What in the world is the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association? If you think that is has something to do with steam, you are correct. Located on the site of an old amusement park near the town of Mechanicsburg in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association hosts events throughout the year. Yes, many of the events involve steam engines, but the main reason for a railroad fan to visit is, well, a train ride.
As you approach the site along Williams Grove the very first thing you will see is a railroad line. You enter the site crossing these tracks. Yes, a train does run on this railroad line. Yes, you can ride this train. No, it is not one of those tiny little trains. It is a full size train.
The journey begins at an old train station where you buy the tickets. This train station also has a small museum. Then, it is time for the train to leave. Some trains are pulled by a diesel locomotive, but this could be your lucky day. Why? Your train is being pulled by a steam locomotive.
Some of you are saying, “Many trains across the U.S. and around the world are pulled by steam locomotives.”
That is true, but the steam locomotive pulling this train is Number 643 of the Pennsylvania Railroad. What is special about that? This is the only Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive, diesel or steam, that is in operation anywhere in the world. The passenger cars are open air cars and wheelchair accessible with a caboose that is sadly not wheelchair accessible. The train leaves and goes along the tracks around the amusement park site. The journey is only one mile, but being one who loves train rides, it is very enjoyable.
Along with the train ride and small museum inside the train station, you also have the Rural Life Museum. What is great about the Rural Life Museum? Yes, the museum is about rural life, but it also has a model train display, and it also has toy trains on display.
When you visit the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association today, you see little life of an amusement park, but it is still a special place to visit even if the train is not running.
Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association is located at 1 Steam Engine Hill in Mechanicsville, Pennsylvania off of Pennsylvania Route 74 and U.S. Route 15 between Gettysburg and Harrisburg. Admission is free to visit the park, but train rides do cost $7.00, and, as mentioned, the train is wheelchair accessible. You can get more information and read more into the history of the park as well as Locomotive 643 and to take a look at the events and find the train schedule at https://www.wghsea.org/. Visit the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association, a great place to let off some steam and to see some steam.
John Cowgill: Stories of the Railroad 