Pennsylvania is known for its rich history, diverse culture, and significant contributions to the United States. The state of Pennsylvania was named after William Penn – an Englishman who founded the British colony of Pennsylvania in 1681. The capital of the state is Harrisburg. The biggest city is Philadelphia. There are many trains in Pennsylvania – long-distance trains operated by Amtrak, commuter rails, tourist railroads.
Long-distance trains in Pennsylvania
There are more than 20 Amtrak stations in Pennsylvania. Most important are Philadelphia 30th Street Station and Pittsburgh Amtrak Station. There are several Amtrak routes that travel through the state – many of them stop in Philadelphia – Acela Express, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter.
Pennsylvania has its own Amtrak route – Pennsylvanian train. The train runs daily between New York City and Pittsburgh with stops in many cities in Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Lancaster and Harrisburg. Journey between New York City and Pittsburgh lasts 9 hours.
The Keystone train connects New York City and Harrisburg with stops in New Jersey and Philadelphia. There are many trains each day but not all end in New York. The train consists only seating carriages.
Commuter trains in Pennsylvania
There is a a commuter rail network serving the Philadelphia Metropolitan area. The SEPTA Regional Rail system has 13 branches and serves more than 150 stations in Philadelphia its suburbs and satellite towns and cities. Trains on most of the routes operate from 5:30am to midnight. Most importan line connects Temple University and Philadelphia International Airport (32.5 km).
Rolling stock fleet consists electric multiple units GE Silverliner IV from 1970s and modern Rotem Silverliner V (2010-2013) and push-pull passenger cars produced by Bombardier.
All lines used by SEPTA are electrified.
SEPTA – official website
New Jersey Transit provides passenger service between Philadelphia 30th Street Station and Atlantic City (Atlantic Line). Trains cover the entire route in 1 hour and 35 minutes. Trains stop at Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Lindenwold, Atco, Hammonton, Egg Harbor City and Absecon stations.
New Jersey Transit – official website
Tourist trains in Pennsylvania
Allentown & Auburn Railroad – irregular train rides between Topton and Kutztown stations (6 km). Trains operate from April to December on selected days, most often on holidays or festivals. Trains usually consist of a diesel locomotive and one coach, one open air car, and a couple of cabooses.
Allentown & Auburn Railroad – official website
Bellefonte Historical Railroad – historic diesel railcar rides from Bellefonte to Pleasant Gap, on the tracks of Nittany & Bald Eagle. Trains run rarely. Most popular is an excursion from Bellefonte to Dale Summit.Approximately a 1.5 hour round trip.
Bellefonte Historical Railroad – official website
Colebrookdale Railroad – heritate trains on the Boyertown – Pottstown route (13 km). Trains operate on selected weekends from April to October. Various excursions are available – from autumn tours to short night trips. The length of our excursions varies depending on the season – for example fall excursions are 90 minutes, Christmas excursions 60 minutes. Trains are composed of a locomotive and various types of cars, depending on the type of tour. Railbike trips are also available.
Colebrookdale Railroad – official website
Everett Railroad – various steam or diesel hauled excursions usually from Holidaysburg or Roaring Spring.
Everett Railroad – official website
Harrisburg, Lincoln & Lancaster Railroad – nostalgic train rides through the center of Stone Gables Estate (2 km) in Elizabethtown. Trains are usually hauled by a replica of an 1868 steam locomotive, pulling an 1848 Pioneer Coach, mid-1860’s Combine Coach, and 1860’s Day Coach.
Stone Gables Estate – official website
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway – heritage diesel hauled from Jim Thorpe to Old Penn Haven (about 13 km), sometimes extended to Hometown High Bridge (23 km). Scenic route leads along Lehigh River over bridges, through Glen Onoko, and into the Lehigh Gorge State Park. Round trip lasts 70 minutes.
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway – official website
Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage Village – short train rides around the railroad museum in Muddy Creek Forks. The Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad Preservation Society organizes Sunday excursions from Muddy Creek Forks to Laurel (6 km) and from Muddy Creek Forks to Bridgeton (7 km) from June to October. Diesel hauled trains
Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage Village – official website
Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad – summer train rides along Swatara Creek, on a nine-kilometer route from Middletown to Indian Echo Cavern. Trains consist of a diesel locomotive and vintage carriages from 1920s. After leaving Middletown, the train follows the towpath of the historic Union Canal and alongside the peaceful Swatara. Special trains are also operated ocassionally outside the summer season. Trolley vehicle are also available on certain days.
Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad – official website
New Hope & Ivyland Railroad – a variety of passenger excursion train rides, usually from New Hope to Lahaska station (6 km). Occasional longer excursions to Wycombe or Warminster are available. Trains run daily from May to September. Diesel or steam hauled trains with vintage cars from the 1920s. Trains usually departing from 1891 Witch’s Hat Train Station in the Center of New Hope.
