Stewartstown, PA
Stewartstown Railroad
4.5· 95 Google reviews
At a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-11- TypeHeritage railroad & tourist attraction
- LocationStewartstown, PA
- Rating4.5 ★95 Google reviews
- UpcomingSat, Aug 15
About Stewartstown Railroad
Stewartstown Railroad is an all-volunteer heritage operation on a historic 7.4-mile short line between Stewartstown and New Freedom. Most public trips leave from the 1914 Stewartstown station and use restored passenger coaches, an open-air car, cabooses, or maintenance motorcars, depending on the event. The calendar mixes family rides, evening programs, full-line motorcar trips, and a hands-on locomotive experience rather than a single daily excursion.
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Ways to Ride
Choose the visit that fits your groupFamilies and seasonal visitors
Family and themed excursions
Current listings include a petting-zoo trip, a staged western train robbery, and four Pumpkin Patch Special dates.
See official details →Rail enthusiasts age nine and older
New Freedom Motor Cars
A three-hour, full-line open-air motorcar trip covers 7.4 miles each way with an hour in New Freedom. Children under nine are not permitted, and the operator warns about hard seats, no seatbelts, and possible bee exposure.
See official details →Hands-on locomotive enthusiasts
Hands On The Throttle
A one-hour private experience for a participant age 13 or older and one guest, using the 1946 GE 44-ton locomotive. It requires closed-toe shoes, long pants, and climbing three or four steps.
See official details →Adult and history-focused outings
Evening special trains
The source-checked calendar includes Beers & Brains Trivia Train and Tracks Through Aviation History, each with two published departure times.
See official details →Groups and private events
Private charters
The operator offers antique coaches, a caboose, the 1914 station, picnic grove, and gift-shop building for private events; catering is not included.
See official details →Upcoming Events
Complete official date check
2026 special-event calendar
These dates come directly from the operator. USA Train Rides adds trip-planning details only when they are backed by reviewed sources.
Plan Your Visit
- SeasonThe official catalog currently shows remaining 2026 public events from August 15 through October 11. Future additions are possible; check the official calendar before planning
- Trip LengthDuration depends on the event. The HOTT experience is one hour, while the full-line New Freedom motorcar trip is about three hours including a one-hour stop; use the selected event page
- ArriveThe HOTT page asks guests to arrive 15–30 minutes early. Other events may set different requirements, so follow the selected ticket page
- ParkingPassenger parking is next to the station at 19 West Pennsylvania Avenue; the boarding station is 21 West Pennsylvania Avenue
- AccessibilityThe operator does not publish one blanket accessibility policy for every passenger event. The visitor-center building has modern restrooms, but HOTT is explicitly not wheelchair accessible and requires climbing three or four steps. Call 717-746-4998 before booking to match a ride to specific mobility needs
- WeatherSeveral offerings use an open-air car or motorcars, and the operator does not publish one weather policy covering every event. Dress for the selected equipment and check directly if severe weather is expected
- RestroomsModern restrooms are in the visitor center and headquarters building next to the station. Onboard restroom availability is not published; plan to use the station facilities
- Good ForShort-line history visitors, families, diesel and maintenance-equipment enthusiasts, photographers, hands-on rail fans ages 13 and older, and visitors seeking a rare full-line motorcar trip
Find the Depot
The Trains
The current collection includes 1943 Plymouth ML-8 gasoline-mechanical switcher No. 9, Mighty Mo; 1946 General Electric 44-ton locomotive No. 10; and privately owned GE 80-ton No. 12, which the operator lists as under restoration. Passenger equipment includes 1920 Reading coach No. 1341, restored 1922 Reading coach No. 1158, a volunteer-built open-air car on a 1934 Pennsylvania Railroad flatcar, motorcars, and several cabooses. Equipment assigned to an event can vary.
History
The Stewartstown Railroad was chartered.
Freight and passenger service began in southern York County.
The present Stewartstown station was built.
Hurricane Agnes damaged the connecting Northern Central route and isolated the short line.
The railroad regained an outside connection and began operating over the reopened Northern Central route.
The earlier era of passenger excursions ended; later volunteer work returned the railroad to excursion service.
See full history
The company was chartered in 1884 and began serving southern York County in 1885. Its 7.4-mile line connected Stewartstown with the Northern Central at New Freedom and survived the Depression and the transition from steam to gasoline power. Hurricane Agnes severed the outside connection in 1972, but the company maintained its right-of-way and equipment. It regained access over the Northern Central in 1985, ran excursions until 2004, and later returned to passenger service through volunteer restoration work.
Around the Depot
Start at the 1914 station, visitor center, gift shop, equipment yard, and picnic grove. The full-line motorcar experience makes New Freedom part of the railroad trip itself, and the county’s free station museum is the highest-value external stop when docent hours overlap. Generic chains and visually thin business cards are excluded until a place clears the full internal-guide standard.
Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
Compare rentals on Discover Cars →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Tours & Activities near Stewartstown
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
Where do Stewartstown Railroad trains depart?
Public rides depart from the historic station at 21 West Pennsylvania Avenue in Stewartstown. Passenger parking is next door at 19 West Pennsylvania Avenue.
How long is the Stewartstown Railroad ride?
It varies by product. HOTT is one hour, while the New Freedom motorcar experience is about three hours including its New Freedom stop. Check the selected event page.
Is Stewartstown Railroad wheelchair accessible?
The operator has not published a blanket policy for every train. The visitor center has modern restrooms, but HOTT is specifically not wheelchair accessible and requires three or four steps. Call 717-746-4998 before booking.
Does the train cover the entire 7.4-mile railroad?
Not every trip does. The New Freedom Motor Cars product explicitly covers the full line to New Freedom and back; other themed rides may use shorter portions.
Is the railroad volunteer operated?
Yes. The operator describes the present tourist railroad as entirely volunteer operated.
Which locomotive will pull my train?
The collection includes Mighty Mo No. 9 and GE No. 10, but the assigned locomotive and passenger equipment can vary. The HOTT listing specifically identifies the 1946 GE 44-ton locomotive.
Are there restrooms at the station?
Yes. The visitor center and headquarters building next to the station contains modern restrooms and the Friends gift shop.
Are later 2026 holiday trains scheduled?
Not on the source-checked calendar as of August 11. The current public catalog ends with Pumpkin Patch Special on October 11, so check the official events page for newly announced dates.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 11, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.