Pennsylvania Railroads: Map, History, Abandoned Lines
Last revised: October 16, 2024
By: Adam Burns
Pennsylvania is tops in the east and in terms of diversity
and density, as few other places can match it around the country save
for perhaps California.
Historically, the state was home to many of the Northeast's most revered classic railroads, particularly the anthracite roads being that the coal was predominantly located in Pennsylvania.
History
Today, the Keystone State offers everything from numerous main lines that see dozens of hotshot trains daily to no less than fifty short lines.
And, on top of that, Pennsylvania is also home to several museums and tourist railroads, as well as General Electric's Erie facility that still builds new diesel locomotives.
Alas, its rich history has also meant thousands of miles of abandoned corridors now pepper its borders; over 6,000 miles of railroad have been shuttered since the 1920's, most of which were scrapped after the 1970's.
In all, the state is nearly unmatched in what is available to see and experience. So, if you are after everything Pennsylvania has to offer believe me when I say it will certainly take more than one visit to the Keystone State!
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western FT's are on point of a westbound freight stopped at Pocono Summit, Pennsylvania just after cresting the eastern slope of the Pocono Mountains on May 10, 1959. In the background is another westbound freight approaching. Ken Von Stueben photo. American-Rails.com collection.Pennsylvania railroads date back to 1827 when the Mauch Chunk Switchback Gravity Railroad began operations to serve a local mine at Summit Hill by moving coal on a downhill inclined plane, roughly 14-miles away to the Lehigh Canal in Mauch Chunk (today, known as Jim Thorpe).
Because grading of such a railroad was not a major priority, after construction began in January of 1827, the line was open for business by May 5th the same year.
By 1846 the railroad replaced its mules with steam power and added an additional track to meet demand, soon being renamed as the Mauch Chunk, Summit Hill & Switchback Railroad.
It remained an important freight railroad until the more efficient Panther Creek Railroad began operations in 1872, which itself later became part of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
Statistics
Interestingly, the history of the switchback did not end there. The CNJ sold the Panther Creek to the new Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway Company in 1929 which was able to survive until the Great Depression finally forced it into bankruptcy by 1932.
The original incline system also remained in use until 1939 as an early roller coaster. Other railroads quickly followed the Mauch Chunk and by 1840 the Keystone State ranked first in rail mileage at over 700 miles, and by 1880 was home to over 6,000 miles!
When one thinks of Northeast railroading, most of the railroads that defined it were situated in, or operated through Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia Transportation Company PCC #2085 exits from the subway entrance at 40th Street, bound for the 61st Street station and loop on Baltimore Avenue during the 1960s. American-Rails.com collection.Today, Pennsylvania's rail network, after the splitting of Conrail in 1999, is mostly operated by CSX and Norfolk Southern. Additionally, there are several regionals and short lines that also operate in the Keystone State.
Current Railroads
- CSX Transportation
- Norfolk Southern
- New York, Susquehanna & Western
- Wheeling & Lake Erie
- Reading & Northern
- Aliquippa & Ohio River Railroad
- Allentown & Auburn Railroad
- Allegheny Valley Railroad
- Belvidere & Delaware River Railway
- Brandywine Valley Railroad
- Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad
- Conemaugh & Black Lick Railroad
- Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad
- East Broad Top Connecting Railroad
- East Penn Railroad
- Everett Railroad
- Gettysburg & Northern Railroad
- Juniata Valley Railroad
- Landisville Terminal & Transfer Company
- Lehigh Railway
- Lehigh Valley Rail Management
- Luzerne & Susquehanna Railway
- Lycoming Valley Railroad
- Maryland Midland Railway
- Middletown & Hummelstown
- New Castle Industrial Railroad
- New Hope Railroad
- Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad
- Northampton Development Center (NDC) Railroad
- North Shore Railroad
- Oil Creek & Titusville Lines
- Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad
- Pennsylvania & Southern Railway
- Pennsylvania Southwestern Railroad
- Pittsburgh & Ohio Central Railroad
- Pittsburgh, Allegheny & McKees Rocks Railroad
- R.J. Corman Railroad - Allentown Lines
- R.J. Corman Railroad - Pennsylvania Lines
- Shamokin Valley Railroad
- SMS Rail Service, Inc.
- Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad
- Stourbridge Railway
- Tyburn Railroad
- Union County Industrial Railroad
- Union Railroad
- Upper Merion & Plymouth Railroad
- Wellsboro & Corning Railroad
- Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad
- York Railway
- Youngstown & Southeastern Railroad
In total, today's railroads in Pennsylvania operate just over 5,000 route miles, which is well under half the state's all-time high of more than 11,500 miles.
Abandoned Lines
By mileage, no state comes close to the abandonments suffered in Pennsylvania, which now amounts to roughly 6,500 miles.
Abandoned grades can be found everywhere here but are particularly concentrated to the southeast.
There are thousands of miles of former PRR secondary and branches lines, alone, scattered throughout Pennsylvania.
Many of these lines served coal mines (anthracite and bituminous) while others were agricultural in nature.
In eastern and northeastern Pennsylvania, where the state's rich seams of anthracite coal were located you can find scars of old branches operated by Lehigh Valley, Lehigh & New England, Central Railroad of New Jersey, and the Reading.
To the west, components of the Baltimore & Ohio's subsidiaries Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh and Buffalo & Susquehanna have been removed.
Interestingly, most main lines across the state remain active; two notable through routes since closed include the PRR's Baltimore-Harrisburg main line (the double-tracked Northern Central Railroad, which once handled its "Spirit Of St. Louis" streamliner) and Western Maryland's Connellsville Extension (Cumberland-Connellsville).
Finally, be sure and check out the remnants of the fabled Ma & Pa short line, the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad. This bucolic system operated a roundabout, circuitous and steep route from Baltimore to York.
Since the 1920s Pennsylvania has lost about 57% of its rail infrastructure due to so many abandonments of anthracite railroads and low-density branch/secondary lines.
For a more in-depth look at Pennsylvania's rail mileage over the years please have a look at the chart below.
State Mileage Chart
First Railroad
* Pennsylvania's very first railroad system was the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company's Mauch Chunk Switchback Gravity Railroad. Built to a gauge of 3-feet, 6 inches, which later became recognized as narrow-gauge, it handled coal from a mine near Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe). Its first 9 miles utilized an old wagon road and operated on a gravity system with mules for power. As coal demand increased it upgraded to a steam funicular system in 1846. After freight operations ceased in 1874 it operated as a roller-coaster tourist attraction until 1932.
Pennsylvania also features a blanket of transit, commuter and passenger rail services from Amtrak's Northeast Corridor (which operates through the southeastern corner of the state) to SEPTA and the Harrisburg electrification extension.
While Pittsburgh and western PA sees far less commuter and passenger trains Amtrak does operate its Capitol Limited, Lake Shore Limited and Pennsylvanian through Pittsburgh on their way to the Midwest (Chicago).
State Map
However, east of Harrisburg is where the real action occurs. With the
help of Pennsylvania, the Harrisburg main line was upgraded to operate
at 110 mph and has trimmed travel time between Philly and Harrisburg to
90 minutes (which used to take two hours).
SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority) is king in and around Philly and typically moves over 5 million commuters annually with Amtrak seeing over 100 trains a day operating in or through Philadelphia.
Reading power is lined up next to Western Maryland BL2 #82 and the Delaware & Hudson's famous PA's at Hagerstown, Maryland during February of 1972. Jerry Custer photo.Historic Landmarks and Museums
Of course, if it's historical railroad landmarks you are interested in few states top what can be found in the Keystone State.
There are far too many to name here but first and foremost is the PRR's legendary Horseshoe Curve located near Altoona which still sees 50 to 60 trains a day and includes a triple-track main line.
The spot is also home to the Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark, where you can climb to track level and watch the railroad action live.
Altoona is also home to the PRR's famous Juniata Shops and today the railroad's former master mechanics building (and adjoining parcel of land) is home to the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum.
Other famous museums include the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, located in the former Lackawanna shops.
