West Chester Railroad Co

Great family fun! The volunteers were helpful and polite. We chopped down our own Christmas tree for the first time ever and it was such a wonderful experience and awesome just being together for the holiday season.

This is a really well organized railroad! We had a great time on our Soldiers and Trains train ride. Its a 40 minute scenic train ride; then you get to Glen Mills and you have 30 minutes to look around and talk to all the reinactors. The employees are super friendly, too. Loved it!(Pictures from Glen Mills)

The volunteers were so lovely and informative. They saw me taking photos and let me know about a photo freight in November. Will definitely be doing this again!

Very scenic and decently long ride. Staff couldve done a better job explaining the history of the rail line, but were friendly. Good pricing too.

Lots of fun. Smooth ride. Enjoyed the scenery and stop to visit an old station.

Great family fun and a beautiful scenic ride

If your children love trains, they will love this experience.

Simple, well-staffed, flawless experience. The picnic grove is gorgeous and the train crew are incredibly polite and efficient.

Its nice seeing the older railways still being maintained for the historic railroad

We took the fall foliage ride on October 14 and the weather was amazing! Still one or 2 more weeks for the best fall colors. Definitely recommend it!

Great hidden gem in West Chester. We rode the train for Mothers Day.

Nice scenic train and run by volunteers

Not bad but went too fast to enjoy the scenery. Should have slowed down in certain locations for passengers to be able to snap a picture. The place where it stops is pretty but would be even better if the restaurant that was there was open at the time. Missing out on business, that.

Awesome! A must do!

Nice trip!!

Fun train ride. You can get off and have a picinic or visit the old train station. Great volunteer organization

Really nice family holiday outing

Pumpkin train ride... Its great for kids..

Friendly volunteer staff. Great music. Family had a great time

Nice train ride for the money.

Always a cool step back into history!

This is a terrific way to spend a summer afternoon and is a nice outing for kids. The train runs along a former commuter rail line through the beautiful Philadelphia countryside of the Chester Creek Valley. It originates at West Chester, terminates at Glen Mills, and goes round trip back to West Chester.The scenery is beautiful, and I can imagine what a fantastic commute this must have been for commuters until the line was closed in the mid-80s. My only complaint is that there is inadequate seating at the picnic grove, meaning, not enough seats. My advice would be to stay on the train during the lunch break, munch on a few snacks, and then have lunch afterwards at a local restaurant.

Volunteer run organization to help the community enjoy railroading and historic trains.

This is a nice little train ride with the family. It is run by volunteers. The train was on time and the inside was pretty clean. The only downfall is that it takes you to this stop and when you get off, there’s really not much to do. There are some port-o-potties and a fishing store and small train museum but really not much to do. As a result, everyone is standing around and it’s crowded. But the ride itself is nice.

Took my grandson and he loved it. He loves trains.

We had a great time for Mothers Day on the railway! Great prices!

Nice little day trip for the family.

I visited the day before the Easter trains were running. However TBE grounds were clean. Huge parking lot and a nice size park across the street to keep the kids happy. 5 Stars.

Made the Holidays even better

Great experience for children who love trains!

This was disappointing.. should have read reviews before we took the family up there. It’s a fascinating and historic train but it’s all volunteer run. Which is neat, but the volunteers were quite confused and very unorganized. A little cranky too. The coach cars were disgusting. They claim to have redone a bunch of things but it was just trashy. Barely can see out the windows for the “fall foliage” which was the whole point of our trip to this railroad. The seats were falling apart and many other passengers were uncomfortable from what I overheard. Just skip this one!

It was a fun trip, the kids got board but over all a good day trip.

The Santa Express is Amazing

Loved the scenic Autumn train ride, but would have enjoyed it more if the train conductors were more communicative. They were silent during the ride never stating where we were or what we were passing by. When we made a stop at an old train station, most passengers had no idea why we were stopping or for how long.

Very nostalgic. Loved it

Santa is the best had fun

Great place for a train ride. Take the entire family

Simply fantastic. Went for fall foliage with kids and they enjoyed thoroughly. They had renovated one of their cars with large clear windows and camera works perfectly with those glasses on. I also felt ticket prices are competitive. Will recommend this ride.

International blew train horn when he saw me and my family ( 3yo and 7mth old strapped to my chest) were crossing the tracks and about 12ft away from the train. I know he saw me and my family because he was standing outside of train and looking at us as we were approaching the train track to cross them to board the train again for the return portion of the trip. Either he did it intentionally, which would not surprise me; or he is wilfully incompetent and shouldnt be operating such machinery.

