If you are enjoying your visit to our website, you may find the following selected links equally interesting.
For nearby lodging, dining and weather information, see the Tourism and Travel section on this page.
This view is of PCC #322 fully restored at the Minnesota Streetcar Museum.
This is how the museum’s #6 (TCRT #325) looked when new.
Photo is courtesy of Minnesota Streetcar Museum.
Table of Contents
Click a heading to jump to that section.
»East Broad Top Railroad
»Trolley and Streetcar Museums
»Trolley Builders and Restoration Shops
»Trolley History Sites
»Other Transit Sites
»Coal Mining
»Iron Furnaces and Iron Mining
»Picks from Pennsylvania
»Regional History
»Tourism and Travel
»Preservation Resources
» East Broad Top Railroad «
East Broad Top Railroad »
Our volunteers continue to assist the EBT in its return to regular tourist operations in 2021.
The EBT Foundation »
Railways to Yesterday’s partnership with The EBT Foundation is a crucial part of creating an enticing and high-quality visitor experience in Rockhill Furnace.
» Trolley and Streetcar Museums «
Seashore Trolley Museum »
The largest and oldest electric railway museum in the world, located in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Baltimore Streetcar Museum »
A very nice museum not too far away from us in Baltimore, Maryland. Make sure you ride their Roland Park open car!
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum »
Another museum specializing in Pennsylvania trolleys, located near Pittsburgh.
Electric City Trolley Museum »
Pennsylvania’s newest trolley museum in Scranton, PA.
National Capital Trolley Museum »
Museum in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC.
Shore Line Trolley Museum »
The Branford Electric Railway Association operates the oldest continuously running suburban trolley line in the USA, located in East Haven, Connecticut.
Halton County Radial Railway »
Ontario’s Operating Streetcar & Electric Railway Museum: A very friendly bunch of folks with a fine museum north of the border. Toronto is a great city; visit and ride its modern trolley cars, then let HCRR show you what it used to be like in Toronto.
Illinois Railway Museum »
The nation’s largest collection of railroad and trolley equipment, a little over an hour from Chicago. See and ride a variety of steam, diesel, and electric powered rail equipment and trolley buses. A neat collection of railroad signals and preserved portions of lost railway buildings.
Minnesota Streetcar Museum »
Now split from Minnesota Transportation Museum, MSM operates a small collection of beautifully restored trolley cars in scenic settings near Minneapolis. Highly recommended!
East Troy Electric Railroad »
Wisconsin’s Last Electric Line: The East Troy Electric Railroad runs from Mukwonago to East Troy in southeast Wisconsin. Built in 1907 by the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company, it continues in its 92nd year as both a living electric shortline and a museum.
Midwest Electric Railway / Midwest Old Threshers »
One of the finest and most diverse agricultural heritage shows in the nation. There is something here for everyone in the family! Includes a steam railroad and a variety of restored, operating trolley cars. Among them are two open cars similar to our #1875, a Chicago interurban similar to our #315, and the last streetcar to operate in Iowa. Their clean, informative website will help you plan your visit to eastern Iowa.
Connecticut Trolley Museum »
CTM has a Rio open car similar to our #1875. Their photo archive has some historical pictures of these cars.
» Trolley Builders and Restoration Shops «
While some may believe the trolley era is over, a handful of shops continue to restore–and sometimes even build new–trolley cars.
Brookville »
Builders of our diminutive gas locomotive, Brookville has been building internal combustion locomotives longer than GE or GM. Today they are a major builder of underground mining equipment and small locomotives, but have also recently rebuilt trolley cars for New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and various museums.
Gomaco Trolley Co. »
What do trolley cars have to do with concrete? It would seem the answer is Gomaco. This builder of concrete construction equipment has established a division which does some trolley restoration, but primarily constructs brand new trolley cars based on old designs. A number of US cities are now operating Gomaco trolley cars.
Lyons Industries »
Lyons Industries has been in operation since 1957 providing overhaul and rebuilding services to heavy industry and railroad customers. Since the mid-1990s, the firm has provided restoration and overhaul services to the vintage trolley industry, providing truck and motor overhaul to both museums and operators of vintage equipment in regular passenger service. Lyons Industries’ largest project of this type to date was the rebuilding of our Johnstown Traction Company #355 in 2005-2006.
UTC/Rail and Air Sources, Inc. »
UTC/RAS is a leader in the North American rail and transit industry, delivering over 25,000 wheelsets since 1982. UTC/RAS also provides these services to the vintage trolley and museum industry, including services to our friends at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum and overhaul of PCC trucks for vintage operators.
» Trolley History Sites «
North Jersey Electric Railway Historical Society »
Organization committed to study of history of electric railways and related subjects, particularly in New Jersey.