The museum (home to several pieces of historic railroad equipment) is a federally funded and operated site with interactive exhibits to learn about the history of the steam locomotive and railroad (there are also restorations efforts ongoing to completely restore one of the Pennsylvania's vaunted Class K-4 Pacifics to operation).
Pennsylvania FA-1 #9605, Erie-Built #9482-A, and what appears to be a "C-Liner" at Enola, Pennsylvania, circa 1960. Fred Byerly photo. American-Rails.com collection.Other famous locations include:
- Rockville Bridge at Harrisburg, a colossal stone-arch bridge of the PRR that crosses the Susquehanna and is wide enough to include four tracks (although only three remain in place today)
- Philadelphia, which was once home to the famous steam builder, Baldwin Locomotive Works and the Pennsylvania Railroad herself
- Kinzua Viaduct of the former Erie Railroad that stood 301 feet high until 2003 when an F1 tornado demolished the structure
- PRR's massive 30th Street Station that is still used by Amtrak; FreightCar America that builds new rail cars at Johnstown
- ACF Industries which does likewise at Milton
- Knuckle-coupler producer McConway & Torley at Pittsburgh
- Erie's Starrucca Viaduct used by NS
- Tunkhannock Viaduct used by Canadian Pacific
- B&O's Sand Patch Tunnel, now operated by CSX
A trio of Lehigh Valley C628's rumble their way through Bowmanstown, Pennsylvania, along the Lehigh River, in August, 1975. Tony Organek photo.Lastly, Pennsylvania railroads include a plethora of tourist railroads and excursion trains.
First and foremost is the renowned Strasburg Railroad, which has continuously operated steam locomotives since 1832.
Located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country not only does the railroad operate through beautiful rolling hills and valleys but also is the busiest tourist railroad in the lower 48 with some 400,000 visitors annually.
The Strasburg is also well known for its shop complex, which is regularly called on to service steam locomotives such as Union Pacific's 4-8-4 #844 and 4-6-6-4 #3985.
A trio of Pennsylvania GP9's, led by #7075, have a long freight under the wires at Columbia, Pennsylvania, circa 1966. Fred Byerly photo. American-Rails.com collection.Strasburg is not the only steam tourist railroad in Pennsylvania, however.
There is also the East Broad Top. Located in Rockhill Furnace, the railroad operates several Baldwin built steam locomotives. In all, Pennsylvania is a unique experience all in their own.
Whether you are interested in main line railroading, commuter operations, live steam locomotives or even a stay at a bed & breakfast located right along a busy main line railroad, the Keystone State offers it all and much, much more!
Heck, to be completely satisfied in seeing everything Pennsylvania has to offer it will quite likely take more than one visit so you may want to plan accordingly for your first trip!
Photos
A pair of Norfolk & Western SD40-2s and Delaware & Hudson U23B #2311 run light through Carbondale, Pennsylvania during the summer of 1978. Randy Kotuby photo.Recent Articles
-
Southern Pacific Railroad: Map, History, Logo
Nov 08, 26 01:58 PM
The Southern Pacific, from the December 2, 1865 charter and the Big Four to Sprint, the Rio Grande Industries purchase of 1988, and the Union Pacific merger of February 1, 1997. -
California Awards Flexible Rail Aid to Nine Projects
Nov 08, 26 01:15 PM
CalSTA on November 5, 2026 awarded $66.58 million in flexible State Rail Assistance to nine California projects. Each amount in the summary is a cap, printed as up to. -
CSX Leaves Three Days Out of the Weekly Reports
Nov 08, 26 12:02 PM
CSX told the Surface Transportation Board it cannot recover October 27-29 data for the EP 724 and EP 787 reports covering the week ending October 30, 2026. -
NJ Transit Advances Three Station Housing Projects
Nov 08, 26 11:56 AM
NJ Transit on November 5, 2026 advanced station projects in Jersey City, Bound Brook, and Morristown. The three are projected to add more than 1,000 homes. -
