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OT: Pennsylvania Scenic Railroads (Fall Foliage)

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psuguy04

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Dec 18, 2005
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Looking to take another train "excursion" in PA for fall foliage this year.

I've found the Tioga Central RR, operating out of Wellsboro, but many of the Trip Advisor reviews aren't exactly stellar.

Anyone ever take a train ride for fall foliage in PA? We're not particularly interested in a dinner cruise; rather we're just looking for some nice scenery.
 
There's always Amtrak--and I am *not* joking. The trip over Horseshoe Curve is supposed to be spectacular. There used to be a way you could take the train from Altoona west and then pick up the eastbound a few stations away. Not sure they do that anymore, but you could always rent a car one way and take the train back or vice versa.

Unfortunately the East Broad Top hasn't run for a few years. That one was worth it. If you want to go a *little* further afield, there are some nice excursions in West Virginia. As I recall, one is called the Potomac Eagle.
 
psuguy04 said:
Looking to take another train "excursion" in PA for fall foliage this year.
I've found the Tioga Central RR, operating out of Wellsboro, but many of the Trip Advisor reviews aren't exactly stellar.
Anyone ever take a train ride for fall foliage in PA? We're not particularly interested in a dinner cruise; rather we're just looking for some nice scenery.
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I did, once. Actually, I'm not sure if it was fall foliage or a maple sugar excursion. Either way, I was about 10 and my whole family went on a short train trip. About 15 minutes into the trip, some little girl threw up in the aisle and the entire train car smelled of vomit the rest of the trip. If I think about it, the smell still haunts me.
feel_sick.png
 
fairgambit said:
I did, once. Actually, I'm not sure if it was fall foliage or a maple sugar excursion. Either way, I was about 10 and my whole family went on a short train trip. About 15 minutes into the trip, some little girl threw up in the aisle and the entire train car smelled of vomit the rest of the trip. If I think about it, the smell still haunts me.
feel_sick.png
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That would be a nightmare for me--I think I'd get off and walk the rest of the way home!

The Mansfield/Wellsboro area is absolutely beautiful, especially during the fall. I'm just hoping to be able to take some photos and see nice scenery.
 
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psuguy04 said:
That would be a nightmare for me--I think I'd get off and walk the rest of the way home!
The Mansfield/Wellsboro area is absolutely beautiful, especially during the fall. I'm just hoping to be able to take some photos and see nice scenery.
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I'm sure you'll have a great time. Despite the incident I described, I am thinking of taking the wife on a train trip in the Canadian Rockies next year. We have a friend who's going this year and will await his report before deciding.
 
It's a shame the Knox-Kane RR went out of business. It used to travel across the bridge at Kinzua until it was destroyed by a tornado about 10 years ago. I never actually rode the train but am very familiar with the area and can only imagine how spectacular the views must have been.
 
Skip PA and hit up the Cass Railroad in WV. Epic east coast foliage and you could see the old mill at Babcock State Park, drive up to Blackwater Falls State Park and Dolly Sods. All are among the best east coast spots for foliage. There's nothing like dolly sods in PA.
 
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"Anyone ever take a train ride for fall foliage in PA?"

Yes, my trip was through the Lehigh Gorge State Park along the River. Rather short trip, but nice scenery. Get the train right in downtown Jim Thorpe.
 
psuguy04 said:
Looking to take another train "excursion" in PA for fall foliage this year.

I've found the Tioga Central RR, operating out of Wellsboro, but many of the Trip Advisor reviews aren't exactly stellar.

Anyone ever take a train ride for fall foliage in PA? We're not particularly interested in a dinner cruise; rather we're just looking for some nice scenery.
Click to expand...

There are 100s of scenic railroads throughout the US. There was a PBS special on them and it was actually rather well done. Great Scenic Railway Journeys http://gsrj.com/
 
I'm a bit of a railfan. I love excursion railroads, kind of drives my wife nuts - but our two toddlers love trains as well, so she is kind of forced to 'go with the family'... although I suspect she likes them as well, but doesn't want to admit it (for fear of feeding my addiction).

