8 Abandoned Train Stations In Pennsylvania That Still Tell A Story

Pennsylvania’s rich railroad heritage includes dozens of abandoned train stations scattered across the state. These historic landmarks once bustled with travelers and commerce, serving as vital transportation hubs for communities large and small. Today, though silent and weathered, these architectural treasures continue to whisper stories of Pennsylvania’s industrial past and the generations who passed through their doors.

1. Wilkes-Barre’s Renaissance Relic

Standing proudly since 1868, the Wilkes-Barre Train Station once thrummed with passengers boarding the Central Railroad of New Jersey. When passenger service halted in 1961, this architectural gem faced an uncertain future.

After brief stints as a cocktail lounge and club, the station fell into disrepair until 2016 when a developer recognized its potential. The building’s rebirth came in 2022 as it transformed into modern office space while preserving its historic character.

Now home to the Luzerne County Visitor Bureau, this station demonstrates how abandoned spaces can find new purpose while honoring their roots.

2. Mars Station: A Planetary Preservation

Mars Train Station might sound otherworldly, but this earthbound gem has stood since 1897. Built by the Pittsburgh and Western Railroad, it created a crucial link between Pittsburgh and Butler during Pennsylvania’s industrial heyday.

Passenger service vanished in the early 1960s, leaving the station abandoned for nearly two decades. A turning point came in 1999 when preservationists physically relocated the structure to save it from demolition.

Today, under the Mars Historical Society’s care, this last surviving P&W Subdivision station serves as a museum, preserving railroad memories for future generations.

3. Coudersport’s Lumber Legacy

When the Coudersport and Port Allegany Railroad Station opened its doors in 1900, Pennsylvania’s lumber industry was booming. Timber barons and workers alike passed through this hub as forests fell and fortunes rose.

As the lumber industry declined, so did the station’s purpose. By 1970, trains no longer stopped at its platform, and abandonment seemed inevitable.

In a stroke of civic ingenuity, Coudersport borough purchased the station in 1975 and transformed it into government offices. This repurposing preserved not just a building but a tangible connection to the region’s resource-rich past.

4. Tamaqua’s Stamp of Approval

Did you know the Tamaqua Train Station is famous enough to appear on a Forever stamp? This 1874 Philadelphia and Reading Railroad creation served the coal region faithfully until passenger service ended in 1961.

After twenty years of abandonment, the station seemed destined for demolition. Instead, a $1.5 million restoration breathed new life into its weathered walls.

Since 2004, it has welcomed visitors as a heritage center, preserving local railroad history. The ultimate recognition came in 2023 when the U.S. Postal Service featured this architectural survivor in its “Railroad Stations” stamp series.

5. Boyce Station: More Than Just A Stop

Around 1900, Boyce Station emerged as more than just a railroad stop – it became a community hub. Beyond welcoming travelers, the station housed the local post office and general store, making it central to daily life.

The last passenger train departed in 1952, leaving behind an uncertain future. Fortunately, preservation-minded citizens recognized its historical significance and completed a loving restoration in 1980.

This commitment to heritage earned Boyce Station a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Today, its well-preserved façade reminds us how railroad stations once served as the heart of small Pennsylvania communities.

6. Williamson School’s Educational Express

The 1888 Williamson School Station holds a unique place in Pennsylvania railroad history. Unlike most abandoned stations, this Pennsylvania Railroad stop on the West Chester Line served primarily one institution: the Williamson College of the Trades.

Generations of trade school students arrived at this platform until deteriorating track conditions forced its closure in 1986. Though trains no longer stop here, the station building remains remarkably intact on the college grounds.

In a curious bureaucratic anomaly, this long-silent station still appears in officially published railroad tariffs – a ghost on paper as well as in brick and mortar.

7. Easton’s Sleeping Giant

The massive Lehigh Valley Railroad station in Easton once welcomed passengers to this bustling industrial city. Its grand architecture reflected the prosperity of an era when railroads were king and Easton served as a vital transportation hub.

Passenger service ceased in 1961, with freight operations lingering until the 1970s. Unlike some of its counterparts, this sleeping giant spent decades in neglect, its windows broken and interior deteriorating.

Hope emerged when the city of Easton secured permission from Norfolk Southern Railway to clean up the property. Though still awaiting full restoration, this architectural treasure represents the potential for rebirth that many abandoned stations hold.

8. Mertztown’s Reading Rainbow

The charming Mertztown Train Station stands as a colorful reminder of the Reading Railroad’s vast network. Built in the mid-1800s on Chestnut Street, this stop connected rural Berks County to Philadelphia and beyond.

When passenger service ended in 1964, many similar stations were demolished. Against the odds, Mertztown’s depot survived, its wooden structure weathering decades of Pennsylvania seasons.

Local preservationists eventually gave this forgotten gem a new coat of paint in its original colors. Though no tickets have been sold in nearly sixty years, the freshly painted station continues to catch the eye of passersby, a vibrant testament to small-town railroad heritage.