Pennsylvania Live Steamers, Inc.(palivesteamers.org), located five miles south of Schwenksville, is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation of railroad steam engines. Established in 1946, its members operate miniature steam engines that are between 1/8 and 1/12 the original size on a five-acre site. The site includes 3,200 feet of 1.5-inch scale (7.25-inch gauge) and 3,000 feet of 1.0-inch scale (4.75-inch gauge) tracks, as well as an 800-foot multi-gauge loop and a 219-foot, dual-track 1.0-inch gauge loop. The track layout includes multiple unloading and handicapped facilities. The organization meets seasonally between May through October, and admission is only offered to members and their guests.
The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad (newhoperailroad.com), located approximately 30 miles east of Schwenksville, was founded in 1962 by a group of Philadelphia-area railroad enthusiasts. It includes four coal-fired steam engines: the 4-8-4 "Niagara" built in 1946 by the American Locomotive Company; the 0-6-0 "Switcher" built in 1942 for the United States Army; the 2-8-0 "Consolidation" built in 1925 by Baldwin Locomotive Works; and the 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler," which is the only steam locomotive on the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad designed for passenger service. Excursions are offered seasonally between May and October. Passengers may choose between seven excursions that range from 50 minutes to two hours in length: Song & Story Hour, the Grapevine Express (wine and cheese excursion), Friday Night Fireworks Express, Evening Star Dinner Trains (with three-course meal), Murder Mystery, Beer Tasting, and Sunday Brunch.
Established in 1963, the WK & S Railroad (kemptontrain.com) is located in Kempton, approximately one hour north of Schwenksville. The all-volunteer organization includes a variety of historic trains, passenger cars and cabooses, as well as two steam engines: the 65-ton 0-6-0 locomotive built in 1930 by the H.K. Porter Company, and the 2-6-2 logging locomotive built in 1914 by Baldwin Locomotive Works. The organization operates on weekends between May and October, with four departures per day. Special excursions are offered throughout the year, including the Easter Bunny Express, the Pumpkin Express, the Halloween Train, and the Santa Claus Special.
The Franklin Institute (fi.edu) in Philadelphia, located approximately 30 miles south of Schwenksville, is one of the oldest scientific institutes in the United States. It includes three historic steam engines: the Baldwin 60000, the Philadelphia & Reading #3, and the "Rocket." In 1926, the Baldwin engine was the 60,000th steam locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works, and was designed to test the possible benefits of high-steam pressure for the improvement of steam locomotives. After positive tests throughout the East Coast, it performed poorly in the mountainous regions of the Pacific Coast and subsequently was sold to the Franklin Institute for one dollar in 1933. The Philadelphia & Reading #3 was built in 1842 by Eastwick & Harrison. This coal-burning engine was one of only 20 locomotives built by the company between 1838 and 1844. The "Rocket," built in 1838, served for 41 years on the Reading to Pottstown section of the railroad, and was featured at the 1893 World Exposition in Chicago.
