West Chester Railroad, Pennsylvania

Written By Kelsey Cecil

West Chester, Pennsylvania · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesThemed excursions through the year; Santa's Express and Christmas Tree Train tickets on sale November 1

The West Chester Railroad runs scenic round trips from Market Street in West Chester through the Chester Creek Valley to the village of Glen Mills, bringing passenger trains back to a former Pennsylvania Railroad branch that once saw 24 trains a day.

  • 90-minute trips to Glen Mills
  • Volunteer-run excursions
  • Former Pennsylvania Railroad Media branch
  • 1880s Glen Mills station stop
  • Christmas Tree Train to a tree farm
  • Ex-Reading Blueliner cars

West Chester Railroad at a glance

Hours
Train times vary by event; see the railroad's event pages
Admission
Fall Foliage Express: adults 13+ $30, ages 2 to 12 $25, Family Pack $82.50
Train rides
90-minute round trips to Glen Mills on scheduled event days; Santa's Express is 75 minutes and the Christmas Tree Train about 2 hours
Seasonal events
Fall Foliage Express, Halloween Special, Santa's Express, Christmas Tree Train, Picnic Specials
Plan for
About 90 minutes
Best for
Families with young kids
Best ages
Ages 2 to 10

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to West Chester Railroad? 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 West Chester.

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.

Bringing trains back to West Chester's old Media branch

Railroads came early to West Chester. Local business and community leaders chartered the West Chester Railroad Company through an act of the Pennsylvania legislature in 1831, making it one of the earliest railroads in the country. A second line, the West Chester & Philadelphia Railroad, opened on November 11, 1858. By 1881 both belonged to the Pennsylvania Railroad, known as the Frazer branch and the Media branch.

For generations the Market Street station was the town's door to the world. Farmers shipped produce, families sent sons to war and shoppers rode to the big Philadelphia stores, while trains brought students to the State College, lumber to the wagon wheel works and visitors to the county courthouse. At its height the Pennsylvania Railroad ran 24 passenger trains a day to West Chester, plus three scheduled freights. The station was torn down in 1968, but Penn Central and then SEPTA kept passenger service going until 1986.

The line sat unused for nearly a decade until a group of rail enthusiasts approached the Borough of West Chester about restoring service. The railroad acquired its first locomotive in 1997. Today the line is run by 4 States Railway Service, a railroad management and maintenance company, and the excursions are staffed entirely by volunteers of the West Chester Railroad Heritage Association.

Down the Chester Creek Valley to Glen Mills

Trips board at the Market Street Station boarding location, 230 E. Market Street, and roll through the wooded Chester Creek Valley to Glen Mills in Delaware County. One rider review puts the ride at about 30 minutes each way. At Glen Mills there is a stop at the historic 1880s station, with a picnic grove for a packed lunch and the Red Brick Winery next door, before the train heads back. Most excursions run about 90 minutes round trip, and the train is heated on cool fall days.

The railroad's roster is a good mix for diesel fans: EMD GP9 No. 6499, built for the Baltimore and Ohio in 1957; EMD GP38 No. 7706, built for Penn Central in 1969; and two Canadian-built Alco/MLW units, C424 No. 4213 and RS-18u No. 1803. Passengers ride in former Reading Railroad multiple unit cars built in 1931 and 1932 and later known as Blueliners, one of which has been turned into a table car.

Don’t miss

  1. Glen Mills StationThe 1880s station at the far end of the line, with a picnic grove alongside, is the halfway stop on most trips.
  2. GP9 No. 6499Built for the B&O in 1957, it came to West Chester in 1997 and once wore Pennsylvania Railroad colors painted with help from the PRR Technical and Historical Society's Philadelphia chapter.
  3. The ex-Reading BluelinersCars 9107, 9109, 9114, 9117 and 9124 were built in Wilmington in 1931 and 1932 and carried SEPTA commuters until 1990.
  4. RS-18u No. 1803A 1960 Montreal-built locomotive from the Canadian Pacific, now in Brunswick green with a yellow frame stripe.
  5. Table car No. 9107One of the old Blueliners rebuilt with tables, handy for snacks on a holiday trip.

