The Strasburg Railroad was founded in 1832 and was gradually phased out in the 1950s, when railroads were being neglected in favor of newer transportation forms. The site was then purchased by local rail fans, who opened the railroad to the public in 1958. The Strasburg Railroad now offers visitors the opportunity to ride on America's oldest short-line railroad aboard restored passenger cars in a 45-minute train ride to Paradise, Pennsylvania and back.
The Steamtown National Historic Site is located on about 40 acres of the Scranton railroad yard of the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. The park houses a large collection of standard-gauge steam locomotives, freight cars and passenger cars, as well as several maintenance-of-way vehicles and equipment from historic railroads. Today, visitors to Steamtown can view the site's collection of locomotives and cars and even take a short train ride or enjoy an excursion.
The East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company (EBT) was chartered in 1856 to transport coal from Broad Top Mountain. Passenger service was expanded in the early 1900s and a new passenger station was built in Rockhill in 1906. The EBT closed down in 1956, when it was purchased by a large railroad scrapper. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and is the last original narrow-gauge line east of the Rocky Mountains. Visitors to the East Broad Top Railroad site can take steam engine rides through the forests and farms of Pennsylvania; the train ride lasts about one hour and 15 minutes.
The Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad was formed in 1888 and its first line between its namesake boroughs was completed in 1890. From 1890 until 1976, this line was a part of the Reading Railroad. Since 1976, the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad has been an independent company that provides freight and passenger service. Visitors to the site can enjoy an 11-mile train ride along the Swatara Creek aboard a 1920s passenger coach. The steam locomotive--the #91 Mogul 2-6-0--runs limited service but the trains are more regularly hauled by diesel locomotives.
The New Hope and Ivyland Railroad was incorporated in 1962 as a private venture to obtain local track and vintage railroad equipment in order to begin a tourist railroad. In 1966, the group obtained 16.7 miles of the Reading Railroad's New Hope branch and began steam passenger service between New Hope and Buckingham Valley that same year. Visitors to the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad can ride the train, pulled by either a steam or diesel locomotive, depending on the day and month, or take an excursion ride.