Philadelphia Trolley Tracks »
“An informal photo essay showing Philadelphia’s streetcar system twenty years ago, and today…” Nice information on Philadelphia area trolleys, especially PCCs.
Baltimore Transit Company sites »
Umbrella site for several fascinating sites on history of Baltimore (hometown to our webmaster). Baltimore Transit Archives is probably the place for trolley foamers, but other areas are equally fascinating. ‘Baltimore Ghosts’ area includes Old Ads, Buildings, Streetcars, Railroads, Streetlights, and more.
East Penn Traction Club »
This organization, based in the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley area, is interested in the history and modeling of electric street railways.
Toronto Transportation Society »
This site has information and photos of trolleys and related transit in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the Great White North.
Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee RR Page »
Historical information on the namesake railroad.
Subway Al
Friend of Rockhill Trolley Museum, Subway Al, has some nice shots of Shoreline Trolley Museum’s cars on his website.
Partsgeek
Even rubber tire enthusiasts can appreciate some steel-wheeled electric traction action, as automotive writer, Edson Farnell, shows us here and here.
» Other Transit Sites «
A variety of sites covering a range of public transit history…
Johnstown Inclined Plane »
Johnstown’s funicular (inclined plane) can even take your automobile along for the ride!
Duquesne Incline »
The Duquesne Incline is cited as Providing safe, reliable, rapid public transportation, via funicular railway, since 1877. Did you know Pittsburgh once had nearly 20 inclined planes?
The Museum of Bus Transportation »
A national bus museum at Hershey, Pennsylvania. Nice assortment of historic transit buses, including one from Johnstown, PA, which helped spell the demise of Johnstown’s trolley system.
Longest Trolleybus Line in the World »
At 86 km (just under 54 miles) the route between Simferopol and Yalta is the longest trolleybus line in the world… On your next visit to the Black Sea, be sure to ride it!
» Coal Mining «
Rockhill Trolley Museum is right on the edge of one of Pennsylvania’s coal mining regions, the semi-bituminous Broad Top region. Learn more about coal mining with these links…
Number 9 Mine »
Location: Lansford, east of Tamaqua
After years of backbreaking labor, volunteers at #9 mine in Lansford have reopened this anthracite mine that first opened before the Civil War and operated until 1972. In our opinion, it is Pennsylvania’s most authentic mine tour, giving an honest feel for how the mines were during operation. One highlight is the cages from the hoist, which are still in place in this combination drift/shaft mine. The mine washhouse is preserved, and contains mining tools, many local photographs, and a reading area. Highly recommended!
Seldom Seen Mine »
Location: St Boniface, near Patton, northwest of Altoona
Closed in 1963, this mine reopened several years ago, and their volunteers have done a great job creating an enjoyable, educational experience. Tours are led by real miners, some of whom worked in this very mine. Highlights include a ride on the electric mine train, a demonstration of electric mining machinery at the face, and the reconstructed hoisting equipment and tipple for the incline which moved the coal to a railroad connection. This is a drift (horizontal entry) mine for bituminous (soft) coal. Be sure to visit one of the anthracite (hard) coal museums as well, to understand the tremendous differences between mining bituminous and anthracite coals.
Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine »
Location: Ashland, east of Shamokin
Pennsylvania’s oldest operating anthracite mine tour is a great comparison to the Seldom Seen bituminous mine. A horizontal drift mine (like Seldom Seen), this mine accesses the sharply-pitched anthracite seams of eastern PA. Highlights include a trip into the mine on the electric train, and a steam lokie (tank engine), which takes you for a trip out the mountain. Be sure to visit nearby Centralia, PA, where an underground coal fire has forced the evacuation of nearly the entire town!
Tour Ed Mine »
Location: Tarentum, just northeast of Pittsburgh
This rather modest horizontal-drift mine tour offers a view of newer bituminous mining techniques, including a (rather small) continous-mining machine and various strip mining equipment on the surface. Tour guides are usually real miners, and it’s certainly worth a visit if you’re in the vicinity.
» Iron Furnaces and Iron Mining «
Our museum is practically on top of underground iron mines which fed Rockhill Furnace. Learn about Pennsylvania’s early iron industry with these links…
Cornwall Iron Furnace »
Location: Cornwall, Lebanon County, east of Hershey
This fascinating state museum is an entirely preserved iron furnace complex dating from the mid 19th century, surrounded by small communities of ironworker housing. Cornwall Furnace is representative of the first Rockhill Iron Furnace which operated on our museum property.
Hopewell Furnace Historic Site »
Location: Hopewell Furnace, Berks County, southeast of Reading
Well preserved iron furnace town from the mid 19th century, offers a variety of living history programs during summer. Furnaces like Hopewell give a good idea of the Rockhill Iron Furnace which operated on our property many years ago.