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in Cumberland is really nice, especially when they do their steam excursions. It is a single track between Cumberland and Frostburg, so they have to use the old turntable in Frostburg to turn the engine around.

There is also a short SRR in Walkersville, MD (Walkersville Southern) it runs from Walkersville to Frederick. They are a small operation and it is actually a nice ride.

ALL of the WVA SRR are awesome for various reasons.

If you ever get the chance, go to Colorado and take the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RR, it runs from Durango to Silverton through the valley and it hugs the valley walls. Sitting on the valley side is NOT for the faint of heart or those who fear heights!

The NAPA Wine Train (dinner train) is also a good 'parents' trip.
 
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lionroar88 said:
I'm a bit of a railfan. I love excursion railroads, kind of drives my wife nuts - but our two toddlers love trains as well, so she is kind of forced to 'go with the family'... although I suspect she likes them as well, but doesn't want to admit it (for fear of feeding my addiction).

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in Cumberland is really nice, especially when they do their steam excursions. It is a single track between Cumberland and Frostburg, so they have to use the old turntable in Frostburg to turn the engine around.

There is also a short SRR in Walkersville, MD (Walkersville Southern) it runs from Walkersville to Frederick. They are a small operation and it is actually a nice ride.

ALL of the WVA SRR are awesome for various reasons.

If you ever get the chance, go to Colorado and take the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RR, it runs from Durango to Silverton through the valley and it hugs the valley walls. Sitting on the valley side is NOT for the faint of heart or those who fear heights!

The NAPA Wine Train (dinner train) is also a good 'parents' trip.
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NAPA Wine Train sounds awesome too.

I just booked a short trip in Tioga County for the wife and me. I've ridden several PA trains before (out of Strasburg, Jim Thorpe, Lewisburg).....but it'll be her first time on the rails. She's really looking forward to it.

We were going to ride the Cheat Mountain Salamander in WV last year, but some life issues got in the way.
 
East Broadtop and Strasburg. There also used to be one down near Elizabethtown.
 
ralpieE said:
East Broadtop and Strasburg. There also used to be one down near Elizabethtown.
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The East Broad Top is currently closed and has been for a couple of years. The Friends of the EBT were not able to raise the cash to buy it, so it currently is in limbo.
 
kgilbert78 said:
The East Broad Top is currently closed and has been for a couple of years. The Friends of the EBT were not able to raise the cash to buy it, so it currently is in limbo.
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They used to have Civil War re-enactments there. Haven't been there for years, as my boy is grown now. I guess that dinner train by Elizabethtown must be closed as well.
 
Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad...not a steam engine. This was the one I thought was closed and mistakenly identified it as Elizabethtown.
 
kgilbert78 said:
Hope they get their RDC's running again someday....
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Slow progress, but progress. Maintaining locomotives along with associated costs of running a railroad is serious $$$$$ for a fairly small non-profit. The Bellefonte group have done a phenomenal job at growing support and keeping rail-related events/projects in the public mind while doing a major overhaul of the RDCs and having them offline for a long time.
 
psuguy04 said:
Looking to take another train "excursion" in PA for fall foliage this year.

I've found the Tioga Central RR, operating out of Wellsboro, but many of the Trip Advisor reviews aren't exactly stellar.

Anyone ever take a train ride for fall foliage in PA? We're not particularly interested in a dinner cruise; rather we're just looking for some nice scenery.
Click to expand...
Rode on it last year.

I found it enjoyable but can't say I have a lot to compare it to.

Looking to do Jim Thorpe this year.

Also you should look at the Ethan Allen Express I believe it is called. Leaves from NY and travels up the Hudson to Rutland, VT Haven't done it yet because the schedule hasn't suited mine, but at the right time of year I beleive it will be spectacular.
 
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