Pennsylvania: The Place for Trains
By Terri Marshall
Who doesn’t love trains? Children are fascinated by them while adults appreciate the nostalgic appeal of the old iron horses. In America, there’s no better place to experience trains than Pennsylvania. With its rich railroad history there are numerous train themed activities throughout the state. Here’s a list of seven with enough variety to appeal to families, couples and anyone who loves to hear that whistle blow:
Tioga Central Railroad
Located in scenic Northwestern Pennsylvania, the Tioga Central Railroad operates excursion and charter trains on a thirty-four mile railroad extending north from Wellsboro, PA to a location about three miles south of Corning, NY. A portion of the route travels over a right-of-way part of which dates back to 1840.
Choose from seasonal excursions like the Ice Cream Express for summer Friday nights, the Santa Express for the holidays and a Halloween train. There’s also a Happy Hour Express once a month featuring music, drinks and good times. For a truly unique experience, charter a caboose for the Caboose Hop adventure. Your group of up to 10 people will experience first-hand the adventure of riding the rails in a freight caboose. Rates are reasonable and catering is available. www.tiogacentral.com
Steamtown USA
Steamtown National Historic Site is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located on 62.48 acres in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the site of the former Scranton yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. Be transported back to the era of steam trains as you feel the heat from the firebox, smell the steam and ride the historic steam locomotives. There is even an opportunity for a locomotive cab ride for those 16 and older. www.nps.gov/stea
The Electric City
Just across the parking lot from the Steamtown National Historic Site is the Electric City Trolley Museum – a premier electric railway museum. In 1887, Scranton was Pennsylvania’s first city with a successful pioneer trolley line and became known as “The Electric City.” The museum collection provides a picture of the electric railway history of eastern Pennsylvania. There are also trolley excursions and interactive exhibits. A hands-on interactive kids’ exhibit, The Electric City, puts children in the driver’s seat of a recreated open-style trolley car as they view a model trolley in operation on a suspended track. Young visitors and their parents will also have the opportunity to build their own anthracite region communities on a 24 foot-long platform that represents the Lackawanna Valley and beyond – complete with historic trolley lines. www.ectma.org
Horseshoe Curve
Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains near Altoona, Pennsylvania you will find an engineering marvel. Completed in 1854 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, Horseshoe Curve was designed by John Edgar Thomson and Herman Haupt as part of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s main line to the west. It has been in continuous operation ever since. Prior to the building of the curve, crossing the Allegheny Mountains was costly and dangerous. Its importance to railroad traffic was such that it was guarded by Union soldiers during the American Civil War. Nazis also attempted to sabotage it in Operation Pastorius during World War II. Today the location is a popular tourist attraction with more than 50 trains passing through the area daily. There is a visitors center and a track side observation area accessible by many many stairs or – if you are not that energetic – a funicular railway. The track side viewing area makes a perfect picnic stop while traveling through the area. www.railroadcity.com
Choo Choo Barn
It’s not just the big trains that fascinate us, the little ones are pretty amazing too – especially at the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg where you will find a 1,700 square foot train layout featuring over 150 hand-built animated figures and vehicles and 22 operating trains. Scenes depict life in Lancaster County complete with Amish farms, parades, churches, gas stations and even a fire truck rushing to extinguish a fire that breaks out in one of the homes! Since 1961, kids of all ages from all across the country have come to see this truly amazing display. www.choochoobarn.com
PA Trips by Train
Through a partnership with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Amtrak, PA Trips by Train offers daily and overnight excursions to destinations throughout Pennsylvania. Seasonal trips are offered featuring popular events in Philadelphia like the Mummers Parade, St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Philadelphia Flower Show. The Winter trip offerings include the Pennsylvania Farm Show and a State Capital Tour in Harrisburg. Packages include discounts on Amtrak tickets (40% off on second ticket), free or discounted local transportation, discounted admission to events and coupons for dining. Sign up on the website for notification of new trips as they are added. The excursions are a perfect add on to a New York, Washington DC or Baltimore, MD vacation. Think of it as a road trip by rail! www.patripsbytrain.com
Sleeping with Trains
Don’t just look at trains, sleep in a train car at the Red Caboose Motel located in the heart of Amish Country in Lancaster County. The Red Caboose has 40 historic cabooses and railroad cars turned motel rooms guaranteeing you a memorable stay. There is also a restaurant in a restored railroad dining car and activities for the little ones including a petting zoo and “movies on the barn nights” in summer. www.redcaboose.com
Experience the grandeur of the luxury days of train travel with an overnight stay at the Lackawanna Station Hotel in Scranton. Built as the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Station in 1908, this historic six-story landmark has been restored to its original glory. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the neoclassical structure retains its original clocks, doors, fountains, stairs and ceilings. Stepping into the Grand Lobby is truly a step back in time. www.radisson.com/scraton-hotel-pa-18503/pascrant
Terri is a freelance writer with regular columns on travel, chocolate and bar reviews. She is busy each month visiting new places to bring unique travel destinations and events to you. Yes, it is a sacrifice – but she is willing to do that for her readers! You can see more of Terri’s writing at www.examiner.com where she is the National Chocolate Examiner and at www.barzz.net. Also, check out her blog atwww.trippingwithterri.com. You can contact Terri at [email protected].