All aboard for an unforgettable journey through Pennsylvania’s breathtaking landscapes! As your friendly neighborhood train enthusiast (and self-proclaimed railfan extraordinaire), I’ve chugged along every track worth mentioning in the Keystone State. Pennsylvania’s rich railroad heritage combines with jaw-dropping scenery to create experiences that’ll have you hanging out train windows with your camera faster than you can say ‘conductor’! Grab your ticket and join me as we explore these incredible iron-horse adventures that showcase Pennsylvania’s natural beauty in all its glory.
1. Strasburg Rail Road: America’s Oldest Operating Railroad
Holy smokes, friends! The moment I stepped onto the platform at Strasburg, I felt like I’d time-traveled back to the 1800s. This isn’t just any train ride; it’s a 45-minute journey through Amish country aboard meticulously restored steam locomotives that huff and puff with personality.
Last summer, I snagged a first-class lounge seat (treat yourself, seriously) and nearly dropped my camera when we rolled past golden wheat fields where Amish farmers were working with horse-drawn plows. The contrast of 19th-century steam technology alongside even older agricultural practices blew my mind!
What makes Strasburg extra special is their collection of historic cars; including the dining car where I demolished the most delicious slice of shoofly pie.
Fun fact: Strasburg has been continuously operating since 1832, making it older than most countries’ railway systems! If you’re bringing kiddos, spring for the Day Out With Thomas events; I’ve never seen children’s faces light up quite like that.
2. Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway: Wild River Adventures
Squeezing into my seat on the open-air car of the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, I had no idea I was about to experience one of the most jaw-dropping train rides in America. This 16-mile roundtrip adventure from Jim Thorpe follows the twisting Lehigh River through a steep-walled gorge that had me frantically switching camera lenses to capture its magnificence.
The vintage coaches date back to the 1920s, but the real star is Mother Nature’s show outside your window. I gasped when we rounded a bend to see kayakers navigating rapids below while hawks soared at eye level with our train! The fall foliage trip nearly broke my Instagram with its explosion of reds and golds reflecting in the river.
Pro tip from yours truly: The best seats are on the river side of the train (usually the right when departing Jim Thorpe). The narration shares fascinating tales of the region’s coal mining history, but honestly, I was too busy hanging out the window like an excited puppy to catch every word!
3. Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad: Valley That Changed The World
Y’all won’t believe this hidden gem I stumbled upon in northwestern Pennsylvania! The Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad chugs through the very valley where the world’s petroleum industry was born. I boarded at the charming Victorian-era Perry Street Station, immediately falling in love with the 1930s-era passenger cars that oozed nostalgic vibes.
My three-hour journey followed Oil Creek through a lush valley where I spotted more wildlife than people; including a mama bear and cubs that had me fumbling for my zoom lens! The train slows down at key historical sites like Drake Well (where the first successful oil well was drilled in 1859) while volunteer narrators share stories that bring the boomtown era to life.
The absolute highlight? Crossing a wooden trestle bridge with the creek sparkling below while the conductor shared how this peaceful valley once housed 43 oil boomtowns with names like Petroleum Centre and Pithole City. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at the halfway point in Oil Creek State Park; I’m still dreaming about my trackside sandwich with that million-dollar view!
4. New Hope Railroad: Delaware River Valley Beauty
Confession time: I may have squealed out loud when I first spotted the gleaming 1920s passenger cars of the New Hope Railroad! This 9-mile journey between New Hope and Lahaska takes you on a magical ride through Bucks County’s picturesque countryside aboard meticulously restored vintage equipment.
The moment we departed the Victorian-era station, I knew I’d hit the railroad jackpot. We chugged past working farms, crossed bubbling Neshaminy Creek on a trestle bridge that made for perfect photos, and slowed down just enough for me to spot families of deer watching our train with curious eyes. My summer trip featured open windows that let in the sweet smell of wildflowers, but their climate-controlled fall foliage and holiday-themed rides are equally spectacular.
What makes this railroad extra special is their collection of historic locomotives; both steam and diesel; that rotate throughout the season. The volunteer crew shared fascinating railroad tales throughout our journey, but my favorite moment was watching a toddler’s wide-eyed wonder when the engineer let him blow the whistle at a crossing. Pure magic!
5. Tioga Central Railroad: Lake Views And Mountain Majesty
Hold onto your conductor caps, friends! The Tioga Central Railroad might be Pennsylvania’s best-kept scenic secret. I boarded this gem in Wellsboro Junction for a 20-mile journey that left my camera memory card begging for mercy. This isn’t your typical tourist train; it’s an authentic railroading experience that follows abandoned freight routes through some of the state’s most pristine wilderness.
The highlight? Miles of track that hug the shoreline of Hammond Lake, where I spotted bald eagles diving for fish and a family of otters playing near the water’s edge. Our train slowed to a crawl crossing the spectacular 450-foot bridge over the lake, giving me plenty of time to capture panoramic shots of the water reflecting mountain vistas.
Their dinner train experience deserves special mention; I devoured a delicious prime rib while watching the sunset paint the mountains in shades of purple and gold. The volunteer staff shared hilarious stories of the region’s lumber and railroad history between courses. Pro tip: Book their fall foliage rides months in advance; they sell out faster than hot cakes at a lumberjack breakfast!