River Fox Train Wraps a Locomotive for America 250
Nov 08, 26 11:06 AM
The River Fox Train in West Sacramento wrapped a locomotive with America 250 markings, the American flag, and the Sacramento skyline. The wrap is expected to stay through 2027. -
California Keeps Metrolink Service in the 2027 Budget
Nov 07, 26 11:35 PM
Metrolink says a California State Transportation Agency grant lets the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget keep service at current levels. The board hearing is November 13, 2026. -
WM's 4-6-6-4 Locomotives (M-2): Specs, Roster, History
Nov 07, 26 04:37 PM
Western Maryland class M-2, twelve Baldwin 4-6-6-4s numbered 1201-1212, built in 1940 and 1941 for Hagerstown-Connellsville fast freight. Roster, specifications, and retirement in 1952-1953. -
Missouri Pacific Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Nov 07, 26 04:26 PM
Missouri Pacific diesel roster with builder serials, order numbers, subsidiary lettering, and renumberings. Alco, Baldwin, Electro-Motive, and General Electric. Texas and Pacific locomotives are on th… -
Missouri Pacific Steam Roster (Built Since 1900)
Nov 07, 26 04:21 PM
Missouri Pacific steam locomotives built since 1900. Drury quantity column 1,439. Sedalia rebuilds counted once, 1,407 frames. Last steam was 0-6-0 9301 in November 1955. -
Missouri Pacific Railroad: Map, Locomotives, Logo, History
Nov 07, 26 04:19 PM
The Missouri Pacific was a large Midwestern that carried a long history of financial difficulty until later years. -
LIRR Service Changes Start on November 9
Nov 07, 26 03:15 PM
New Long Island Rail Road schedules start on every branch on Monday, November 9, 2026. Midday and weekend times change. Rush hour does not. Babylon service returns in stages. -
Draft EA Reviews Norfolk Southern Track in London, Ohio
Nov 07, 26 11:35 AM
The Surface Transportation Board environmental office issued a draft assessment on November 6, 2026, for about 0.96 miles of Norfolk Southern track in London, Ohio. Comments are due November 20. -
Metrolink Lines Will Not Run on Three Routes November 7
Nov 07, 26 10:53 AM
Metrolink will not run the Ventura County, Orange County, or Inland Empire-Orange County lines on November 7 and 8, 2026. The advisory says no substitute transportation will be provided. -
Hartford Line Adds a Weekday Round Trip on November 16
Nov 07, 26 10:48 AM
Connecticut said the Hartford Line adds a weekday New Haven-Hartford round trip on November 16, starts a morning train in Springfield, and extends weekend stops to Windsor and Windsor Locks. -
Board Issues a Policy Statement on Rail Preemption
Nov 07, 26 10:44 AM
The Surface Transportation Board placed a policy statement on public inspection for the November 9 Federal Register. It reviews existing preemption precedent and says it makes no binding determination… -
NJ Transit Restores Lines After the Newark Drawbridge Stop
Nov 07, 26 10:37 AM
NJ Transit said Morris and Essex service between Hackettstown and Dover, and Montclair-Boonton service between Hackettstown and Montclair State University, resumed after the Newark Drawbridge stop. -
EMD "SD35" Locomotives: Data Sheet, Specs, Roster
Nov 06, 26 10:35 PM
EMD SD35, 2,500 horsepower, 16-cylinder 567D3A, built June 1964 through January 1966. 360 locomotives. Specifications and the production roster by owner, serial, and order. -
EMD "SDP35" Locomotives: Data Sheet, Specs, Roster
Nov 06, 26 10:32 PM
EMD SDP35, the steam-generator SD35. 35 locomotives, July 1964 through September 1965. Seaboard Air Line 1100-1119, Atlantic Coast Line 550, Louisville and Nashville 1700-1703, Union Pacific 1400-1409… -
RJ Corman Will Be Replaced on Part of the Luzerne Lines
Nov 06, 26 01:34 PM
A November 6, 2026 notice says Wilkes-Barre Terminal Railway would acquire about 59.65 miles in Luzerne County and replace R.J. Corman as operator on part of the line. The earliest date is November 22… -
NS Names a Student Hub at the University of Georgia
Nov 06, 26 12:03 PM
