Patriot Rail announced it had launched the Gettysburg Excursion Railway, a heritage rail experience that would expand its tourism rail from Gettysburg to Mount Holly Springs in Pennsylvania.
The launch is the fourth excursion train for the company, further adding to its new excursion division. The 25-mile rail line aims to bring history to life in the historic area. The Gettysburg line will feature renovated 1950s-era Budd passenger coaches that have been transformed into first-class passenger railcars, as well as a café car serving snacks and refreshments.
“This launch marks an exciting new chapter in Patriot Rail’s Excursion Division growth and its commitment to supporting the communities we serve,” Brandy Christian, CEO at Patriot Rail, said. “We’re proud to enhance tourism by inviting guests to experience the rich history of one of America’s most iconic landscapes—aboard a passenger railcar journeying through the Adams County countryside.”
Patriot rail has been in the excursion business for 10 years since its launch of the Blue Ridge Scenic Excursion Railway in the Blue Ridge Mountains between Blue Ridge, Ga., and McCaysville, Tenn. In 2023, the company added two excursion trains and a Rail Bike Adventure in New Hampshire.
As part of the excursion rail experience, the café car on the train will transform for special onboard events catered by the Gettysburg College culinary group and the Wyndham Gettysburg Hotel and Conference Center. Trains will leave from the former Gettysburg and Harrisburg Railroad Depot
“The Gettysburg Excursion Railway is more than a train ride—it’s a moving tribute to the stories that shaped our nation,” Karl Pietrzak, president and CEO of Destination Gettysburg. “As both residents and visitors travel this historic route, they’ll connect with the past in a way that’s immersive, educational, and truly memorable.”