36 Fun Philadelphia Train Rides & Activities

Ed White said:  The Colebrookdale Railroad is one of the most unique railroad excursions I have been on in the country. The railroad gradually winds its way down and up a hill through little towns and wooded scenery from Boyertown to Pottstown and back. The Colebrookdale RR has restored old Pullman Passenger cars which adds to the train ride. The train ride cuts through the Schuylkill Valley’s earliest ironindustry sites.

Directions: From Phila, take Route 73 West to Boyertown, PA.

FIVESTARS !!

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  The magic of trains comes to life at the Carriage House with the Cobbs Creek Lines Holiday Railroad featuring Lionel and O Gauge Trains. This enchanting winter display features holiday towns and scenes everyone will love.

During the special photo event, staff will take free photos and email them to you. The backdrop of course are the festive trains and lights!

The venue is also decked out for the holidays including 13 elaborate Christmas trees! Guided estate tours are available.

Cost: Train admission is free, House Tours are $5/adult, $1/child (5-12)

Thanksgiving- New Years

Saturdays & Sundays, 1pm-4pm

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Your train-loving child will be excited to visit the Allentown and Auburn Railroad which dates back to 1853. They offer festive seasonal and holiday event excursions including Easter Bunny and Santa rides from Topton to Kutztown, a distance of 4 miles. It is the perfect distance for toddlers and preschoolers to experience riding a real train as well as exploring and learning about their operating and historic trains.

Cost: Train rides start at $14/ages 12+ and $8/ages 3-11

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  The North Penn S Gaugers will display and operate their Model S Trains in a fun layout at the Lower Providence Community Library. Members of the North Penn S Gaugers will be at the event to discuss the history of S scale trains and answer your questions.

Cost: Free

February 1: 10am-4pm
February 2: 10am-3:30pm

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Your child can take a fun train ride at the Plymouth Meeting Mall and Oxford Valley Mall with family-owned and operated Morello Amusements. It is the perfect break during your shopping trip for your little train fan!

Tip: With each ticket purchase, each child receives a free whistle and $1 off coupon for their next ride.

Cost: $3/per ride

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Your train loving child will love The Train Factory inside The Franklin Institute. It's one of the first exhibits that my kids love to visit and offers a wealth of fun and science education. Your child can explore and climb aboard their 350 ton Baldwin Steam locomotive and then design their own train via computer simulation. They also feature hands-on tools and exhibits to explore magnetic forces, learn how train wheels work and how steam engines operate. They also have a lot of wooden trains and tracks for open play and hand-on train loving fun.

When you are in the City, check out the SEPTA Transit Gift Store with your train loving child. They have train displays, Thomas the Tank Engine play table and trains, transit and trolley exhibits and more. They also boast train memorabilia and model trains for purchase.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Check out the Train Shows run by the Atlantic Division Train Collectors Association and held at Penn's Landing Caterers. Your family will be delighted to see operating train layouts along with new and used train accessories including collectibles and repair parts. You can talk to the Train Doctor for special needs and try out their Test Track. There will be kid's activities, door prizes and raffles. It will be a fun-filled family day for all train enthusiasts! Catered food will be available for purchase.

Cost: $5/family (2 adults and 2 children ages 12 and under)

9 AM - 1 PM

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Take a unique train ride through the Holiday Festival at Franklin Square and experience the sights and sounds of the season. Stay for the Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show and marvel at the beautifully decorated attraction set to delightful holiday music.

Cost: $5/adult, $4/child

November 15: 4:30pm-7:30pm

November 23: 5:30pm-7:30pm

November 17-December 30: Saturdays & Sundays, 4:30pm-7:30pm

December 31, 4:30pm-7:30pm

The delightful Garden Railway features a quarter mile of track with 15 different rail lines to delight those of all ages. It has miniature Philadelphia landmark buildings and the track terrain has tunnels, loops and bridges to hold the attention of even the youngest members of the family.

May-October

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Whether you are searching for the perfect train-themed gift, need train repairs or want to take your child to explore a plethora of kids' train merchandise, Bussinger Trains is your one-stop shop. They have all of your child's favorite brands including special edition sets. They also feature model toy trains, model accessories and much more.

Prefer to shop online? Their website features full merchandise listings sorted by category and brand to search and order easily online!

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Chelton Hills Model Railroad Club offers a model train display with 1,750 feet of track, an operating lift bridge enabling trains to cross over areas of the layout and a 300 car freight yard. It has steam and locomotive engines running together with true sounds of the trains. The model trains are scale HO.

Cost: Free admission, donations appreciated

12pm-4pm

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  The Coopersburg Area Society of Model Engineers boasts 3,500 feet of track with 100 switches for their train display in Scale HO. Twelve trains can run simultaneously over the artful display of the wilderness, forest, trees, buildings and more.

Cost: Free admission, donations appreciated

12pm-5pm

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  They boast a miniature railroad depicting the country, mountains and city all in one with 5 to 8 trains running at any given time. They use a double track mainline and their scale is HO. For photos and videos, click here. While you are there, enter their drawing to win a train set!

Cost: Free admission, donations appreciated

12pm-5pm

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Keystone N-Trak has a modular model railroad track system using Scale N. They offer ever-changing layouts with outdoor scenes such as mountains, rivers, valleys and forests in their train models. See the sights of sounds of N-Trak Trains at their open house events.

Cost: Free admission, donations appreciated

11am-4pm