New Hope & Ivyland Railroad– official website
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad – tourist trains running on weekends and some weekdays from June to October from Titusville to Rouseville (27 km). Diesel or steam hauled trains comprised of vintage passenger cars built by Pullman in 1930. 3-hour round tripsthrough scenic Oil Creek State Park.
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad – official website
Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad – tourist trains running on two routes: Reading Outer to Jim Thorpe (about 80 km) and Reading Outer to Pottsville (57 km).
Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad – official website
Northern Central Railway of York – train rides on the route New Freedom – Glen Rock, Hanover Junction or Hyde. Steam or diesel hauled trains with vintage passenger carriages. Most popular are trips to Howard Tunnel – the oldest active passenger railroad tunnel in the Unites States of America (duration 3 Hours 30 Minutes). Shortest trips last one or two hours.
Northern Central Railway of York – official website
Steamtown National Historic Site – train rides at the steam engine museum in Scranton, a two-hour drive from New York. Trains operate on various short routes, often themed excursions. A place worth visiting. The museum offers also long-distance excursions on various routes.
Steamtown National Historic Site – official website
Stewartstown Railroad – nostalgic train rides from New Freedom to Stewartstown (12 km) in some of the most pastoral scenery in the northeastern United States. The route leads along the meandering hills and wistful forests of the Deer Creek valley. Trains are comprised of a diesel locomotive and passenger carriages from the 1920s, usually run on Fridays and Saturdays, and sometimes on Sundays from April to December.
Stewartstown Railroad – official website
Stourbridge Line – diesel hauled trains with vintage carriages from Honesdale to Lackawaxen (40 km) along scennic Lackawaxen River Valley in the Northern Pocono Mountains. Trains operate seasonally on weekends. Dinner trains available on certain days.
Stourbridge Line – official website
Strasburg Railroad – a very popular tourist railway running through Amish farms from East Strasburg to Paradise (7 km) in Lancaster county. Trains are usually pulled by a steam locomotive. There are several classes of passenger cars available, including a presidential car, a sightseeing car, and a car with Pinball machines. The round trip takes 45 minutes. Trains depart daily from April to the second half of October. It is the oldest continuously operating railroad in the nation.
Strasbourg Railroad – official website
Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad – tourist trains from Wanamaker to Kempton. 40-minute round trip through rural areas.
Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad – official website
West Chester Railroad – seasonal train rides on the West Chester – Glen Mill route (about 11 km) along the picturesque Chester Creek Valley. The round trip takes 90 minutes. The route passes through forested areas and small villages. West Chester Railroad is located 45 minutes outside Philadelphia
West Chester Railroad official website
Williams Grove Railroad – short train rides in Williams Grove, near the towns of Mechanicsburg and Dillsburg. Diesel or steam hauled trains with open-air carriages.
Williams Grove Railroad – official website
The Kiski Junction Railroad ran on eight-kilometer sections near Pittsburgh. Passenger services were suspended in 2016. The railway was officially closed and abandoned in 2021. A very popular Tioga Central Railroad operates tourist trains between Wellsboro and Hammond suspended passenger operations during 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions and in 2022 was permanently closed.
Narrow-gauge railroads in Pennsylvania
East Broad Top Railroad – narrow-gauge railway (914 mm) from Colgate Grove to Rockhill Furnace, approximately 8 km. There are plans to extension the line. Diesel or steam hauled trains, trolley rides are also available. It operates from May to late October. Round trip takes 60 minutes.
East Broad Top Railroad – official website
Pioneer Tunnel – former mine railroad transporting tourists during the season around a closed coal mine near Ashland in Schuylkill County. There is also a kilometer-long narrow-gauge railway line near mine with steam hauled trains. The narrow-gauge railway operates from May to October on weekends, and in July and August, it operates daily. Mine tours operate daily from April to October.
Pioneer Tunnel – official website
Funicular railways in Pennsylvania
There are three funicular railways in Pennsylvania. Two of them are located in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh was once home to almost two dozen funicular railways which provided access to neighborhoods above the steep hills that surround the city.
Duquesne Incline – a heritage funicular railway in Pittsburgh, opened on 20 May 1877. The length of the track is 244 meters. At the upper station of the railway, there is a small museum, a café, and an observation deck. One of the most popular attractions in the city. Operates daily throughout the year. The Duquesne Incline is part of the transportation system in Pittsburgh and uses the same fare system as the buses and trolleys. Each car can accomodate 18 passengers.
Duquesne Incline – official website
Monongahela Incline – the second of the historic funiculars in Pittsburgh. It was the first passenger funicular railway built in the United States – it was built in by engineer John J. Endres to transport workers up and down “Coal Hill”. The length of the track is 194 meters. Each car can accomodate 23 passengers.
Monongahela Incline – official website
Johnstown Inclined Plane – funicular railway in Johnstown, Cambria County. One of the steepest funiculars in the world. Total length of the route is 273 m and the travel time between stations is 90 seconds. The funicular was built in 1891 to serve as an escape route from floods in the valley. Renovation is underway.
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Railways in the United States of America by state
