For the railroad loving members....

[Radar1]

We have been to Steamtown a couple times, and to Strasbourg also. Having grown up in the Philly suburbs, we always had a fascination with trolleys that we rode every day to high school.
Steamtown has the "Electric City Trolley Museum" right next door, and it has some of the "Red Arrow lines" trolleys I rode as a kid.
The PA trolley museum near Pittsburgh also has some of the trolleys I rode as a kid, and we have been there too.
I still need to visit the Rockhill trolley museum, which is located next to the East Broad Top railway, they have one of two suburban 3 car "Liberty Liner" trainsets that were used originally in Chicago, but later used on the Norristown high speed line near Philly.
I was grateful to have the electrified PRR high speed railroar right in my back yard growing up. The 4 line Northeast corridor was right there at our back yard.

[akmacs]

I have worked as a conductor/brakeman for the Alaska Railroad since the late 80s. I still have my seniority but moved into a positive train control position in 2016. The ARR is somewhat unique in that you can work in passenger, freight, and yard service positions. I don't consider myself a railroad hobbyist but do enjoy traveling by rail and have the Vancouver to Toronto Via Rail trip on my bucket list.

[Telescopist]

Originally Posted by Radar1

We have been to Steamtown a couple times, and to Strasbourg also. Having grown up in the Philly suburbs, we always had a fascination with trolleys that we rode every day to high school.

Lancaster where I hail from was a hub for a trolley system which radiated from downtown Lancaster's Penn Square to Columbia, Marietta, Ephrata (where a rider could connect to Reading at Adamstown), Millersville, Lititz, Manheim, Strasburg, Quarryville, Terre Hill and Coatesville in Chester County, where one could connect to Philadelphia. At its peak, the Lancaster system had 40,000 riders a day. In its heyday @1913, Lancaster had 40 different trolleys operating with 12 million passengers using them annually.

[MrLynn]

Originally Posted by Radar1

We have been to Steamtown a couple times, and to Strasbourg also. Having grown up in the Philly suburbs, we always had a fascination with trolleys that we rode every day to high school.
Steamtown has the "Electric City Trolley Museum" right next door, and it has some of the "Red Arrow lines" trolleys I rode as a kid.
The PA trolley museum near Pittsburgh also has some of the trolleys I rode as a kid, and we have been there too.
I still need to visit the Rockhill trolley museum, which is located next to the East Broad Top railway, they have one of two suburban 3 car "Liberty Liner" trainsets that were used originally in Chicago, but later used on the Norristown high speed line near Philly.
I was grateful to have the electrified PRR high speed railroar right in my back yard growing up. The 4 line Northeast corridor was right there at our back yard.

Then we've been by your former house many times on NE Corridor trains! Daughter and family just left the Rt 128 Station (first stop after leaving Boston) on Train 93 for Richmond, Virginia.

For trolley lovers, though not in Pennsylvania, the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine has a large campus devoted to historic trolleys, a big shop for restorations, and also houses many buses and subway cars. It's worth a day:

https://trolleymuseum.org

[MrLynn]

Originally Posted by akmacs

I have worked as a conductor/brakeman for the Alaska Railroad since the late 80s. I still have my seniority but moved into a positive train control position in 2016. The ARR is somewhat unique in that you can work in passenger, freight, and yard service positions. I don't consider myself a railroad hobbyist but do enjoy traveling by rail and have the Vancouver to Toronto Via Rail trip on my bucket list.

I would love to get up there and ride the Alaska Railroad. Some day. . .

We took the Via Rail trip from Toronto to Vancouver (with a stop in Jasper) back in 2008: wonderful riding in the old '50s equipment. We ferried to Vancouver Island, then again to Seattle, where we caught the eastbound Empire Builder (and the Lake Shore Limited) back home: memorable trip.

[cpaharley2008]

Here are some more...https://www.treehugger.com/fabulous-...-globe-4863745

[Iowa Dave]

Took the Santa excursion train last Saturday night out of New Haven Indiana. Had lots of fun with our kids and grand kids. Had a private conversation with Santa Clause, where I learned I am 5 years older than he is. Sobering.

Though my Buckeyes didn’t make the grade earlier in the day, I’m still backing them and will until I can cheer no more. Everybody’s season ends with a loss at tournament time except one.

I could always relate to the railroad poem when I was working.
I’m not allowed to drive the train………

Iowa Dave

[MrLynn]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Here are some more...https://www.treehugger.com/fabulous-...-globe-4863745

I don't think I'd call Funiculars trains—nor trolleys, either—fascinating though they may be.

[akmacs]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Took the Santa excursion train last Saturday night out of New Haven Indiana. Had lots of fun with our kids and grand kids. Had a private conversation with Santa Clause, where I learned I am 5 years older than he is. Sobering.

Though my Buckeyes didn’t make the grade earlier in the day, I’m still backing them and will until I can cheer no more. Everybody’s season ends with a loss at tournament time except one.

I could always relate to the railroad poem when I was working.
I’m not allowed to drive the train………

Iowa Dave

I remember that poem hanging up in the old yard office I first worked out of. It was the type of place with all sorts of interesting railroad history laying around and always smelled of diesel and cigarette smoke. You could always find a crew or two playing pinochle on their lunch break. I was lucky to hire out when I did. Modern railroading isn't all bad by any means but a lot of things were lost along the way.

[akmacs]

Originally Posted by MrLynn

I would love to get up there and ride the Alaska Railroad. Some day. . .

We took the Via Rail trip from Toronto to Vancouver (with a stop in Jasper) back in 2008: wonderful riding in the old '50s equipment. We ferried to Vancouver Island, then again to Seattle, where we caught the eastbound Empire Builder (and the Lake Shore Limited) back home: memorable trip.

Hope you make it up here some day. We have some great scenery to take in from the rail. My favorite trip to work was between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Many of my co-workers favor the Anchorage to Seward trip. Happy to answer questions for anyone considering a train trip while visiting.

[fgunderson]

another outfit to check-out located in Skagway Alaska is the White pass/Yukon route
railroad. Narrow gage track operating out of Skagway to sites over the border into
Canada and back. Lot of info online on it.
FGunderson/Wrangell,Alaska

[cpaharley2008]

Here you go.....https://wpyr.com

[Steven M]

I'll add another train museum to the list. The Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois. There's a KOA nearby along with a few other campgrounds in the area.


irm.org

[akmacs]

I can share some photos of the Alaska Railroad and White Pass & Yukon. My wife and I made a few trips to Skagway and rode on the WP&YR.

[akmacs]

Here are a couple where the melt from a summer snowstorm caused some problems. Excuse my terrible photography skills.