Railroad PennsylvaniaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Railroad, Pennsylvania.
1. Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
RIVER & GORGE EXPLORATION
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway offers narrated excursions along the Lehigh River, passing bridges and entering Lehigh Gorge State Park. The round-trip journey showcases waterfalls, wildlife, and lush forest scenery.
2. East Broad Top Railroad
NARROW GAUGE TIME CAPSULE
East Broad Top Railroad preserves a fully intact 1950s-era narrow gauge railroad with original steam locomotives and workshops. Visitors can tour historic machine shops and ride trains pulled by restored Mikado steam engine No. 16.
3. Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark
ENGINEERING MARVEL
Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark features a 19th-century railway curve offering panoramic views and a museum detailing its role in U.S. rail history. The site includes observation decks and live-streamed railfan cameras.
4. Steamtown National Historic Site
STEAM ERA SHOWCASE
Steamtown National Historic Site occupies a former railyard with a working roundhouse, museum displays, and seasonal steam-powered excursions. The 66-acre complex includes interactive exhibits and a massive 90-foot turntable.
5. Everett Railroad
VINTAGE TRAIN ADVENTURES
Everett Railroad operates scenic rides through Juniata River valleys using 1920s-era steam locomotives and open-window coaches. Special themed trips include ice cream socials and holiday-themed excursions.
6. Railroaders Memorial Museum
ALTOONA RAIL HERITAGE
The Railroaders Memorial Museum chronicles Altoona's railroad legacy through artifacts, photographs, and interactive exhibits. Located near Horseshoe Curve, it highlights the workers who powered Pennsylvania's rail industry.
7. Altoona Railroad Park
FAMILY-FRIENDLY RAIL HUB
Altoona Railroad Park features miniature trains, playgrounds, and picnic areas near historic rail lines. Families can watch active freight trains while enjoying hands-on rail-themed activities.
8. Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad Station
CIVIL WAR LANDMARK
Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad Station served as a hospital during the 1863 battle and now operates as a museum about Civil War transportation. Exhibits detail Abraham Lincoln's arrival prior to his iconic address.
9. Strasburg Rail Road
AMISH COUNTRY ICON
Strasburg Rail Road offers steam train rides through Lancaster County's farmlands using meticulously restored 19th-century equipment. Special events include wine-and-cheese evenings and Christmas-themed journeys.
10. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
HISTORIC ROLLING STOCK
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania displays over 100 locomotives and railcars, including rare Civil War-era equipment. Interactive exhibits explain rail technology's evolution from steam to diesel.
11. Rockhill Trolley Museum
ELECTRIC RAILWAY LEGACY
Rockhill Trolley Museum operates vintage streetcars on a preserved 3-mile line adjacent to East Broad Top Railroad. Visitors can ride restored trolleys from the early 1900s through rural landscapes.
12. Gallitzin Tunnels Park
ALLEGHENY MOUNTAIN PASSAGE
Gallitzin Tunnels Park overlooks historic railroad tunnels that revolutionized cross-state travel in the 1850s. The observation area provides views of modern freight trains emerging from the mountain.
13. Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine
STEAM TRAIN & MINE
Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine combines a anthracite mine tour with a steam locomotive ride around an open-pit mining site. The attraction demonstrates coal's critical role in powering Pennsylvania's railroads.
14. Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
OIL REGION EXCURSIONS
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad offers themed train rides through Pennsylvania's oil heritage region using vintage diesel locomotives. Murder mystery dinners and fall foliage trips are annual highlights.
15. Wanamaker Kempton & Southern Railroad
RURAL VALLEY RIDES
Wanamaker Kempton & Southern Railroad provides hour-long excursions along Ontelaunee Creek using historic diesel engines. Special events include pumpkin trains and visits with Santa Claus.