Friday, October 9, 2026
63 ° Clear
63 ° Clear
All aboard!
Bucks County families looking for a memorable fall outing can now ride the East Broad Top Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch Express.
Visitors can climb aboard a historic steam train, travel through the autumn landscape and arrive at a secluded pumpkin patch filled with activities for children and adults.
The Pumpkin Patch Express is currently running Oct. 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31, with departures at 10 and 11:30 a.m., and 1 and 2:30 p.m.
The railroad is located in Rockhill Furnace, about 2½ to 3 hours from Bucks County and just off the Pennsylvania Turnpike. That location makes it a destination for a day trip, and the railroad draws visitors from throughout Pennsylvania and beyond.
“We’re in the middle of nowhere, but in the center of everywhere because being so close to the turnpike, we draw people from all over, from the east and west,” said Rick Hamilton, director of marketing for the East Broad Top Railroad.
“We draw from as far west as Pittsburgh,” he said. “We get people from Reading, State College, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, so we get people from all over.”
After boarding the Pumpkin Patch Express, passengers travel about 3.5 miles through the Aughwick Valley to Colgate Grove. The train ride takes about 30 minutes, followed by approximately 90 minutes at the destination before passengers board the train for the return trip.
“The train ride is just the start of things,” said Hamilton.
Children are encouraged to come dressed in their Halloween costumes and once at Colgate Grove, every child ages 2 to 12 will receive a pumpkin to take home. Children can decorate their pumpkins at the pumpkin patch, while a hay bale wagon ride takes them around the area. There is also a costume contest for every train departure, with prizes awarded to the winners.
“There’s so much to do at Colgate Grove,” Hamilton said. “We have bounce houses, games, mini golf and cornhole. A free photo booth and fire pits give families additional ways to spend time at Colgate Grove, and a vintage pickup truck decorated with pumpkins and hay bales provides a great backdrop for family selfies.”
Food is another part of the outing, with vendors offering choices such as hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken and drinks. Adults can enjoy a beverage from the Juniata Brewing Company's beer van while children take part in the activities.
Hamilton said the railroad has expanded the Colgate Grove experience since the Pumpkin Patch Express began.
“We started out fairly small several years ago, but we’ve been adding to our Colgate Grove attraction with bigger pavilions and better facilities over the years,” he said. “Also, the food options increase every year.”
The event is designed as a fall and Halloween celebration rather than a frightening attraction. That makes the Pumpkin Patch Express an option for families with younger children who want to celebrate Halloween with costumes, pumpkins and activities without the haunted houses and scares associated with many other October events.
“The train ride is an attraction in itself,” said Hamilton. The Pumpkin Patch Express is pulled by a roughly 100-year-old steam locomotive, giving passengers an opportunity to experience a piece of railroad history while traveling through the fall landscape.
“It’s family time where you spend looking at the scenery,” Hamilton said. “And because we run a 100-year-old steam engine, riding on an old steam train is very unique; just its atmosphere, the smell of it, and the sound of its whistle letting out a sharp, high-pitched cry makes this a very unusual, enjoyable attraction.”
The route passes farms and fields before reaching the mountains, where passengers can see the fall foliage.
“We do get a lot of people that just come for the fall foliage that don’t have kids,” Hamilton said. “They just come because of the beautiful scenery.”
The East Broad Top Railroad itself adds another layer to the experience. The railroad is a National Historic Landmark, and visitors can explore its historic facilities and shops, where equipment and other reminders of its working past remain.
Hamilton said the railroad offers children a chance to experience history firsthand.
“People are motivated to come here looking for a different experience,” he said. “I believe it’s something that kids will remember for a very long time. It’s a good experience for the kids. They get to see history in action, and adults love it as well.”
For Bucks County families, that combination is part of what makes the trip worthwhile. Rather than simply visiting a pumpkin patch, families can spend several hours riding a historic steam train, decorating pumpkins, playing games, enjoying food and taking in the fall scenery.
And once the pumpkins are put away, the railroad will turn its attention to the holidays, beginning right after Thanksgiving on Nov. 27 and running right up until Christmas, wrapping up on Dec. 20..
During the holiday event, visitors board heated train cars for a one-hour ride for Christmas in Coal Country. Santa boards the train, visits with families and gives each child a gift. Tickets also include a cookie and hot chocolate for each passenger.
For more information about the East Broad Top Railroad and its upcoming events, visit eastbroadtop.com.
MORE: 7 can’t-miss fall festivals in Bucks County