Family & I did the West Chester Railroad adventure for the 1st Time. What a great experience! Our kids loved it! Great scenes,sounds,etc. will continue to do this new family tradition.

Our family didnt have the full experience that others did on the Santa Express and yet we had to pay the full price just like everyone else. When I asked how that was fair, I was only given excuses. No one at WC Railroad took responsibility for failing to send someone to our car to tell us to get off the car and go to the station, which were the instructions given to us over the loudspeaker. Before we knew it, the train left the station and I was running between cars to find out what happened. Everyone in Coach 4 had been forgotten. The conductor admitted that he forgot about the 20 people in the 4th car. From now on, well make the longer drive and continue to enjoy the Colebrookdale Railroad like we have been doing for the past two years.

A nice train ride at Christmas time! Our 2 1/2 and 3 year Olds loved the caroling and Santa. If going, know that when you stop in Glen Mills the refreshments are on the train in the first car. You can get out to take a picture with Santa.

Great for seasonal activities. They even have something for Easter where a guy in a bunny suit rides the train taking pictures with the children.

The review below is not from he above name. We were a family of 20 on Sun Dec 3rd at 5pm We were all boarding at the same time but not right behind one another because of other traffic of families and kids. As we were being designated seat areas, the volunteer yelled at us several times because all 20 of us didnt walk in one by one. LOUDLY, I then let someone with the train staff about the incident. A nice man named John came to apologize over and over and all was forgiven. THEN, when the train arrived at Glen Mills, we all had to wait in line outside for over 30 minutes to see Santa(the whole train) We were probably 3/4 of the way back of the line. We were rushed inside with pictures of our kids and grandkids and actually was asked to move along and Mrs Clause actually took her hand and made the scurry along motion with her hand to all of us. John happened to be there and I got right into his face, as did my daughter. We paid $400 as a family to do this Christmas tradition. I DO NOT RECOMMEND. PLEASE DONT DO IT! The whole evening turned out to be a disaster. BUMPY ride as well. The 2 banjo players singing Christmas carols were the only bright spot of this fiasco.SAVE YOUR MONEY!

I guess its sort of funny that Google thinks that I visited the West Chester Railroad, but since they did Im compelled to leave a little note here. I actually visited a hoagie and Cheesesteak joint that is right next door. I think I did look at the very beginning of the West Chester Railroad now that I think about it. Its a railroad that used to be commercial and actually ran very close by the house that I grew up in, in Westtown Township on Oakbourne Road. If Im not mistaken, I think certain times of the year you can take a rides on the train cars along the old rail line. It goes through West Chester and Westtown and as far East as it goes Im not really sure. When I was a kid, freight trains used to go down that line carrying Freight I believe, from West Chester to points East, possibly even Philly. Ive never actually taken a ride on the train, but I hear its a nice ride With some nice views after you get out of West Chester. when I was growing up we used to take hikes down the railroad tracks pretty far and see some very cool things like mini rock mountains that they blasted through to create room for the railroad, various bridges that went over streams along the way, and nothing but pure woods and Wilderness on both sides of the track. Sometimes we would put a coin like a nickel or Penny or a dime right on the track, then retrieved the severely flattened out version after the train ran over it. Had a lot of good times hiking the tracks when I was a kid. There were times just like in certain movies, when you suspected a train was coming but you could not yet see it. We put our ears right to the train rail, and you could hear and feel the vibrations even though the train was nowhere in sight yet. Yes, me and my four brothers had some very good childhood memories Down the tracks.

Nice volunteers and a beautiful ride!!!

Took the kids on Santa train ride. Memorable experience for the boys which was mostly positive with one exception. An obviously disturbed woman named Elizabeth who worked there in assisting with duties had a mental meltdown in front of a train car full of kids.Seems that she is part of the family working the tour but she has zero people skills. She started by barking orders at the guests then later became hysterical repeatedly shouting I want to go home!, while crying in plain view of many families....very unfortunate!I think we will try a different venue next year as a result of that experience.

Crew was very helpful and provided a great day. Fall Foliage Express was a wonderful ride.

The banjo players we great and the snack bar was very reasonably priced! The train was also decorated nicely. Time spent with Santa was very rushed both on the train and at the Glen Mills station. I recommend having Santas beard cleaned...it was rather dirty. I did not go into the porta poties at Glen Mills but kept hearing people say how dirty those were as well. For two adults and one child it was $70... definitely not worth $70. We wont be going again unless the prices are brought down for what you are actually getting.

Went on the Fall foliage ride. Well run operation. Staff was very friendly. Pleasant ride with nice view Grandchildren loved it.

