogul No. 11. Choose from ice cream and sunset rides in summer, pumpkin and foliage trains in fall, and the Santa Express.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHonesdale: 2 train museums
The Wayne County Historical Society tells the Stourbridge Lion story, and the Stourbridge Line runs excursion trains along the Lackawaxen River about a mile away.
Heritage railroad with a museum
The Stourbridge Line
Excursion trains along the Lackawaxen River from Honesdale and Hawley, with fall foliage rides, dinner and lunch trains and other themed trips on former Erie track. Check which station your ride leaves from before you book.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMuseum with a major rail exhibit
Wayne County Historical Society
The museum in Honesdale where the Stourbridge Lion story lives: a full-size replica of America's first locomotive on commercial track, a carved D&H gravity car and canal exhibits, all in the 1860 canal company office. Adults $5; 18 and under free.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHuntingdon
Historic rail site
Huntingdon County Railroad History Exhibits
A guide to rail history around Huntingdon: the Historical Society on 4th Street, its reported transportation museum in the Hunt Railroad Tower, and the Pennsylvania Railroad's 1850 arrival down Allegheny Street. Call (814) 643-5449 before visiting.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsJim Thorpe
Heritage railroad with a museum
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
Narrated round trips from downtown Jim Thorpe into Lehigh Gorge State Park, with seats ranging from open air cars to a Vista dome. Arrive an hour early: parking is run by Carbon County, and same-day tickets are sold only at the booth.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsKempton
Heritage railroad with a museum
Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad
Forty-minute round trips on a former Reading branch line, with a Reading caboose, an open car, a picnic stop at Fuhrman's Grove and a station full of old Reading depots. Sundays May to early November, plus pumpkin, dog and Santa trains.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsLewistown
Rail preservation group
Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society
A nonprofit society for Pennsylvania Railroad history, best known for The Keystone magazine, The Keystone Modeler and Chris Baer's searchable PRR Chronology online. It has no public museum hours; members meet at an annual meeting and chapter events.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMechanicsburg
Heritage railroad with a museum
Williams Grove Railroad
Ride behind Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotive 643, which turned 125 in 2026, on the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association grounds. Trains run during the association's shows and on the December Christmas Train with Santa.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMiddletown
Heritage railroad with a museum
Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad
A working freight shortline that runs the Milk & Honey Express: a narrated, one-hour, 11-mile round trip along Swatara Creek in 1920s Lackawanna coaches, boarding at an 1891 station with a gift shop and ADA restrooms.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMuddy Creek Forks
Heritage railroad with a museum
Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage Village
A preserved 1900s railroad village in York County with motorcar train rides on the original Ma & Pa main line, a general store with its own station and post office, and a working 1900 rope elevator. Village admission is free; train tickets are $10 for adults.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsNew Freedom
Heritage railroad with a museum
Northern Central Railway of York
A Civil War themed railroad in New Freedom with a replica 1860s steam engine, No. 17, plus vintage diesels. Trips of 1 to 4 hours run to Glen Rock, Hanover Junction and Howard Tunnel, with themed rides most weekends.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsNew Hope
Heritage railroad with a museum
New Hope Railroad
Narrated heritage train rides behind a 1925 Baldwin steam locomotive or vintage diesels, leaving from the 1891 Witch's Hat station in downtown New Hope. Rail bikes, private charters and seasonal trains too; check posted dates before you go.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsNorth East
Railroad museum
Lake Shore Railway Historical Society Museum
An all-volunteer museum at the old New York Central depot in North East, with rare GE-built locomotives and a front-row view of CSX freight trains. Admission is by donation, and the grounds are open year-round from dawn to dusk.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsPittsburgh
Rail preservation group
Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway historical collection
Not a museum you can walk into, but the surviving record of the P&WV, a railroad born from George J. Gould's Wabash plans. Its signal drawings sit in a Smithsonian archive, and its history is well documented online.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsPort Clinton
Heritage railroad with a museum
Reading & Northern Railroad
A working freight railroad that also runs day trips: board at Reading, Port Clinton or Tamaqua, ride Rail Diesel Cars to Jim Thorpe, explore town for hours, then ride back. Steam and fall foliage trains are listed separately.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsPortage
Depot museum
Portage Station Museum
The Portage Area Historical Society runs this museum in the town's former train station, with the original ticket office, two floors of railroad and mining artifacts and a film on the 1940 Sonman Mine explosion. Check Facebook for hours.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRockhill Furnace: 2 train museums
The East Broad Top's narrow gauge steam trains and the Rockhill Trolley Museum share the same small town, so one trip can include two very different rides.