Norfolk Southern said a 100,000 dollar gift named a student-organization hub in Driftmier Engineering Center. The University of Georgia marked the naming on October 26. The space is for 23 clubs. -
Union Pacific Filed Its Vena Recording Certification
Nov 06, 26 11:56 AM
Union Pacific filed a November 5, 2026 verified statement that the confidential label is off the March 17 Vena recording and that parties of record received a copy at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. -
OmniTRAX Adds Tenants at Its Blue Island Hub
Nov 06, 26 10:26 AM
OmniTRAX has signed new construction-company leases at its 90-acre Blue Island, Illinois, hub and is planning a second phase. -
Veterans and Active-Duty Members Exceed 16 Percent of Norfolk Southern
Nov 06, 26 10:14 AM
Norfolk Southern said on November 5, 2026, that more than 3,000 veterans and active-duty service members are more than 16 percent of its workforce. This year grants are $100,000 and $50,000. -
BNSF: Merger Would Put Half of U.S. Rail Shipments Under One Railroad
Nov 06, 26 10:00 AM
BNSF chief marketing officer Tom G. Williams told customers on November 3, 2026, that a Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger would put about half of U.S. rail shipments under one railroad. Nothing is… -
Amtrak Opens a Winter Fare Sale
Nov 06, 26 09:28 AM
Amtrak opened a Winter Wanderlust sale on November 5, 2026. Book by November 12 for travel from December 1, 2026, through March 14, 2027. Blackout dates apply. Coach and Acela Business only. -
CN and CPKC Report October Grain Records
Nov 06, 26 08:50 AM
CPKC reported October 2026 grain records in Canada and the United States. CN reported 3.54 million metric tonnes across Canada. The releases do not print a combined total. -
New Brunswick Transload Gets CN Rail Service
Nov 06, 26 08:49 AM
CN said on November 4, 2026, that it has started serving AD Gagnon Transload Services near Grand Falls, New Brunswick. The site is three kilometres from the Trans-Canada Highway and lists room for 106… -
Together, Freight and Passenger Rail Can Grow, Union Pacific Says
Nov 06, 26 08:47 AM
Union Pacific said on November 5, 2026, that passenger obligations would remain if it combines with Norfolk Southern. The capacity claim is a Union Pacific analysis, not a Surface Transportation Board… -
FM "C-Liner" Locomotives: Specs, Roster, Photos
Nov 05, 26 11:19 PM
Fairbanks-Morse Consolidation Line cab units, the C-Liners. 165 locomotives, Beloit and Kingston, March 1950 through February 1955. Models, specs, and production rosters. -
Atlanta, Birmingham & Coast Railroad: Map, History, Roster
Nov 05, 26 12:03 PM
Atlanta, Birmingham & Coast, from Brunswick and Waycross to Atlanta and Birmingham. Atlantic Coast Line control at the close of 1926. Merged in January 1946 as the Western Division. Steam roster of th… -
El Paso & Southwestern Railroad: Map, History, Logo
Nov 05, 26 12:00 PM
The El Paso & Southwestern, the Phelps Dodge copper railroad from Tucson to the Rock Island at Tucumcari. Southern Pacific control on October 31, 1924. -
Brightline Says Orlando Service Has Resumed
Nov 05, 26 11:55 AM
Brightline said on November 5, 2026, that trains to and from Orlando have resumed after weather suspensions in Brevard County. Later that morning the departures page still showed the Orlando segment s… -
Metra Customers Must Sign Up Again
Nov 05, 26 11:43 AM
Metra says customers who want service alerts must sign up again at metratracker.com. The November 2 story says the new system has launched and the old email list is shut down. A notice on the same pag… -
Norfolk Southern Packs Six Projects Into One Window
Nov 05, 26 11:38 AM
Norfolk Southern used one 26-hour window on the W Line for six projects in Indiana and Kentucky, including three bridge replacements. The October 27 account does not give the calendar day of the work. -
CSX: More Time to Comment on an Inspection Waiver
Nov 05, 26 11:29 AM
The Federal Railroad Administration extended comments on a CSX petition for relief from some qualified mechanical inspector rules until December 2, 2026. The November 2 notice does not grant the waive… -
