A Day on the Delaware River Railroad

My family and I spent a recent Sunday afternoon riding the Delaware River Railroad in Phillipsburg, New Jersey and making our way through the Corn Maze experience.  For those looking for a long, leisurely road trip to far western New Jersey (just a stone’s throw from Lehigh, Pennsylvania!) to enjoy a good old-fashioned train ride experience, then this day trip is for you.

We could not have asked for better weather – cool, crisp air, blue sky and warm sun – nor a more picturesque drive. The trees were just starting to turn their Fall colors, and we were even treated to some hot air balloons floating way up high above us!

My husband knew of this great diner that had a train car extension as part of their dining facility in Clinton, New Jersey.  So we naturally had to kick off our train day adventure by fueling up at the Clinton Station Diner and enjoying our Sunday brunch in a dining car!  This diner is NOT to be missed, with made-from-scratch everything on the menu – from their soups and bread to their French fries and baked goods  – and they seem to be known for their massive burger offerings (50 lb. burger, anyone??)

Once our bellies were full, it was only another 15 minutes until we reached our destination – the Delaware River Railroad Excursion. With some time to spare, we parked it on a bench near the platform and spent some time chatting with a lovely family whose toddler daughter was equally as excited, as we were to partake in her first train ride.

And then we heard the bellows of the whistle – the train was approaching! 

Unfortunately for us, the steam engine was being serviced, so a diesel engine would be pulling us along.  But the Susquehanna passenger cars were delightful, complete with a little gift shop inside and a caboose at the back.

The train ride itself was leisurely and made one stop to the corn maze area where with a separate ticket, we were able to make our way through by following a special map.  

• Consider dining at the Clinton Station Diner or packing a picnic lunch, complete with coolers, as there is no food aside from vending machine-like items available for purchase on the train itself.  There’s also not much else around the train platform or ticketing area by way of dining or shops.
• Parking can be tough – there are spots in the Municipal lot across the way from the ticketing booth if the train lot is full (it almost always is).
• Strollers are permitted but it’s much easier to wear your child or keep your toddler close to you by holding his hand. We brought our City Mini stroller but did not really need it.
• For those with physical limitations – this may not be the best excursion for you. There is a large, steep hill and uneven terrain both getting to and from the train.  
• If you decide to do the Corn Maze, be prepared to be there for at least 1 hour. The train drops you off at the corn maze site and returns back to pick you up an hour later.  There are port-o-john facilities if needed in the maze area.
• It’s a volunteer-run operation, and there are a limited number of volunteers.  They were warm and family-friendly for the most part, but not the most accessible if you have a question, need or issue.
• Lastly, there are no guarantees and what you see on the website is what you will get. As mentioned above, the steam engine was out for service, so we had a diesel engine. We thought there were dinosaurs as part of this train experience but the dino component was within the Corn Maze. 

Just go with it and have a fun day out in the country with your family!

All photos courtesy of Lisa Pisano. All rights reserved.