Heritage railroad with a museum
East Broad Top Railroad
America's oldest narrow gauge railroad, a National Historic Landmark in Rockhill Furnace, runs one-hour steam train rides through the Aughwick Valley and guided tours of its 1882 roundhouse and belt-driven machine shop. Christmas In Coal Country and the Pumpkin Patch Express are family favorites.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsTrolley and streetcar museum
Rockhill Trolley Museum
Ride a real trolley through the countryside in Rockhill Furnace, then tour the carbarn and shop, all on one ticket. Rides run 35 to 45 minutes on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from May through late October, right next to the East Broad Top.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsSchenley
Heritage railroad with a museumClosed
Kiski Junction Railroad
A former 6-mile shortline at Schenley, on a route first built in the 1850s, that once ran seasonal tourist trains along the Kiskiminetas River. It no longer operates, so this page is a history of what it was.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsScranton: 4 train museums
Steamtown, the Electric City Trolley Museum and the Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour are all on or beside the old DL&W yards and McDade Park. A trolley ride from the Steamtown platform links the two rail museums.
Trolley and streetcar museum
Electric City Trolley Museum
A trolley museum on the Steamtown grounds in Scranton, with exhibits in a restored mill building and vintage trolley rides over the Laurel Line, through the 4,747-foot Crown Avenue Tunnel. The museum is open daily April to December.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRail preservation group
Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society
A volunteer NRHS chapter founded in 1973 that preserves the former DL&W depots at Moscow, publishes a rail calendar every year, and partners with Steamtown on excursions, including the Holiday Express Trains to Moscow with Santa.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMuseum with a major rail exhibit
Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour
An hour-long guided tour 300 feet underground in a restored 1860 anthracite mine beneath McDade Park, plus mining exhibits in the Hoist House Museum. It runs seasonally from early spring to late fall, and the mine stays 53 degrees, so bring a jacket.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHistoric rail site
Steamtown National Historic Site
A National Park site in a real Scranton railyard, with a working roundhouse and turntable, Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4012 and cars you can walk through. Short yard train rides run on fall weekends, plus longer excursions and holiday trains.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsStewartstown
Heritage railroad with a museum
Stewartstown Railroad
A 7.4-mile short line chartered in 1884 and run by volunteers, with themed train rides from Easter to Christmas, holiday trains like the Candy Cane Express, and a chance to drive a 1946 GE locomotive. Buy tickets online for each event.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsStrasburg: 4 train museums
Four of the state's most family friendly stops sit within about a mile of each other on and near Route 741: the Strasburg Rail Road, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the National Toy Train Museum and the Choo Choo Barn. Many families plan a full day or a weekend here.
Model railroad museum
Choo Choo Barn
A family-built model train layout on Route 741, with 17 operating trains and more than 180 hand-built animated scenes of Lancaster County. Open daily 10 am to 5 pm; adults $12, kids 3 to 11 $8, and 2 and under free.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsModel railroad museum
National Toy Train Museum
The Train Collectors Association's museum near Strasburg, with seven operating layouts in G, Standard, O, S and HO gauges plus LEGO, and trains you can run yourself. Kids under 4 are free, and adult tickets are $8.50.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRailroad museum
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
The state's own railroad museum, across Route 741 from the Strasburg Rail Road, with more than 100 locomotives and cars indoors and out, a 1915 street scene and Stewart Junction for kids. Open Wednesday to Sunday; adult tickets are $10.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHeritage railroad with a museum
Strasburg Rail Road
A real steam railroad chartered in 1832, running narrated 45-minute rides through Amish farmland in Coach, Open Air, First Class or the Dining Car. Families add Thomas, Santa trains, the miniature Pint-Sized Pufferbelly and a picnic at Paradise.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsTitusville
Heritage railroad with a museum
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
A three-hour, 27-mile ride from Titusville's Perry Street Station through Oil Creek State Park, with an open gondola car, a first class Wabash Cannonball car, and a working Railway Post Office where you can mail postcards.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsWashington
Trolley and streetcar museum
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Ride a restored streetcar on a former Pittsburgh interurban line, then walk through a display building with about 30 trolleys, including New Orleans car No. 832 from the Desire line. A new Welcome and Education Center opened in 2023.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsWest Chester
Heritage railroad with a museum
West Chester Railroad
Volunteer-run train rides from Market Street in West Chester to the 1880s Glen Mills station and back, about 90 minutes with a picnic grove stop. Fall, Halloween, Santa and cut-your-own Christmas tree trains fill the calendar.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsWest Pittsburg
Rail preservation group
Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical Society
A nonprofit rail preservation group in Lawrence County with a working 1957 GE 50-ton locomotive and B&O and Pennsylvania Railroad N5C cabooses. No public hours are posted, so call (724) 581-5560 before you go.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsStatewide and regional groups: 2 train museums
Rail preservation group
Erie Lackawanna Railroad Historical Society
A historical society devoted to the DL&W, the Erie and the Erie Lackawanna, with an archive building in Avoca, New York and a website built as a research tool. There is no public museum; follow the society online for news.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRail preservation group
Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society
A historical society devoted to the Lehigh Valley Railroad, the anthracite carrier that grew from Pennsylvania's coal fields into a line from Jersey City to Buffalo. Its station museum is in Shortsville, New York; check its website for hours.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCompare every Pennsylvania train museum side by side
Type, train rides, admission, hours and who each one suits, in one table. Tap a column to sort it, or a museum to open its page.