6. East Broad Top Railroad: America’s Last Narrow Gauge
Friends, I literally danced a little jig when I heard this historic narrow gauge line was reopening after being closed for years! The East Broad Top Railroad is a National Historic Landmark and America’s oldest surviving narrow gauge railroad. When I stepped onto the platform in Orbisonia, surrounded by historic buildings and equipment that hadn’t changed since the 1950s, I felt like I’d walked onto a movie set.
Unlike standard gauge tracks, the narrow gauge rails of EBT are just 3 feet apart, creating smaller, almost toylike trains that perfectly match the intimate scale of the mountain landscape they traverse. My journey took me through dense forests and rolling farmland aboard beautifully restored passenger coaches pulled by a 1911 steam locomotive named “Number 14” that puffed and wheezed with personality.
The absolute highlight was exploring their roundhouse and machine shops after the ride; an industrial time capsule where massive steam-powered belt systems still turn ancient lathes and drills. I watched slack-jawed as volunteers demonstrated 100-year-old equipment that once maintained the coal-hauling fleet. This isn’t just a train ride; it’s a working museum that’ll thrill history buffs and train lovers alike!
7. Colebrookdale Railroad: Secret Valley Expedition
Oh. My. Goodness. When I first heard about the Colebrookdale Railroad’s meticulously restored Edwardian-era cars, I knew I had to experience this hidden gem. Nicknamed the “Secret Valley Line,” this 9-mile journey between Boyertown and Pottstown follows the Manatawny Creek through a pristine valley that had me pressing my face against the window like an excited five-year-old.
I splurged on their first-class parlor car experience and nearly fainted when I saw the hand-crafted mahogany interiors, stained glass, and plush velvet seats. We rolled past tumbling waterfalls and crossed trestles high above rocky gorges while I sipped a local craft beer from their dining service. The fall foliage trip was so spectacular that I immediately booked their Christmas train before departing!
What makes Colebrookdale extraordinary is how this 1869 railroad almost disappeared forever before being rescued by preservationists. Their volunteer crew shared fascinating tales of how the line once carried iron ore that helped build America. The moment our train emerged from a rock cut to reveal a panoramic valley vista, I understood why they call this Pennsylvania’s most beautiful short-line railroad!
8. Everett Railroad: Steam Through The Alleghenies
Call me a train nerd, but I literally squealed with delight when I first saw the 1920s steam locomotive of the Everett Railroad belching smoke as it pulled into Hollidaysburg Station. This hidden treasure in central Pennsylvania offers a 90-minute journey through the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains that had me snapping photos like a caffeine-fueled paparazzo.
The railroad follows the winding Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River, with views that switch between dense forests and open farmland where Amish buggies often pause to watch our train pass. I scored a seat in their open-air car (worth every penny in good weather!) where the smell of coal smoke and the rhythmic chuff-chuff of the steam engine created a multi-sensory experience that modern trains just can’t match.
My favorite moment? When we crossed a trestle bridge and the engineer gave an extra-long blast on the whistle that echoed through the valley below. The Everett isn’t just preserving equipment; they’re keeping traditional railroading skills alive. I watched in awe as the fireman shoveled coal into the locomotive’s firebox during a photo runby, creating perfect billows of smoke for my camera!
9. Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad: Rural Time Travel
Friends, let me tell you about the day I discovered the railroad equivalent of a perfectly preserved vinyl record in a world of digital downloads. The Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad (affectionately called the “WK&S” or “Hawk Mountain Line”) offers a 40-minute journey through Berks County farmland that feels like stepping into a Norman Rockwell painting.
Operating vintage diesel locomotives pulling open-window coaches from the 1920s, this volunteer-run railroad delivers authenticity rather than tourist glitz. I sat next to a window where the breeze carried the smell of freshly cut hay from the surrounding fields as we passed through Kempton, a town so small and perfectly preserved that I half-expected to see Model T Fords parked on its streets.
The absolute highlight was crossing Ontelaunee Creek on a wooden trestle bridge that creaked and groaned beneath our train; a sound that sent delightful shivers down my spine! Their special “Corn and Doggie Roast” event combines the train ride with an old-fashioned picnic where I made friends with fellow passengers while devouring corn on the cob slathered in butter. This little railroad captures the essence of rural Pennsylvania better than any glossy brochure ever could!
10. Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad: Coal Country Explorer
Hold onto your conductor hats, folks! The Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad offers what might be Pennsylvania’s most epic train adventure. Unlike most tourist lines, this is actually a working freight railroad that occasionally opens its doors for passenger excursions through the heart of coal country; and I was lucky enough to score tickets for their full-day journey from Reading to Jim Thorpe.
My 70-mile adventure aboard restored coaches from the 1920s took me through no fewer than five river valleys, across massive bridges, and through tunnels bored straight through mountains. The highlight? Crossing the breathtaking Hometown High Bridge, 168 feet above the valley floor, where I captured stomach-dropping photos through the open vestibule between cars.
What makes RBM&N special is how they rotate between vintage steam locomotives and historic diesels for different excursions. The volunteer crew shared fascinating stories of the anthracite coal industry that built these mountains while I stuffed my face with homemade cookies from their snack car. Pro tip: Their “Autumn Leaf” excursions sell out months in advance, so book early for the best seats on what railfans consider Pennsylvania’s premier mainline steam experience!
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