Costumes, Santa and a stop for lunch

The 90-minute round trip with a break at Glen Mills is well suited to young kids: they get a ride out, time to run around the picnic grove, and a ride home. On the Halloween Special, children ride in costume and get treats along the way, and Santa's Express brings Santa and holiday entertainment on board.

Children ages 2 to 12 pay a reduced fare, and the Family Pack for two adults and two children takes 25 percent off. Bring a lunch for the picnic grove.

Plan your visit: tips for West Chester Railroad

  • Arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.
  • Board at 230 E. Market St.; the Adams Street Yard address is for mail only, not boarding.
  • Tickets bought online are non-refundable but can be moved to a similar train if you ask at least 24 hours ahead.
  • Email is the best way to reach the railroad; the phone line is for railroad emergencies.
  • Trains run in all weather; cancellations are posted on the website and Facebook.

The West Chester Railroad's calendar follows the seasons. In October, the Halloween Special invites kids to ride in costume and collect treats, which earns it a spot on our list of Halloween train rides in Pennsylvania. Tickets for Santa's Express, a 75-minute ride with Santa and festive entertainment, and the Christmas Tree Train, which takes families to Wiggins Tree Farm to cut their own tree with hot chocolate and donuts on board, go on sale November 1. See more ideas in our guide to Christmas train rides in Pennsylvania.

Every crew member is a volunteer

The railroad's excursions are 100 percent volunteer operated by the West Chester Railroad Heritage Association, which welcomes new members, and the line itself is owned and operated by 4 States Railway Service. Visitors help by riding, donating, becoming a member, or booking a charter or party car through the railroad's charter team.

More train days near West Chester

The Marshall Steam Museum at Auburn Heights in Delaware is about 11 miles south, and the Wilmington and Western Railroad about 16 miles. Heading west, the Strasburg Rail Road is about 30 miles away. For a full list, see our Pennsylvania train museum guide.

Every train museum in Pennsylvania

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The Glen Mills stop has a picnic grove, which means somebody in the family has to pack the bag. In our book, Rally takes that job very seriously: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball all go in before the train leaves. I think a corgi would approve of a ride with lunch in the middle. Our coloring pages fit nicely in a picnic bag too.

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 West Chester Railroad?

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.

West Chester Railroad: 20 questions families ask

How much are West Chester Railroad tickets?

As of October 2026, the Fall Foliage Express is $30 for adults 13 and up and $25 for children 2 to 12, and the Halloween Special starts at $30. Prices for Santa's Express and the Christmas Tree Train are posted when tickets go on sale November 1. Buy through wcrailroad.com.

Are there West Chester Railroad ticket discounts?

Yes, for families. On the Fall Foliage Express, the Family Pack for two adults and two children takes 25 percent off, for $82.50 as of October 2026. Check each event page at wcrailroad.com, since packages vary by train. For group charters, email reservations@wcrailroad.com.

What is the West Chester Railroad schedule?

The railroad runs scheduled event trains rather than a fixed daily timetable. Fall brings the Fall Foliage Express and Halloween Special, and the holiday season brings Santa's Express and the Christmas Tree Train. Departure times and dates are listed on each event page at wcrailroad.com.

Is the West Chester Railroad running today?

Check the event pages at wcrailroad.com for today's departures. The railroad has no regular office hours, and it says trains run in all weather. If conditions force a cancellation, a notice is posted on the website and the railroad's Facebook page as soon as possible.

Where does the West Chester Railroad board?

Trains board at the Market Street Station boarding location, 230 E. Market Street, West Chester, PA 19382. The railroad's mailing address at the Adams Street Yard, 500 S. Adams Street, is not a boarding location, so do not use it for GPS on ride day.

Where does the West Chester Railroad go?

The train runs from Market Street in West Chester, Chester County, through the Chester Creek Valley to the village of Glen Mills in Delaware County, then returns. At Glen Mills, riders stop at the historic 1880s station, with a picnic grove and the Red Brick Winery next door.

Where should I park for the West Chester Railroad?