| Hours | Best for | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona WorksAltoona | Historic site | No | Not posted for the shops; see the Railroaders Memorial Museum | Active shop; check the Railroaders Memorial Museum for visiting hours | Pennsylvania Railroad history fans and rail photographers |
| Horseshoe Curve National Historic LandmarkAltoona | Historic site | No | Tickets sold online; rates are discounted when the funicular and UTV are unavailable. Combo ticket with the Railroaders Memorial Museum | Open Wednesday to Sunday from April to October; closed Mondays, Tuesdays, federal holidays and November to April. Check Facebook or Google for daily hours; admission stops 45 minutes before closing | Train watchers, photographers and families |
| Railroaders Memorial MuseumAltoona | Railroad museum | No | Tickets sold online; combo ticket with the Horseshoe Curve when both sites are open. See railroadcity.org for prices | Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and federal holidays, and from a few days before Christmas to a few days after New Year's; check Facebook or Google for current hours. Admission stops 30 minutes before closing | History lovers and families with railroad roots |
| Colebrookdale RailroadBoyertown | Heritage railroad | Yes | Varies by excursion; Autumn Cider and Donuts Express from $50, Santa's Polar Bear Express from $55 | Excursion times vary; office Monday to Friday (phones 9 am to 4 pm) | Families, couples and anyone who loves restored passenger cars |
| Pennsylvania Live SteamersCollegeville | Preservation group | Yes | Not open to the public; associate memberships available | No public hours; run days are for members and guests | Live steam hobbyists and families connected to a member |
| Derry Station Railroad Heritage ParkDerry | Rail park | No | No admission prices are posted online | Not posted online; an outdoor park, so confirm locally before a special trip | A quick outdoor stop and the September festival |
| Historical Society of East PennsboroEnola | Preservation group | No | Not posted online; call (717) 732-5801 | Tuesday and Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm; second Saturday of each month, 10 am to 2 pm for tours | Local history fans and anyone with roots in Enola |
| Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic SiteGallitzin | Historic site | No | Not posted with the park hours; check nps.gov/alpo | Engine House No. 6: Friday to Tuesday, 9 am to 5 pm (closed Wednesday and Thursday) | History-minded families, hikers and engineering fans |
| Gallitzin Tunnels Park & MuseumGallitzin | Rail park | No | Not posted online; check gallitzin.info | Museum and caboose open Tuesday to Sunday; check times before you go | Train-watching families and rail fans |
| Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad MuseumGibsonia | Model trains | No | Tickets sold at the station; current prices are on wpmrm.org | Open dates vary; check wpmrm.org before you go | Model train fans and families who like watching trains run |
| Reading Railroad Heritage MuseumHamburg | Railroad museum | No | Adults $9, seniors 65+ $8, ages 5 to 12 $3, 4 and under free, members free | Saturdays 10 am to 4 pm, Sundays noon to 4 pm; closed January 15 to March 1 | Rail fans and families with school-age kids |
| Everett RailroadHollidaysburg | Heritage railroad | Yes | Varies by excursion and seating; see the booking page | Station opens 1 hour before the first train; office Monday to Friday, 7 am to 4 pm | Families and steam fans visiting the Altoona area |
| The Stourbridge LineHonesdale | Heritage railroad | Yes | Ticket prices vary by excursion; book online | Scheduled excursions only; see the railroad's calendar | Families, couples and leaf peepers |
| Wayne County Historical SocietyHonesdale | Rail gallery | No | Adults $5; 18 and under free; members free | May to December: Wednesday to Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm. January to April: Friday and Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. | Families, rail and canal history fans, genealogists |
| Huntingdon County Railroad History ExhibitsHuntingdon | Historic site | No | Not posted; call (814) 643-5449 | Historical Society: Wednesday 10 am to 4 pm or by appointment; call for Hunt Tower hours | Local and railroad history fans exploring the county |
| Lehigh Gorge Scenic RailwayJim Thorpe | Heritage railroad | Yes | Standard Coach adults $25, kids 3 to 12 $9; Open Air $28 and $10; 2 and under free | Trains daily in fall 2026; office 8:30 am to 5 pm daily | Families with young kids and anyone wanting a scenic ride |
| Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern RailroadKempton | Heritage railroad | Yes | Regular fares posted on the railroad's website; Pumpkin Patch Train $18 for ages 3 and up, $2 for 2 and under | Sundays, May through the first Sunday in November; special event trains on posted dates | Families with toddlers and young kids |
| Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical SocietyLewistown | Preservation group | No | Membership society; join through prrths.org | No public museum hours; online materials open any time | PRR historians, researchers and model railroaders |
| Williams Grove RailroadMechanicsburg | Heritage railroad | Yes | Prices vary by event; check wghsea.org | Trains run on event dates; check wghsea.org for the schedule | Steam fans and families looking for a holiday train |
| Middletown & Hummelstown RailroadMiddletown | Heritage railroad | Yes | Fares are listed on the railroad's schedule page; tickets online or by phone (Visa, MasterCard) | Train times are on the railroad's 2026 schedule and brochure | Families and anyone interested in canal and railroad history |
| Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage VillageMuddy Creek Forks | Heritage railroad | Yes | Village free; train tickets $10 adults, $7 children, under 3 free ($1 online handling fee) | Sundays June through Labor Day, 1 pm to 5 pm (last train 4:15 pm), plus special event days; grounds open year-round for self-guided walking tours | Families with young kids and rail history fans |
| Northern Central Railway of YorkNew Freedom | Heritage railroad | Yes | Varies by excursion; see the railroad's ticket page | Excursions most weekends; departure times on the event calendar | Families, Civil War and Lincoln history fans |
| New Hope RailroadNew Hope | Heritage railroad | Yes | Varies by train and season; check the railroad's website for current fares | Varies by excursion; check the railroad's website for today's schedule | Families and steam fans visiting Bucks County |
| Lake Shore Railway Historical Society MuseumNorth East | Railroad museum | No | By donation at the door | Museum 12 pm to 4 pm: weekends May to mid-June, Friday to Sunday mid-June to Labor Day, weekends Labor Day to November 1. Grounds open daylight to dusk year-round. | Rail fans, train watchers and families on a Lake Erie road trip |
| Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway historical collectionPittsburgh | Preservation group | No | Not applicable | No public visitor site; archive access varies | Researchers and rail history readers |
| Reading & Northern RailroadPort Clinton | Heritage railroad | Yes | Round trip from $24 (Tamaqua) to $39 (Reading, Port Clinton, Pittston) | Reading departures 9 am, return by about 6:05 pm; office 8:30 am to 5 pm daily | Families and rail fans who want a train ride plus a day in Jim Thorpe |
| Portage Station MuseumPortage | Depot museum | No | Not posted online; ask the historical society | Not posted online; check the Facebook page | Local history fans and rail fans |
| East Broad Top RailroadRockhill Furnace | Heritage railroad | Yes | Ticketed by experience. Event train fares seen: adult (13+) $25, child (2 to 12) $15, caboose $30 and $20 | Train departures vary by season; regular rides Wednesday and Thursday through October 29, 2026 at 10:30 am, 12 pm and 1:30 pm, with event trains on other dates | Families, steam fans and anyone curious about industrial history |
| Rockhill Trolley MuseumRockhill Furnace | Trolley museum | Yes | 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 | 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 | Families with young kids and streetcar fans |
| Electric City Trolley MuseumScranton | Trolley museum | Yes | See the route map and rate page on ectma.org or call (570) 963-6590 | April to December: daily 9 am to 4 pm. January to April 8, 2027: Wednesday to Sunday 9 am to 4 pm, closed Monday and Tuesday | Families pairing a trolley ride with Steamtown |
| Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical SocietyScranton | Preservation group | Yes | Excursion fares and event prices are posted on lwvrhs.org | No public hours; monthly meetings September to June, second Thursday at 7 pm | Rail fans, photographers and families riding the Moscow excursions |
| Lackawanna County Coal Mine TourScranton | Rail gallery | No | Not clearly posted; check with Lackawanna County before you go | Seasonal, early spring to late fall; ticket office opens 10 am; check the county website for current days | Families with school-age kids and history fans |
