Robertsdale, PA
Friends of the East Broad Top
4.7· 42 Google reviews
At a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-13- TypeRailroad museum with railbike tours
- LocationRobertsdale, PA
- Rating4.7 ★42 Google reviews
- UpcomingSat, Aug 15
About Friends of the East Broad Top
Friends of the East Broad Top operates the free Robertsdale Museum in the railroad’s historic coal district and, on published open Saturdays when weather permits, hosts pedal-powered railbike tours over about 1.5 miles of restored three-foot-gauge main line. This is a distinct public ride experience from the East Broad Top Foundation’s passenger trains at Rockhill Furnace, about 25 minutes away. The Robertsdale visit also includes a historic station and former post office, exhibits, hopper cars, scheduled walking tours, and the mine-and-company-town landscape that explains why the railroad existed.
Ways to explore Robertsdale
Choose the visit that fits your groupActive visitors who meet the rider rules
Weather-permitting railbike tour
Pedal with a museum host over about 1.5 miles of restored narrow-gauge main line toward Wood, with interpretive stops and grades up to 2.5 percent.
Railroad, mining, and community history
Robertsdale Museum complex
Explore exhibits in the former company post office and historic railroad station, plus hopper cars, track, artifacts, audio interpretation, and the gift shop.
Visitors prepared for uneven outdoor terrain
Yard and mine-area walking tours
Volunteer-led tours leave at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. on open days and connect the museum to the wider Robertsdale and Woodvale landscape.
Travelers building a deeper coal-country day
Two-museum Robertsdale stop
Walk a short distance south to Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum for a complementary look at miners, company life, and the regional coal field.
Upcoming Events
Complete official date check
2026 special-event calendar
Reconciled against every remaining date in the official 2026 Robertsdale Museum schedule and the dedicated railbike rules page. One visitor group contains 16 future open dates from August 15 through December 19, 2026. Walking tours are published at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. on open days. Railbike tours are included as weather-permitting activity context only: the schedule proves that the museum is open, not that a ride or seat is guaranteed. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- SeasonThe remaining published 2026 open dates are Aug 15, 22, and 29; Sep 5, 12, 19, and 26; Oct 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31; Nov 28; and Dec 5, 12, and 19
- AccessibilityThe official pages do not promise that the pedal-powered railbike or uneven walking tour is accessible. Use the contact form before traveling when access will determine the visit
- Good ForRailroad and mining-history visitors, active riders able to pedal, photographers, preservation supporters, and travelers pairing Robertsdale with the nearby coal museum
- HoursMost open dates run 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; the four Christmas in Coal Country dates run 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- AdmissionMuseum admission and railbike rides are free; donations support the volunteer preservation work
- Railbike RouteTwo four-seat railbikes use about 1.5 miles of restored main line from the company square toward Wood, with interpretive and rest stops along the grade
- AvailabilityRailbikes operate on open Saturdays only when weather and a museum host permit. The operator publishes no advance reservation system, so a ride is not guaranteed
- Rider RulesEvery rider signs a waiver. The limit is 300 pounds per seat, riders must reach pedals at about a 24-inch inseam, and guests must disclose conditions that strenuous exercise could worsen
- Walking ToursFree walking tours leave at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. on open days and cross uneven railroad and mine-area terrain
- PhoneThe museum phone is answered only while the museum is open; use the official Friends contact form at other times
- Departure WarningEast Broad Top passenger trains do not depart Robertsdale. They board at 421 Meadow Street in Rockhill Furnace
Find the Depot
The Trains
The detailed visitor ride page identifies two four-seat pedal railbikes. Each bike has two differently configured seat pairs with about six inches of adjustment; every tour must include a museum host. General Friends pages sometimes use “handcar” as broader visitor wording, but they do not establish a different scheduled ride vehicle. Do not promise a handcar, motorcar, locomotive, or passenger coach on a Robertsdale visit. East Broad Top Foundation’s steam and diesel passenger equipment operates separately from Rockhill Furnace.
History
Friends acquired the former company post office and arranged a long-term lease on the Robertsdale station.
The restored station opened to visitors as the interim Robertsdale museum.
Friends purchased the Robertsdale station after two decades of stewardship.
The rehabilitated former post office opened as the principal museum exhibit hall.
See full history
Friends of the East Broad Top acquired the former Rockhill Iron and Coal Company post office in Robertsdale in 1987 and initially leased the neighboring East Broad Top station. The station opened as the interim museum in 1991, and Friends purchased it in 2007. The post office, built around 1915, was rehabilitated as the principal museum exhibit space and opened in that role in 2021. Together the buildings, hopper cars, track, archives, and volunteer tours preserve the coal-district end of the East Broad Top story.
Around the Depot
Start with the separate Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum about a tenth of a mile south on Main Street. If the day continues to Rockhill Furnace, East Broad Top Railroad is the next train-first destination and Rockhill Trolley Museum sits directly beside it. The list is ordered by distance from the Robertsdale ride, distinguishes all three organizations, and opens complete internal planning pages rather than thin outbound cards.
Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
Rent a Car
Compare the attraction location with your airport or lodging before deciding whether a rental car fits the trip.
Compare rentals on Discover Cars →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Tours & Activities near Robertsdale
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
Browse nearby tours →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can visitors ride at Robertsdale?
Yes, on published open Saturdays when weather and a museum host permit. Friends operates two four-seat pedal railbikes on about 1.5 miles of restored main line. A ride is not guaranteed.
How much does the museum and railbike cost?
Friends publishes free museum admission and free railbike rides. Donations support the restoration and museum program.
Can I reserve a railbike time?
The official visitor pages do not publish an advance reservation system. Arrive during museum hours, ask the host, and treat weather, staffing, and eight-seat capacity as real constraints.
What are the railbike rider rules?
Each rider signs a waiver, must be able to reach pedals at about a 24-inch inseam, and must stay within the 300-pound-per-seat limit. Tell the host about medical conditions that strenuous exercise could worsen.
Do East Broad Top passenger trains leave Robertsdale?
No. East Broad Top Foundation’s passenger trains depart from 421 Meadow Street in Rockhill Furnace, about 25 minutes northeast.
Is Friends of the East Broad Top the same as East Broad Top Railroad?
No. Friends is a separate preservation nonprofit that operates the Robertsdale museum and railbike tours. East Broad Top Foundation operates the Rockhill passenger railroad.
When are walking tours offered?
The museum publishes walking tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. on open days. The route uses uneven terrain, so wear suitable footwear.
Is the railbike accessible?
The official rules require riders to pedal, reach controls, and tolerate strenuous exercise. No accessible railbike accommodation is promised; contact Friends before traveling with a specific access question.
What should I pair with the museum?
Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum is a short walk south. East Broad Top Railroad and Rockhill Trolley Museum are about 25 minutes northeast and use separate tickets and schedules.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 13, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official 2026 Robertsdale Museum schedule, hours, admission, activities, address, and phone
- Official railbike route, equipment, rider rules, cost, and weather guidance
- Official Robertsdale and Rockhill tour distinctions
- Official museum-building and visitor-program history
- Official organization identity and preservation mission
- Official Friends contact form
- Official FAQ distinguishing Friends property from East Broad Top Foundation operations
- Wikimedia Commons rights-cleared Robertsdale and coal-region media