PA Cowboy Weekend

Northern Central Railway of York’s Annual Marquee Event

Duration

One Hour

About

Take the tracks back in time for this mid-October western weekend with the cowboys of the classics.

Transport yourself to the Wild West in this event celebrating cowboy and cowgirl culture! Ride along with our No. 17 Steam Engine with “the most reckless class of outlaws in the wild country,” and prepare for an experience straight out of the most beloved cowboy films– compete with train robberies, shootouts, live performances, and more!

This celebration of cowboy culture immerses visitors in the most unique movement of the 1800s. The Wild West movies from the 1950s to today romanticize the life of the cowboy and cowgirl and make us all want to be participants in the cowboy life.

Cowboys were referred to as “the most reckless class of outlaws in the wild country.”

Watch our website for more information about the event!

Please Note

• Please visit our Gift Shop to check in and receive your boarding tickets.
• Please arrive 30 minutes prior to boarding.
  -NOTE: The Wheelchair lift will ONLY be available at the New Freedom Historic Station. If you or someone in your party needs the wheelchair lift to board the train, please also plan on getting off the train at the Historic Station.

Coach Accommodation Options

D. Reed Anderson Car

With a seating area for passengers as well as a storage area for baggage, the aptly-named combine car was important to railroads in the late nineteenth century. Our combine car, the D. Reed Anderson coach, holds special meaning as it is named for one of Northern Central Railway of York’s co-founders. Patterned after an 1880s-era combine car, this coach can seat up to 32 passengers, and is available for public seating as well as small group private seating. When constructing this coach, special attention was paid to restoring 1920s-vintage Hale and Kilburn cushioned walkover seats, which can be reversed to face the direction of travel. The D. Reed Anderson houses two restrooms and is handicapped accessible. Like our other passenger cars, this coach features coal stoves and operable windows for all-season use.
Abraham Lincoln Car

The Northern Central Railway will forever be connected with President Abraham
Lincoln, who rode these rails to and from delivering the Gettysburg Address in 1863.
Sadly, less than two years later, on April 21, 1865, the nine-car Lincoln Funeral Train
would use these tracks when traveling from Baltimore to Harrisburg and beyond.
Our Abraham Lincoln car incorporates the look and feel of an 1870s passenger
coach. The vibrant car embraces Victorian motifs and features plush green seats that can be reversed to face the direction of travel. Like our other passenger cars, the Abraham Lincoln coach incorporates authentic nineteenth century heating via coal stoves as well as operable windows to bring the outside in and provide fresh, cool air.

New Freedom Car

Named for the home base for the Northern Central Railway of York, the New Freedom replicates the appearance of a standard passenger coach from the 1860s. In true Victoria Era fashion, the lavish car features a colorful interior, with plush red seats that can be reversed to face the direction of travel. With seating for up to 56 passengers, the New Freedom coach incorporates authentic 19th century heating and cooling – coal stoves to heat the car during the cold months and open windows to cool the car during the warm season. As for the car’s namesake, New Freedom was incorporated in 1873 and named for the Free family. The borough houses both our engine house as well as our passenger station – the historic New Freedom Railroad Station, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

South Branch Car

The tracks of the Northern Central Railway wind through the rolling hills and peaceful valleys of southern York County, paralleling and occasionally crossing the South Branch of the Codorus Creek. South Branch also happens to be the name of our 1860s-era open-air coach, which offers a unique riding experience. With seating for up to 36 passengers, the layout of the coach features cushioned seats in the center of the car, facing outward on each side to provide spectacular views of quaint towns and picturesque countryside. During the warmer months, the large windows are open to allow refreshing airflow, while in the colder months the windows are closed to retain the warmth courtesy of an era-appropriate coal stove. Wicker chairs provide additional seating options for passengers.

Gondola

Enjoy the outdoor elements (rain or shine) of riding along the NCR line inside the standing-only open-air Gondola car. Passengers can roam throughout the car to see all of the sights of the York County Heritage Rail Trail. This newly restored 1906 restored Gondola car No. 8146 was restored in 2022 for the Bike Aboard program.