| Steamtown National Historic SiteScranton | Historic site | Yes | Check the Basic Information page on nps.gov/stea for fees and passes | May 1 to November 15, 2026: daily 9:30 am to 5 pm. November 16, 2026 to April 30, 2027: Wednesday to Sunday 9:30 am to 4 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. | Families with kids who like to climb aboard, and steam fans |
| Erie Lackawanna Railroad Historical SocietyStatewide and regional groups | Preservation group | No | Not a public museum; membership details on erielackhs.org | No public hours posted | Erie Lackawanna and DL&W researchers and fans |
| Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical SocietyStatewide and regional groups | Preservation group | No | Check lvrrhs.org | Check lvrrhs.org for station museum hours | Lehigh Valley Railroad fans and historians |
| Stewartstown RailroadStewartstown | Heritage railroad | Yes | Varies by event; recent fares range from about $15 to $67, with HOTT Seat at $277 | Event trains on select dates; see the online events calendar | Families with young kids and short line fans |
| Choo Choo BarnStrasburg | Model trains | No | Adults (12+) $12, kids (3 to 11) $8, 2 and under free; 2-day pass $18 and $12; military $10 | Monday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm; closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day | Families with young kids and model railroaders |
| National Toy Train MuseumStrasburg | Model trains | No | Adults (12 to 64) $8.50, seniors (65+) $8, ages 4 to 11 $5.50, under 4 free, military $7.50; family ticket $25 | Open every day through January 19, 2027, except Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas; typically 10 am to 5 pm. Reopens for 2027 on February 13 | Families with young kids and toy train collectors |
| Railroad Museum of PennsylvaniaStrasburg | Railroad museum | No | Adults (12 to 64) $10, seniors (65+) $9, youth (3 to 11) $8, 2 and under free; group rates for 10 or more adults | Wednesday to Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, Sunday 12 pm to 4 pm, last entry 3:30 pm; closed Monday and Tuesday | Families, school groups and serious rail historians |
| Strasburg Rail RoadStrasburg | Heritage railroad | Yes | Ticket prices vary by date and seat class (Coach, Open Air, First Class, Dining); see the website | Train times vary by date; check the Train Schedule and Book Tickets page | Families with young kids and anyone who wants to ride behind steam |
| Oil Creek & Titusville RailroadTitusville | Heritage railroad | Yes | Coach adults $22, seniors 60+ $20, ages 2 to 12 $16, under 2 free; First Class $40; Family Special $50 | Regular rides depart 11 am, June through mid-October; weekends, plus Wednesdays in July and August | Families with school-age kids, history fans and wildlife watchers |
| Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumWashington | Trolley museum | Yes | Check pa-trolley.org for current ticket prices | Check pa-trolley.org for current hours | Families with young kids, Pittsburgh-area history fans |
| West Chester RailroadWest Chester | Heritage railroad | Yes | Fall Foliage Express: adults 13+ $30, ages 2 to 12 $25, Family Pack $82.50 | Train times vary by event; see the railroad's event pages | Families with young kids |
| Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical SocietyWest Pittsburg | Preservation group | No | Not posted; call for pricing | Not posted; call (724) 581-5560 | Rail fans interested in western Pennsylvania history |
| Kiski Junction RailroadSchenley | Heritage railroad | No | None; no public attraction operates | No longer operating | Rail history readers and photographers |
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Map of every train museum in Pennsylvania
How railroads shaped Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania railroading grew out of coal and competition. In 1829 the Stourbridge Lion made the first run of a locomotive on commercial track in the United States at Honesdale, and in the 1820s and 1830s the state answered New York's Erie Canal with the Main Line of Public Works, hauling canal boats over the Allegheny Front on inclined planes. Short lines followed fast: the Strasburg Rail Road was chartered in 1832, and the Philadelphia and Reading began in 1833 to move anthracite down to Philadelphia.
By the 1850s the Pennsylvania Railroad had crossed the mountains with the Horseshoe Curve and the Gallitzin Tunnels, and Altoona grew up around its shops, where the railroad built its own locomotives from 1866 to 1946. Coal kept smaller lines busy too, from the narrow gauge East Broad Top in the Broad Top region to the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western yards in Scranton.
