[ FEATURE } Lehigh Gorge and Scenic Railway Pennsylvania’s historic railroads created arteries of commerce, birthed towns along their countless routes, and transformed Pennsylvania into an industrial giant.” Pennsylvania’s past is faithfully preserved in Strasburg Rail Road ’s five working steam engines and 19 beautifully restored wooden passenger cars. Ride the rails through Lancaster County’s rolling farmland in Steamtown National Historic Site Scranton Train Robbery — a bonafide Bonnie and Clyde adventure. And for some additional hands-on experience, head to Strasburg’s Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania . With more than 100 historic locomotives and railroad cars in its collection, you can take control of the throttle of an authentic Norfolk Southern freight locomotive cab, or the kids can shovel “coal” into an engine’s boiler. Explore The Horseshoe Curve , an engineering marvel that moved people and goods through the Allegheny Mountains. Climb the 194 stairs or take the funicular up to observe the freight and Amtrak passenger trains that still take the 180-degree hairpin turn in the track. Altoona, once a hub of Pennsylvania’s railroad empire, is home to the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum . Here you can conduct the precision tests that made railroading a science; find out why the brakeman’s job was so dangerous, and pay attention — there’s actually a railroader trivia test to quiz you on your knowledge. Take a 16-mile, narrated excursion in an open-air car along the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway , or board with your bike on select dates for an hour-long ride from Jim Thorpe to White Haven, following the Lehigh River through untouched wilderness. Pedal the 25 miles back by scenic overlooks and sparkling waterfalls. Let the kids try out the operator’s seat of an open-air trolley car at Electric City Trolley Museum in downtown Scranton, where the first street car system built entirely by electric power operated. Or let the professionals do the driving on a 10-mile trolley excursion through a mile-long tunnel up to Montage Mountain. The working railroad and museum combo make Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton a unique spot to understand the history of steam railroading the first-class Victorian Parlor Car, or grab a bite to eat in the vintage Dining Car while the conductor highlights local rail history. Take a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine during Day Out with Thomas, or hide your valuables when you buy a ticket to the Great 38 visitPA.com PHOTOS COURTESY: POCONOSMOUNTAINS.COM; LACKAWANNA COUNTY CVB
Pennsylvania Happy Traveler Guide 2018: Page 38