Fayette Historic Town Site »
Location: Fayette, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Ok, it’s not close to us, but the town of Fayette, Michigan, now a state park, is about as close as you will come to finding a town like Rockhill Furnace was in 1875. Twin iron furnace stacks still stand on the shore of Lake Michigan, as do 20 preserved company buildings. It’s very cool.
Pennsylvania Iron Furnace Sourcebook »
An interesting site on Pennsylvania’s iron furnaces, includes a searchable database of furnaces, lists by county and name, etc.
» Picks from Pennsylvania «
These lesser known attractions of Pennsylvania should appeal to the history and technology buff…
Coolspring Power Museum »
Location: just north of Punxsutawney
Recently named “the largest collection of historically significant stationary internal combustion engines in the United States” by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Portions of museum are operated weekends during the summer, with major shows in the spring and fall. Highlights include the four-cylinder-opposed 300hp Miller gas engine, a reconstructed gas transmission station, and hundreds of hit and miss and similar engines.
Isett Heritage Museum »
Location: Huntingdon, PA
» Regional History «
Learn more about the history of Central Pennsylvania…
Altoona Railroader’s Memorial Museum / Horseshoe Curve »
The famous Horseshoe Curve and Altoona Railroaders’ Memorial Museum site.
Chris Coleman’s EBT »
One of the first of many ‘unofficial’ websites dedicated to our neighbor, the East Broadtop Railroad (EBT), with a large amount of interesting information. Includes a nifty virtual railroad tour and virtual shop tour.
Huntingdon County Historical Society »
Describes resources and services offered by our region’s historical society, including genealogical research.
Pennsylvania Rails to Trails »
Pennsylvania has a real gold mine in its Rail Trails, which now cover almost every area of the state. This website includes maps of trails in the state, often with links to specific trail websites.
William E. Swigart, Jr. Automobile Museum»
America’s oldest automobile museum. Huntingdon, PA.
» Tourism and Travel «
If you are considering a visit to our area, please peruse these links…
Aughwick Creek Antique Tractor Show »
Local Tractor enthusiasts gather annually in Shirleysburg, Pennsylvania. Also sponsors other events during the year, including at Rockhill Trolley Museum.
Raystown Lake »
On-line visitors guide, with all kinds of information about Raystown Lake and its surroundings. Includes info on dining, lodging, entertainment, boating, fishing and hunting, shopping, etc.
Huntingdon County Visitors’ Bureau »
Info on Raystown Lake, Huntingdon, and the area. Includes info on dining, lodging, entertainment, boating, fishing and hunting, shopping, etc.
VisitPA.com »
Official tourism Web site of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Lots and lots of things to do all over the state.
Amtrak »
Quick! While our nation still has a rail passenger system, visit their website, buy a ticket, and go someplace without paying $3.00 per gallon to get there. Amtrak trains between Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia provide service to nearby Huntingdon and Lewistown, PA.
Huntingdon.net »
Information of all types for Huntingdon and surroundings, including dining, lodging, business, and entertainment.
TripBuzz – Things to Do in Huntingdon, PA »
Travel and ratings site. Give us a 100% rating!
Weather Underground »
Check the weather in Rockhill Furnace.
» Preservation Resources «
Organizations which assist with efforts for historic preservation.
Heritage Rail Alliance »
One of the major organizations which joins railway museums throughout the country. Formerly Association of Tourist Railroads and Railway Museums (ATRRM).
Friends of the East Broad Top (FEBT) »
Website for a group focused on the history of the EBT, whose dedicated volunteers are making substantial progress saving endangered buildings and rolling stock of the railroad.
Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys»
The Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys (FPT) provides grants and donations to trolley museums preserving trolleys that operated in and around Philadelphia. FPT recently sponsored the restoration of former SEPTA PCC Car #2168 at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum and has selected our own former SEPTA PCC Car #2743 as its next major fundraising project. FPT members also help locate and provide vintage components for these cars to help make them as period-authentic as possible and provide volunteer assistance with these projects whenever possible.
Heberling Associates »
Huntingdon county is home to this respected firm which provides archaeological and historical research services, cultural resource management, and heritage resource planning.
KS Engineers, P.C.»
KS Engineers, P.C. provides comprehensive engineering and surveying services to both the public and private sectors in a diverse array of markets, including the mass transportation industry. Founded in 1991, the company is headquartered in Newark, NJ with offices in Philadelphia, New York City, and southern New Jersey. KS Engineers has graciously helped sponsor one of our recent acquisitions.
If you’d like to suggest an appropriate link, please contact us. It is our policy to only include links which we feel are appropriately relevant to our visitors.