Each museum holds a piece of that story. The Wayne County Historical Society in Honesdale shows a full-size Stourbridge Lion replica, and the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site explains the inclined planes. The Railroaders Memorial Museum covers Altoona's workers, the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum keeps the Reading's equipment together, the East Broad Top Railroad preserves a complete coal railroad, and Steamtown National Historic Site tells the steam story in the old DL&W yard. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania ties them all together with more than 100 locomotives and cars made or run in the state.
Day trips that pair nearby museums
Trip 1
A Strasburg train day
- Strasburg Rail RoadStrasburg
- Railroad Museum of PennsylvaniaStrasburg
- Choo Choo BarnStrasburg
- National Toy Train MuseumStrasburg
Start with a morning steam ride to Paradise, then cross Route 741 to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania before its 3:30 pm last entry. The Choo Choo Barn and the National Toy Train Museum are each about a mile or less away, so pick one for the late afternoon. Keep your Choo Choo Barn receipt for same-day re-entry.
Trip 2
Altoona and the mountain crossing
- Railroaders Memorial MuseumAltoona
- Horseshoe Curve National Historic LandmarkAltoona
- Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic SiteGallitzin
- Gallitzin Tunnels Park & MuseumGallitzin
Use the Railroad City combo ticket for the Railroaders Memorial Museum and the Horseshoe Curve on the same day, then drive about 8 miles to Gallitzin. The Allegheny Portage Railroad and the Gallitzin Tunnels Park are about 2 miles apart. Note that the Portage engine house is closed Wednesdays and Thursdays and the Curve is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Trip 3
Scranton steam and trolleys
- Steamtown National Historic SiteScranton
- Electric City Trolley MuseumScranton
- Lackawanna County Coal Mine TourScranton
Steamtown and the Electric City Trolley Museum share the same grounds, and the trolley leaves from the Steamtown passenger platform. The Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour is close by in McDade Park for older kids who can handle an hour underground at 53 degrees.
How far is it? Drive times from Pennsylvania's big cities
These times are rough estimates from city centers without traffic, so check a map app before you go.
| Museum | From Philadelphia | From Harrisburg | From Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strasburg Rail RoadStrasburg | 1 hr 15 min | ||
| Railroad Museum of PennsylvaniaStrasburg | 1 hr 15 min | ||
| West Chester RailroadWest Chester | 35 min | ||
| New Hope RailroadNew Hope | 45 min | ||
| Lehigh Gorge Scenic RailwayJim Thorpe | 1 hr 35 min | ||
| Steamtown National Historic SiteScranton | 2 hr 20 min | ||
| National Toy Train MuseumStrasburg | 1 hr | ||
| Reading Railroad Heritage MuseumHamburg | 1 hr 10 min | ||
| East Broad Top RailroadRockhill Furnace | 1 hr 15 min | ||
| Pennsylvania Trolley MuseumWashington | 30 min | ||
| Railroaders Memorial MuseumAltoona | 1 hr 55 min | ||
| Horseshoe Curve National Historic LandmarkAltoona | 1 hr 55 min | ||
| Oil Creek & Titusville RailroadTitusville | 1 hr 55 min |
Holiday trains and seasonal days at Pennsylvania museums
Fall and winter are busy. For Halloween, the Strasburg Rail Road runs The Haunting of Pumpkin Junction, the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad runs a kids' Halloween Train, and the East Broad Top, Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern and Everett Railroad all run pumpkin patch trains; see our Pennsylvania Halloween and pumpkin train guide. In December, look for Santa's Paradise Express at Strasburg, the Holiday Express to Moscow at Steamtown, Christmas In Coal Country on the EBT, Santa's Polar Bear Express on the Colebrookdale Railroad and the Candy Cane Express on the Stewartstown Railroad, all rounded up in our Pennsylvania Christmas train rides page. Strasburg also hosts Day Out With Thomas.
Notes for parents
- Strasburg Rail Road tickets are sold by date and seat class, and Christmas and Thomas trains often fill early, so book online.
- The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and last entry is 3:30 pm.
- At the Electric City Trolley Museum, trolley tickets are sold only inside the museum building, not on the car.
- The Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour stays at 53 degrees all year, so bring jackets even in July.
- The Oil Creek & Titusville ride lasts about three hours; pack snacks and plan a stretch at the halfway stop.