All ways a Great Experiance To Ride West Chester !!!! The All Volenteer Crew is extremely friendly and helpful . Lets face it there are always people that will not be happy but every time I have travelled it has been a first class experience !!!! Thanks Again West Chester RR and crew. Great Job !!!!

We have done the Santa Express for the past 2 years. It is a fun train ride. Santa walks up and down the cars saying hi to the kids. You can get picture with Santa taken @ the Glen Mills station. They have musicians playing Xmas tunes. A snack car to get hot chocolate.

Expensive for the Easter Train ride and my kids didnt have that much fun. They sang songs and gave them each a small piece of candy. It also felt like the heat was off or not working because we were cold.

Tickets are way overpriced for the experience ($25). Definitely not worth the money.

A lot of fun

Always lots of fun. Never had an issue with parking and its v. Close to downtown west chester

One time must do, but would not go again. Started out. No Xmas music in the background. The treats they said were given was a mini broken candy cane. Singer w/ banjo which was nice. Sing Alongs w/ him were cute. Got to Glen Mills station. No direction on where to go. Just get in line. Everyone was rushed to see Santa, w/ what I guess was supposed to be Mrs.Claus only because she had a Mrs. Claus like hat on w/ light up Xmas sweatshirt & jeans telling us to Go! Go! Go! to get us to move to make room for the next family trying to get pictures. Snack car was dirty, assuming it was for storage normally. Tarp hanging I guess to hide whatever was behind. Prices were decent. Servers were less than Christmas like in Tshirts. Our car was the last one which was fine except there was no notice when the train started. This had to be the most unsafe & dumb thing they did. No All Aboard! or notice that we are departing back to West Chester. Carrying 2 cups hot chocolate, pretzels & young children was less than thrilling while the train josteled us around as I almost fell on top of another person. Going from car to car while the train is moving I wouldnt recommend. Its definately a train from the 1920s! It was an experience you should do especially w/ young children but for the money I paid, it wasnt worth it.

The experience was not worth the ticket price. Long lines, no organization and they rush you, and thats if you can park without getting into an accident, because no one is managing the lot. The Santa seemed like he hated his job and he was very unhappy, and paying almost 20 a kid, I atleast expected the picture to be included or a cookie for the kids or something. The train ride, while scenic, was not anything spectactular.... the only saving grace was the entertainment on the train; the banjo players were very happy, festive and fun, and the train staff was good. Even though the money goes to help fund the railroad, I still feel like we got ripped off. Will defintely stick closer to home next time, and pay less for a better time

Great time for a toddler birthday party. Everyone loved it.

This really is something for young kids. Adults will not find much to see.

Was closed

We love their Christmas Santa Train experience

I love trains and was really looking forward to riding this train as it was the closest I could get to riding the old Chester Creek line which was shut down back in the 70s and now partly converted to a walking trail. I have been on other trains like this in Boyertown PA and Lancaster PA area and both are leaps and bounds better then this, and cheaper too. West Chester railroad claims their cars are restored however they replaced all the windows with a foggy Plexiglas which is hard to see through. Some of the windows are broken and boarded up. The cars look about what I would expect from a car built in the 50s yet they claim the one I was in was built in 1932. The cars are heated with portable propane heaters, The Boyertown area train has the original wood stove heaters restored and working. There is no open air car like Lancaster and Boyertown has. There is a snack bar but to get to it I had to walk through 3 train cars and there is no place to sit so I had to carry my food back to where I was sitting. Over all I was less then impressed with what they had to offer and its really not worth the $22 ticket price.

Limited parking spaces but a nice run from West Chester to Glen Mills along Chester Creek.

Super fun for my 3 year old!

Nice ride. Fun for the family.

A great adventure hidden in downtown West Chester. The original Main Line takes you to Glen Mills to explore the station and nearby stream.

Dont waste youre time

Enjoyable fall ride.

When the hell did I take a train. Man I gotta quit drinking.

Grandchildren enjoyed the train ride with Santa

Please do not use this place. It is dirty and so not worthy. We were a party of 6 and had the most horrible experience ever. We drove 3 hours and the kids hated it. I will never use them ever again.

Cool nice ride

Banjo players were awesome fun.!

Cant wait to ride

Boring, short, frumpy, waist of time.

Choo choo all aboard they even have a Christmas train

Nice

Santa train ROCKS!

Historical View of a Locomotive in West Chester, PA

What a sucko train ride !

Neat place for kids

Love the ride

Great Christmas tradition

Fun tours