ROCKHILL TRAIN FIELD GUIDE
Two Ways on a Century-Old Steam: North to Colgate Grove, South to the PA‑994 Crossing
One ticket covers a northbound 1‑hour steam ride to Colgate Grove and a southbound 30–45 minute run to the PA‑994/Pogue crossing — this guide lays out timing, accessibility, and what to bring.
Two Ways on a Century-Old Steam: North to Colgate Grove, South to the PA‑994 Crossing.
Ride the East Broad Top’s living museum aboard an authentic 1916 steam locomotive: a leisurely one‑hour northbound run to Colgate Grove, a brief layover at Rockhill Furnace, then a newly reopened southbound stretch toward Pogue and the PA‑994 crossing — with opportunities to join a guided tour of the historic machine shop and roundhouse on site.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Two short excursions — north to Colgate Grove, south to Pogue (PA‑994)
This combo ticket puts you on both of the EBT’s passenger routes: a roughly one‑hour northbound leg to Colgate Grove along the 4.5‑mile mainline and a southbound excursion on the newly reopened 2.5‑mile extension toward Pogue/PA‑994.
A century‑old steam pull
Most departures are handled by the railroad’s authentic 1916 steam locomotive, giving the runs an elemental, eyes‑and‑ears experience; on some occasions a vintage diesel substitutes and those departures are posted by the operator.
Guided tours of the machine shop and roundhouse
The property is a living museum — guided tours of the historic shop complex and roundhouse are the only way to access these areas and are scheduled to coincide with train arrivals and departures.
What the day feels like
What to Expect on the Rails
Arrive to check in at Rockhill Furnace, board a historic train for a leisurely one‑hour journey north to Colgate Grove, return to Rockhill for a short layover, then remain aboard for the southbound segment that runs roughly 30–45 minutes to the PA‑994 crossing at Pogue; the sequence is designed as a single combined outing with optional one‑hour guided tours available before or after the train experiences.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this combo is best suited for — and who should take precautions.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Train cars and the historic shop complex are not climate‑controlled during summer — dress in layers that can be added or removed, and bring sun protection (hats, sunglasses, sunscreen).
Sturdy, closed‑toed shoes are highly recommended for the guided shop tour and for boarding historic rolling stock with narrow stairs.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Where does the train go?
Trains first travel north to Colgate Grove along our 4.5 mainline towards Shirleysburg. Once back in Rockhill, the train travels a further 2.5 miles south from Orbisonia to the PA-994 Road Crossing at Pogue and return.
Is the train steam or diesel-powered?
Most of our trains are powered by an authentic, century‑old steam locomotive. There are periods of scheduled or unexpected maintenance where a vintage diesel locomotive will substitute for steam. Any train powered by diesel instead of steam will be labeled on our website.
Can I take my dog on the train?
For safety reasons, we do not permit animals on our trains or in the historic shop complex. Trained service animals are permitted.
Where is the museum?
We are a living museum! While we don't (yet) have a building with walk‑through exhibits or displays, our guided tours offer the best way for visitors to learn about our railroad's unique history.
Can I take a self-guided tour of the shop complex?
For safety reasons, access to our historic shop complex is by guided tour only.
Does my train go to Colgate Grove?
Yes, the first portion of your trip heads to Colgate Grove! After returning from the grove, your train heads in the opposite direction towards the community of Pogue. There is no layover option onboard this departure.
Do I have to choose a train time when I book?
Your northbound train will depart at 1:30 PM, and your southbound trip will depart at 3:00 PM.
Can I take a tour before or after my train ride?
Yes! You can arrive early to enjoy a guided tour before your train ride, or stay and take a tour after. We have scheduled our tours to correspond with the arrival of each train. You can purchase a tour ticket separately from your combo ticket.
How long will it take me to ride the train both ways, and take a tour?
Our northbound train ride is approximately one hour in duration. You will have a 30 minute layover at our station in Rockhill Furnace between trips. Our southbound train ride is approximately 30 to 45 minutes in duration. Guided tours are each one hour in duration. Plan on spending at least 3-4 hours on the property if you plan to enjoy our train and tour experiences.