- At the Horseshoe Curve, the funicular runs on weekends and a UTV shuttle on weekdays; otherwise it is stairs, and pets are not allowed.
- East Broad Top trains run rain or shine, and safety glasses are a good idea in the open cinder car.
Train museums in neighboring states
From Philadelphia, Baltimore is about 2 hours away, where the Maryland train museums page leads with the National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation, the former B&O Railroad Museum, with its giant 1884 roundhouse. Families in Erie can reach the free Conneaut Railroad Museum in about 40 minutes; see the Ohio train museums page. And from Philadelphia, the New York Transit Museum in a real Brooklyn subway station is about 1 hour 50 minutes away on the New York train museums page.
A note from Rally's family
My mom dreamed up the story of Rally, our real corgi, riding a train with Mom and Dad, and she died in 2021 before she could write it down. When I picture Rally in Strasburg, I think of the moment in the book when the train stairs look so tall and Dad gives Rally a boost up. My kids are learning to read now, and they still giggle at that page. If your little one wants to color Rally's big step, our free train coloring pages are a good rainy day project, and you can read how Rally's book came to be.
A train book for the drive
If your crew wants to ride a real Amtrak train after the museums, our guide to the Pennsylvanian with kids covers the cross-state train.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. They fit in a folder with a few crayons for the drive to the museum or the wait for the next train ride.
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 every state: search all 50 by town
- Christmas train rides in Pennsylvania: Santa trains and holiday rides
- Halloween train rides in Pennsylvania: pumpkin trains for next October
- The Pennsylvanian with kids: ride a real Amtrak train
- Every Amtrak route with kids: find a train by city or station
- Train books for toddlers for the drive home
Pennsylvania train museum questions
What is the biggest train museum in Pennsylvania?
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg has the largest collection, with more than 100 locomotives and cars indoors and out. It is home to the Pennsylvania Railroad Historical Collection and covers every railroad that served the state. When it opened in April 1975, it was the first building in North America made specifically as a railroad museum.
Are there free train museums in Pennsylvania?
Yes, a few. Village admission at the Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage Village in Muddy Creek Forks is free, though the motorcar train ride costs extra. The Lake Shore Railway Historical Society Museum in North East asks for a donation, and its grounds are open dawn to dusk all year. At the Wayne County Historical Society in Honesdale, visitors 18 and under get in free.
Which Pennsylvania train museums have train rides?
Many do. The Strasburg Rail Road, East Broad Top Railroad, Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad and Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway all run regular excursions. Steamtown National Historic Site offers short yard rides on fall weekends, and the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, Electric City Trolley Museum and Rockhill Trolley Museum all include vintage trolley rides. Schedules change by season, so check dates as of October 2026.
What is the best train museum in Pennsylvania for toddlers?
The Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg is a strong first pick for toddlers. Its single large layout runs 17 trains past more than 180 animated scenes, and about an hour covers it. Kids 2 and under get in free. The National Toy Train Museum nearby is also a good fit, since kids can press buttons to start some of the trains themselves.
Is there a train museum in Strasburg PA?
Yes, Strasburg has four. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and the Strasburg Rail Road face each other across Route 741, the Choo Choo Barn sits just west on the same road, and the National Toy Train Museum is about a mile away. Many families spend a full day here, riding steam in the morning and touring museums in the afternoon.
Train museums near Pittsburgh?
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington is the closest big one, about 30 minutes south of downtown Pittsburgh without traffic. It offers rides on a piece of the old Pittsburgh to Washington interurban line. The Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum in Gibsonia, north of the city, has a huge HO layout, and Altoona's museums are about two hours east.
Train museums near Philadelphia?
The West Chester Railroad and the New Hope Railroad are the closest train rides, each well under an hour from Philadelphia. The Colebrookdale Railroad in Boyertown is a little farther. For a full museum day, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and the Strasburg Rail Road in Lancaster County are about an hour and 15 minutes away without traffic.
Is there a train museum in Scranton?
Yes, Scranton has Steamtown National Historic Site, a National Park unit in the old Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railyard. The Electric City Trolley Museum shares the same grounds and runs trolley rides through the 4,747-foot Crown Avenue Tunnel. The Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour nearby rounds out a day of local rail and mining history.
What is there to do for train lovers in Altoona?
Altoona has the Railroaders Memorial Museum, set in the Pennsylvania Railroad's 1882 Master Mechanic's Building, and the Horseshoe Curve, where visitors watch trains from an overlook. A combo ticket covers both when they are open. The Everett Railroad in nearby Hollidaysburg runs steam and diesel excursions, and the Gallitzin Tunnels Park is about 8 miles away.
