6 Abandoned Railroads In Pennsylvania That Nature Has Almost Taken Back
Pennsylvania’s rich railroad history has left ghostly tracks across the landscape.
I’ve always been fascinated by these forgotten pathways, now slowly disappearing under nature’s persistent embrace.
During my hiking adventures throughout the Keystone State, I’ve stumbled upon these haunting remnants of the industrial era—rusty rails, crumbling bridges, and tunnels being reclaimed by vegetation.
Let me share some of my favorite spots where Mother Nature is winning the battle against these once-bustling iron roads.
1. South Penn Railroad Aqueduct (Fulton County)
Tucked away in the rolling hills of Fulton County sits a magnificent stone relic that never fulfilled its purpose. I nearly missed this hidden gem during my autumn hike last year! The massive stone arches stand like ancient Roman ruins, except these were abandoned before a single train ever crossed them.
Maple saplings now sprout from cracks between meticulously laid stonework, while thick carpets of moss blanket the upper surfaces. What’s particularly eerie is how the forest seems to be slowly swallowing this engineering marvel whole.
The aqueduct was part of the ambitious South Penn Railroad project that went belly-up in the 1880s after a financial panic. Now it’s just me, the birds, and occasionally a startled deer enjoying this magnificent monument to railroad dreams that never came true.
2. Conococheague Mountain Tunnel (Perry County)
Holy moly, you should see the entrance to this tunnel! When I first stumbled upon it during a camping trip, I thought I’d discovered some kind of fantasy portal. The mouth of this abandoned tunnel yawns from the mountainside like something straight out of a Tolkien novel.
Water constantly drips from the ceiling inside, creating otherworldly mineral formations that glisten when your flashlight catches them. The tunnel stretches nearly half a mile through Conococheague Mountain, though I’ve never had the courage to walk its entire length.
Railroad engineers blasted this passage through solid rock in the early 1900s, but economic troubles led to its abandonment by the 1950s. Nature’s reclamation project includes spectacular ice formations in winter and surprisingly resilient ferns that somehow thrive in the dim light near the entrances.
3. Carr’s Tunnel “Witches’ Tunnel” (Greensburg)
Goosebumps prickled my arms the first time a local friend led me to this spooky passageway. Known to locals as the “Witches’ Tunnel,” this abandoned railroad cut has spawned more urban legends than any other spot on my list!
Twisted tree roots dangle from the ceiling like gnarled fingers, while the walls seem to weep with moisture even on dry days. The tunnel isn’t technically a bored passage but rather a deep cut through a hillside that was later partially covered, creating a natural ceiling effect that amplifies every sound.
Built in the 1830s for the Pennsylvania Railroad, it’s one of the oldest abandoned rail structures in the state. Teenagers still dare each other to walk through at midnight, though I prefer visiting during daylight hours when the interplay of shadows and sunbeams creates a less terrifying but equally magical atmosphere.
4. Chester Creek Branch (Philadelphia Suburbs)
Who knew suburban Philadelphia could hide such a lush green secret? The first time I biked along this former rail line, I couldn’t believe I was just minutes from crowded shopping centers and housing developments.
Wildflowers burst through the remaining railroad ties in spectacular fashion each spring. The transformation is most dramatic at the old trestle bridges, where vines thick as my arm have wrapped themselves around rusting metal supports, creating natural sculptures that change with the seasons.
The Chester Creek Branch once connected the industrial towns along its namesake waterway until Hurricane Agnes damaged it beyond economical repair in 1972. Nature wasted no time reclaiming the corridor. Today, portions have been converted into a rail-trail, but many sections remain delightfully wild—a ribbon of unexpected wilderness slicing through Philadelphia’s busy suburbs.
5. Opossum Run Branch (West Leisenring)
Well butter my biscuit if this isn’t the most dramatically overgrown railroad I’ve ever seen! My coal country relatives showed me this hidden spot last summer, and I couldn’t stop taking photos of the surreal landscape.
The rails themselves have virtually disappeared under a thick carpet of ferns, with only occasional rusty spikes poking through to hint at what lies beneath. What makes this spot unique are the coal tipples—wooden structures once used for loading coal—now collapsing in slow motion as saplings grow through their foundations.
The Opossum Run Branch served several small mines near West Leisenring until the coal industry declined in the 1950s. The forest’s reclamation here feels almost personal, as if nature is determined to erase all evidence of the environmental damage once caused by the mining operations this little railroad supported.
6. Brilliant Branch (Pittsburgh–Aspinwall)
Brilliant by name, brilliant by nature! This forgotten riverside rail line offers some of the most spectacular urban ruins I’ve encountered in my railroad explorations. The contrast between industrial decay and natural rebirth simply takes my breath away.
Sycamore trees have pushed up through the ballast stones, their white bark creating a ghostly procession along the former right-of-way. What’s particularly fascinating is how the stone retaining walls have become vertical gardens, with hardy plants colonizing every possible crack and crevice.
The Brilliant Branch once connected Pittsburgh’s bustling factories to the main line until manufacturing declined in the 1980s. Today, the line offers an unexpected wildlife corridor through the city’s eastern neighborhoods. During my visit last spring, I spotted three deer calmly grazing between the rusty rails, seemingly unaware they were standing in the middle of Pennsylvania’s second-largest city!