Do I need a train ticket to ride the tank?

Yes. You must purchase a Northbound Colgate Grove excursion train ticket that fits the tank ride slot; riders travel to Colgate Grove via the excursion.

How old do riders need to be?

Riders must be at least 10 years old and able to climb into the vehicle with limited assistance.

Is the experience ADA accessible?

No. The tank ride is not ADA accessible due to ladder entry and turret seating.

Can I bring a camera on board?

Exterior photography is allowed; follow crew direction and stay clear of moving parts. Interior access for cameras is at crew discretion for safety.

What happens if I miss my ride?

Tickets are nonrefundable and there are no guarantees for late arrivals—arrive early to collect physical tickets and confirm your slot.

Do proceeds support a museum?

Yes. All proceeds benefit the Stuart Tank Memorial Association Museum, supporting restoration and outreach efforts.

Ride a Restored WWII Stuart Tank at Colgate Grove — Orbisonia’s Lady Lois Experience | History Tour | Museum

At Colgate Grove, just off Orbisonia Station in Rockhill, Pennsylvania, history moves under your feet. Stuart Tank Rides invites visitors into the turret of Lady Lois, a fully restored and operational WWII M3A1 Stuart Light Tank, for a 5-10 minute, roughly one-mile ride that makes military history tactile and immediate. The experience runs during EBT Goes To War Weekend and is staged in partnership with the Stuart Tank Memorial Association Museum, which preserves the story of more than 13,000 Stuarts built at American Car & Foundry’s Berwick factory.

The visit begins at Orbisonia Station, where you pick up physical tickets, receive an orientation, and board the Northbound Colgate Grove excursion train required to reach the ride site. Riders climb a ladder into the tank turret with help from crew members and borrow authentic tanker helmets and goggles for safety and immersion. Seats are extremely limited—two riders per time slot—so plan your train departure carefully and arrive early to collect tickets and sign the museum’s ride waiver.

What makes this outing special is the collision of two Americana forms: a preserved short-line rail experience and a rolling piece of wartime engineering. The M3A1 Stuart’s riveted steel skin, compact profile, and the mechanical thrum beneath the turret are rare to feel firsthand; many museums keep these machines static. Here you move, hear gears engage, and feel the tank’s suspension negotiate country track, turning a postcard of military history into a five-minute sensory memory.

Practical details matter: riders must be at least ten years old, wear closed-toe shoes, and be able to climb into the vehicle with limited assistance. The attraction is not ADA accessible. Tickets are nonrefundable, and train tickets to Colgate Grove must be purchased to access the ride. Check offered time slots and coordinate with the excursion schedule—later rides require specific northbound trains.

This is an ideal stop for history buffs, families with older children, and anyone who wants an up-close look at armored warfare technology without a museum rope between you and the artifact. Proceeds support the Berwick-based museum’s restoration and outreach work, so your seat also helps preserve these machines and the stories of the crews who rode them. For a short, visceral dose of the past that arrives with steam and steel, the Stuart Tank Ride at Colgate Grove is unmatched in the region.

Plan to arrive at Orbisonia Station at least thirty to ninety minutes before your scheduled departure to collect tickets, use facilities, and review safety instructions. Photography is allowed on the exterior; please follow crew direction during boarding. Because proceeds benefit preservation, consider visiting the Stuart Tank Memorial Association Museum exhibits in Berwick and supporting volunteer-led restorations that keep these machines moving forward now.

About East Broad Top

East Broad Top is a fully restored narrow-gauge railroad based in Rockhill, Pennsylvania, preserving one of the nation's most complete 3-foot gauge rail systems. The railroad operates historic steam locomotives, gasoline-electric motorcars, and vintage equipment to offer public excursions, special events, and behind-the-scenes tours. Guests can choose from scenic steam train rides, trolley rides in partnership with the Rockhill Trolley Museum, seasonal celebrations, and exclusive guided tours led by skilled staff.

Historic attractions include one-hour steam train excursions, the M-3 and M-1 gasoline motorcar journeys, and specialty experiences such as the Master Mechanic's Tour and Archivist's Tour. The Master Mechanic's Tour grants visitors access to the roundhouse and rare narrow-gauge steam locomotives, while the Archivist's Tour offers a view of preserved documents and artifacts at Orbisonia Station. The property also hosts the Central Pennsylvania Ragtime & American Music Festival and seasonal events like Christmas in Coal Country.

Ticketed options include general admission train and trolley combinations, boxed lunches for pickup, and festival all-access passes. Seating on several motorcar excursions is limited, and many experiences provide insider access to restoration facilities and historic collections. Interpretive staff, preservation-focused programming, and the railroad's tangible archive materials support the site's educational value. East Broad Top's commitment to restoration, public programming, and collaboration with local museums makes it a trusted destination for visitors seeking authentic narrow-gauge railroad history.

Visitors can explore restoration workshops, observe ongoing repairs, and learn from volunteers and staff who maintain the historic equipment and archives through scheduled programs and seasonal demonstrations.