Information
Landmark: Electric City Trolley MuseumCity: Scranton
Country: USA Pennsylvania
Continent: North America
Electric City Trolley Museum, Scranton, USA Pennsylvania, North America
Overview
In Scranton, Pennsylvania, the Electric City Trolley Museum offers a one‑of‑a‑kind glimpse into the region’s electric railway past, with gleaming restored trolleys and exhibits that bring their history to life.Visitors can step back into the golden age of trolley travel, exploring gleaming brass fare boxes, riding restored cars that hum along the tracks, and taking in the view on scenic excursions.You’ll find the museum at 300 Cliff Street in Scranton, tucked within the Steamtown National Historic Site, where the scent of old rail ties still lingers in the air.It sits inside a restored mill from the late 1800s, its weathered brick walls lending a quiet, historical charm to your visit.Visitors can park for free right here on-site, just steps from the entrance.The museum houses more than 25 vintage trolley and interurban cars, most from Philadelphia’s bustling Pennsylvania streets, with a few hailing from Scranton and nearby towns.Some of these vehicles shine like new after careful restoration, while others sit in the garage mid-project, with tools scattered nearby.This collection traces the shift in electric trolley design from the clanging steel cars of the early 1900s to the sleeker models of the mid-20th century.One standout is Car #76, a 1926 “Center Door” built by J. G. Brill for the Philadelphia and West Chester Traction Company, its polished wood panels echoing the elegant style of the era.Car #505, a 1929 Electromobile once part of Scranton Transit, is now under restoration, its faded red paint slowly giving way to a fresh shine.Car #46 is a 1902 Philadelphia & Western trolley, its brass fittings and wood panels showing the craftsmanship of early 20th‑century transit.These and other vehicles are essential to grasp how electric railways once powered regional travel, their steel wheels humming along tracks that stitched towns together.One of the museum’s biggest attractions is its working trolley rides, rumbling along a historic stretch of the old Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railroad-once called the Laurel Line.Hop aboard the trolley and feel it glide along a working electric railway, rolling past green hills and weathered brick stations steeped in history.On this trip, you’ll pass through the Crown Avenue Tunnel-stretching almost 4,747 feet, its cool, echoing walls mark one of the longest interurban tunnels ever built in the United States.Excursions run Thursday to Sunday, leaving at 10:30, noon, 1:30, and 3:00-just enough time to grab a coffee before the first departure.From time to time, special trips-like catching a ride to a baseball game under the bright stadium lights-pop up, and you might need to book ahead.Buy your tickets ahead of time at the museum-none are sold on the trolleys, not even when the bell’s clanging at the platform.Visitors get a real feel for the region’s transit history as they hop aboard authentic trolley cars, their wooden seats creaking gently beneath them.Step inside the museum and wander among displays that trace the story of electric railways in northeastern Pennsylvania and farther afield, from old steel wheels to faded conductor’s caps.On the displays, you’ll find photographs, maps, worn tools, and artifacts that tell the story of how trolleys were built and run.Museum staff and volunteers share their expertise with spark and clarity, turning a simple walk past an old brass compass into a moment you remember.You can reach the Electric City Trolley Museum at 300 Cliff Street, Scranton, PA 18503, or call (570) 963‑6590.Inside, you’ll find a lively, hands-on look at how electric trolleys once shaped Pennsylvania’s history-imagine the clang of metal wheels echoing down a bustling street.It blends museum exhibits, restored vehicles, and the rumble of live trolley rides along old steel tracks, offering both a lesson in history and a warm glimpse into early 20th‑century transit.Families, history lovers, train buffs, and curious travelers will all find plenty to enjoy in Scranton, from the rich stories of its past to the rumble of locomotives at a lively cultural spot.