Parking details were not posted in the information we reviewed. The railroad boards at 230 E. Market Street in downtown West Chester, so check the Frequently Asked Questions page at wcrailroad.com, or email info@wcrailroad.com, for parking advice before your trip.

What is the West Chester Railroad Christmas Tree Train?

The Christmas Tree Train is a roughly two-hour trip to Wiggins Tree Farm, where families choose and cut their own Christmas tree. The railroad transports the tree back for you, and hot chocolate, coffee and donuts are served on board. Tickets go on sale November 1.

Does the West Chester Railroad have a Christmas train with Santa?

Yes. Santa's Express is a 75-minute round trip through the Chester Creek Valley with Santa on board, festive entertainment and scenic views. Tickets go on sale November 1, and holiday trains on small railroads tend to sell quickly, so plan to book early at wcrailroad.com.

What is the West Chester Railroad Halloween Special?

The Halloween Special is a 90-minute fall ride where passengers are encouraged to wear costumes and kids get treats along the way. At Glen Mills, families can explore the 1880s station and picnic grove before heading back to West Chester. As of October 2026, tickets start at $30.

What is the West Chester Railroad Picnic Special?

The railroad lists Picnic Specials among its relaxing rides through the Chester Creek Valley. These trips make use of the picnic grove at the historic Glen Mills station, so bring lunch. Dates were not posted in the information we reviewed, so check wcrailroad.com.

How long is the West Chester Railroad ride?

Most trips are about 90 minutes round trip, including the stop at Glen Mills. Santa's Express runs about 75 minutes and the Christmas Tree Train about two hours. One rider review says the ride itself is about 30 minutes each way.

What is the West Chester Railroad Heritage Association?

The West Chester Railroad Heritage Association is the all-volunteer group that operates the railroad's excursions. The railroad says it is 100 percent volunteer operated and invites riders to become members or donate through wcrailroad.com to keep trains running on the line.

Who owns the West Chester Railroad?

The railroad's history page says the West Chester Railroad Company is owned and operated by 4 States Railway Service Inc., a railroad management, maintenance and operations company dedicated to preserving the old Pennsylvania Railroad Media branch. Excursions are staffed by volunteers of the West Chester Railroad Heritage Association.

What is the history of the West Chester Railroad?

West Chester's first railroad was chartered in 1831, and the West Chester & Philadelphia Railroad opened in 1858. Both joined the Pennsylvania Railroad by 1881. At its peak, 24 passenger trains a day served West Chester. SEPTA service ended in 1986, and enthusiasts restored the line about a decade later.

What locomotives does the West Chester Railroad use?

The roster includes EMD GP9 No. 6499, built for the B&O in 1957; EMD GP38 No. 7706, built for Penn Central in 1969 and donated in 2012; and Alco/MLW C424 No. 4213 and RS-18u No. 1803, both built in Montreal for the Canadian Pacific. Passengers ride in former Reading Blueliner cars.

Is the West Chester Railroad good for toddlers?

Yes. Children 2 and up pay a reduced fare, the ride is about 90 minutes with a break at Glen Mills, and the picnic grove gives little ones room to move. Costume rides at Halloween and Santa's Express in December are especially popular with young families.

Can I get a refund on West Chester Railroad tickets?

Tickets bought on the railroad's website are non-refundable, but you can transfer to a similar train with space if you contact the railroad at least 24 hours before departure, with your confirmation number. Refunds are given only if the railroad cancels the train.

Is West Chester safe to visit with kids for a train ride?

We do not have crime or safety data for West Chester. The train boards in downtown West Chester, the Chester County seat, at 230 E. Market Street. As with any outing, keep an eye on children around the tracks and platform, and contact the railroad with any specific concerns.

What train attractions are near the West Chester Railroad?

The Marshall Steam Museum at Auburn Heights in Yorklyn, Delaware, is about 11 miles away, and the Wilmington and Western Railroad about 16 miles. The Strasburg Rail Road, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and National Toy Train Museum are all about 30 miles away in Strasburg.

Keep exploring

More family train guides from Rally

Kelsey Cecil
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