Brightline Expects Orlando Service on Thursday
Nov 05, 26 09:21 AM
Brightline said on November 4, 2026, that it expects trains to and from Orlando to resume on Thursday, November 5. South Florida stations kept running. The departures page still showed the Orlando seg… -
Union Pacific: More Time to Comment on an Inspection Waiver
Nov 05, 26 09:15 AM
The Federal Railroad Administration extended comments on a Union Pacific petition for relief from some qualified mechanical inspector rules until December 2, 2026. The November 2 notice does not grant… -
Wisconsin Opens Comments on the 2027 Freight Plan
Nov 05, 26 09:03 AM
WisDOT opened the draft 2027 State Freight Plan for comment through December 1, 2026. The plan covers freight rail with highways, harbors, aviation, and intermodal links. Completion is expected in sum… -
U.S. Rail Traffic Rose 3.5 Percent in the Week Ending October 31
Nov 05, 26 08:52 AM
U.S. railroads moved 514,080 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending October 31, 2026, up 3.5 percent from a year earlier, the Association of American Railroads said on November 4. -
Muni and Bay Area Transit Measures Pass
Nov 05, 26 08:49 AM
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said on November 4, 2026 that Proposition H and a regional transit measure passed. Proposition H is about 160 million dollars a year for Muni. The regiona… -
Ground Rules Set for Responsive Applications
Nov 05, 26 08:47 AM
Decision No. 46, served November 4, 2026, denies a request to add Walsenburg to the Union Pacific interchange list and sets what CPKC and CN must include in responsive applications. Four CPKC proposal… -
Video of the Vena Address Must Be Released
Nov 05, 26 08:42 AM
The Surface Transportation Board on November 4, 2026 denied the Union Pacific appeal and ordered the March 17 shipper-conference recording released to the parties by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on November 5. C… -
Chicago & North Western Iron Ore C628s
Nov 04, 26 11:47 PM
Chicago and North Western C628s 6701-6730, the ex-Norfolk and Western high-hoods, in Upper Peninsula iron-ore service from the mid-1970s until December 21, 1986, and what happened to each unit. -
Warrenton Railroad: Serving Warrenton, NC (1884-1985)
Nov 04, 26 10:33 PM
The three-mile Warrenton Railroad, from Warren Plains to the North Carolina county seat. Chartered January 28, 1871. First train November 8, 1884. Closed in 1985. -
Rio Grande Steam Locomotives (Since 1900)
Nov 04, 26 11:40 AM
Denver & Rio Grande Western steam locomotives built since 1900. Standard gauge quantity 435 and narrow gauge 48. Challengers, 2-8-8-2s, Mountains, Northerns, and the K-27, K-28, K-36, and K-37. -
Rio Grande Diesel Locomotives (All-Time)
Nov 04, 26 11:39 AM
Denver & Rio Grande Western diesel locomotives, each frame once. 554 units, from the 1941 NW2 through the 1990 GP60s. FT, F3, F7, and F9 sets are not counted again under their 1950 numbers. -
Rio Grande Railroad: Map, Logo, History, Rosters
Nov 04, 26 11:34 AM
Denver & Rio Grande Western history, from William Jackson Palmer and the October 27, 1870 charter through the Royal Gorge, the Moffat route, the California Zephyr, and Union Pacific common control… -
Lindblom Gift Expands the Fort Wayne Restoration Shop
Nov 04, 26 11:14 AM
Art Lindblom gave the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society more than $1.4 million, its largest single gift, to expand the New Haven shop. The addition is planned for late 2026 and early 2027. A sepa… -
Design Contract Awarded for the Forest Park Branch
Nov 04, 26 11:09 AM
The Chicago Transit Board approved a design contract for about 13 miles of Blue Line track from the Illinois Medical District to the I-290 Bridge. The release summary calls it a $17 million contract… -
Kanawha River Railroad: The Norfolk Southern Lease Is Renewed
Nov 04, 26 10:51 AM
Kanawha River Railroad filed to keep leasing 309.45 miles from Norfolk Southern in West Virginia and Ohio. The second amendment is dated August 17, 2026. The Board has not set the date the exemption t…