Can you ride a train in Jim Thorpe PA?
Yes, the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway runs narrated round trips from downtown Jim Thorpe into Lehigh Gorge State Park. Seats range from open air cars to a Vista dome, and standard coach fares were $25 for adults and $9 for kids 3 to 12 as of October 2026. The Reading & Northern also brings day trippers to Jim Thorpe from Reading, Port Clinton and Tamaqua.
How long is the Strasburg Rail Road train ride?
The regular Strasburg Rail Road ride is a narrated 45-minute round trip from Strasburg to Paradise through Lancaster County farmland. Riders can choose Coach, Open Air, First Class or the Dining Car, and prices vary by date and seat. Plan about two to three hours in total if you also want time at the station's smaller rides and shops.
Is Steamtown worth visiting with kids?
Steamtown suits kids who like to climb aboard. Children can walk through a Railway Post Office car and cabooses, watch the turntable turn a locomotive and join the Junior Ranger program. Short yard rides run Fridays to Sundays through November 8, 2026. The site is mostly flat with ramps, though it is an active railyard, so keep little ones close.
What makes the East Broad Top Railroad special?
The East Broad Top in Rockhill Furnace is a complete original railroad rather than a collection gathered from elsewhere. All six narrow gauge steam locomotives from its last coal years are still on site, along with an 1882 roundhouse and a belt-driven machine shop. It is the oldest narrow gauge railroad in the United States and a National Historic Landmark.
Where can you see a Big Boy locomotive in Pennsylvania?
Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4012 is on display at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton. It is one of only eight surviving Big Boys from a class of 25 giant engines, and the only one on exhibit in the eastern time zone. It returned to display in May 2021 after a cosmetic restoration.
Where is the K4 No. 1361 locomotive?
Pennsylvania Railroad K4 No. 1361 is in the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse at the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona. The museum calls it its most prized possession. It was built under master mechanic Harry Bennett, and finishing the quarter roundhouse to house it took funding from 2002 through 2010.
Where can I find a Santa train in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has many Santa trains. The Strasburg Rail Road runs Santa's Paradise Express, Steamtown partners on the Holiday Express to Moscow, and the East Broad Top runs Christmas In Coal Country. The Colebrookdale Railroad, Stewartstown Railroad, Williams Grove Railroad and Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad also run holiday trains. Check each railroad's dates as of October 2026, since many holiday trains sell out early.
Are there pumpkin patch trains in Pennsylvania?
Yes, several railroads run pumpkin trains each October. The East Broad Top has the Pumpkin Patch Express, and the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern, Everett Railroad and Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage Village run pumpkin patch rides. The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum offers a Pumpkin Patch Trolley, and the Strasburg Rail Road hosts The Haunting of Pumpkin Junction as of October 2026.
Is there Day Out With Thomas in Pennsylvania?
Yes, the Strasburg Rail Road in Lancaster County hosts Day Out With Thomas. Its own Thomas is a 1917 Porter engine that was rebuilt in 1998 to look like the storybook tank engine. These event days are popular and tickets are sold by date, so families should book online once dates are posted.
Where did the first locomotive in America run on commercial track?
It ran in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, where the Stourbridge Lion made its first trip in 1829. The Wayne County Historical Society displays a full-size replica of the engine inside the canal company's 1860 office, along with a carved gravity car and canal exhibits. Adult admission is $5, and visitors 18 and under get in free.
What is the Allegheny Portage Railroad?
The Allegheny Portage Railroad was a state-built line from 1831 to 1834 that hauled canal boats over the Allegheny Mountains on ten inclined planes. It was the first railroad across those mountains and included Staple Bend Tunnel, the first railroad tunnel in the United States. Today a National Park Service site near Gallitzin explains how it worked.
Keep exploring
More family train guides from Rally
- DirectoryRailway Museum Directory650 train museums in all 50 states, with hours, tickets and train rides.
- HolidayChristmas Train RidesSanta trains and holiday light rides, sorted by state and town.
- OctoberHalloween Train RidesPumpkin trains and not-too-spooky rides for little ones, by state.
- NovemberThanksgiving Train RidesHoliday weekend train trips the whole family can share.
- AmtrakAmtrak With KidsWhich Amtrak routes work best with babies, toddlers and big kids.
- Plan a tripTrain Trips With KidsEvery Amtrak route, stop by stop, planned for families.