Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad

n the beginning, there wasn't much ... only 13.5 miles of double ribbons of rusty rail; not good enough for Conrail to use, and buried beneath the brush and fallen trees. In 1982, two local groups were planning to purchase the track, one for recreational use and the other to continue the freight connection for Titusville area industry. These two groups came together in 1983 to form the Oil Creek Railway Historical Society and purchased the track, buildings, and real estate on June 6, 1986. July 18, 1986, saw the inaugural excursion of the OC&T train, utilizing cars leased from several railway historical societies, individuals and museums. That first year saw over 33,950 passengers! Friends of the Railroad (FORR), the official support group of the society, was organized in 1986 with fifty charter members. Proceeds of the membership campaigns are used for projects to benefit the OC&T.

Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad

Built by Pullman in 1930 as electric-powered commuter cars for the Lackawanna Railroad, these cars (below) were used around Hoboken, NJ, until 1986. They are solid steel, with the only wood being window sills and mahogany arm rests. Their electrical systems have been completely redone to modern standards. The concrete floors maintain a low center of gravity for safety. The 'walkover' seats allow passengers to always face forward, or sit in groups of four. We have completely refurbished their interiors. Two (#59 and #61) have 20-KW generators to provide power to our train. The number and name of each coach are keyed to significant people in the history of the "valley that changed the world."

Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad

Our Railroad Post Office, or RPO, (below) is the only one currently operating in the United States. Built in 1927, it originally ran on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad as their #68. It then went to the Bangor & Aroostook as their #570 and in 1989 was donated to us by Andrew Merrilees LTD, a Canadian locomotive rebuilder. When it first arrived in Titusville, it was so rusted you could see straight though it from the outside. Thanks to our volunteers, with a grant from the John Nesbit Rees and Sarah Henne Reese Charitable Foundation, it was beautifully restored.

Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad

Our First Class car (below) was purchased in 2005 from the Lake Shore Railway Historical Society. Built by American Car & Foundry for the Wabash Railroad in 1925, it ran as a First Class car on the fames Wabash Cannonball Special. Rebuilt with sealed windows and air conditioning in 1946, it was acquired by the Norfolk & Western Railway via merger, and continued in service until the early 1960's when it was donated to LSRHS. The interior is original per its 1940's rebuild, with long distance reclining Sleepy Hollow seats, luggage rack lights and mohair upholstery.

Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad

Originally an express refrigerator car c. 1940, its number refers to the date Edwin L Drake struck oil, August 27, 1859. It had been converted to a flatcar and was being used in the GE locomotive works in Erie, PA, to move locomotive frames around the plant. GE's East Erie Commercial Railroad gave it to us in 1990. We promptly put in a new floor and oak sides. In good weather, up to 100 passengers can be found viewing the beautiful scenery and searching for bald eagles and other wildlife in the Oil Creek State Park from our gondola car.

OCTR

Caboose #10 was built in 1913 for the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad, and later it served as the executive car for the Lake Erie, Franklin and Clarion Railroad.

OCTR