The Ligonier Valley Rail Road Association is a non-profit corporation that was organized to:

• Preserve the legacy of the Ligonier Valley Rail Road
• Conserve the vestiges of the Ligonier Valley Rail Road
• Collect relics and memorabilia of the Ligonier Valley Rail Road
• Educate the public about the history of railroading in the Ligonier Valley

One of the better known short-line railroads, the Ligonier Valley Rail Road connected Ligonier Valley with the rest of the world via the Pennsylvania RR at Latrobe, Pennsylvania. It also connected the rest of the world with Pennsylvania's Mountain Playground, Ligonier Valley in general and Idlewild Park in particular. Originally only ten miles long, the line was extended six miles at the turn of the 20th century to service the coal fields north of Ligonier.

The Railroad began operation in 1877 and during the course of it's 75 years of operation it carried 9 million passengers and hauled 32 milion tons of freight. The last run occured on August 31, 1952.

The photo on the left is the original Darlington Station in 1934. The photo on the right is the Darlington Station today (2008). The restoration of the Station began in the Fall of 2006 and has been completed (March 2009). We plan to open is as the Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum later this summer and are in the process of raising funds to furnish the interior.

On the left is our 1905 Bobber Caboose passing historic Fort Ligonier on its way to the Darlington Station. The caboose was moved from temporary storage in Laughlintown to the Darlington Station on Saturday February 16, 2008. The tracks were installed a few weeks before and Ligonier Construction Company, of Laughlintown transported the caboose and set it up on the tracks. We are looking for volunteers to help us restore the caboose. To read about the caboose project, please click on the Bobber Caboose link on the left.

	This is an HO replica of our 1905 "Bobber" caboose. The price is $10. You can order by calling 800-813-8949 or 724-537-2647. OR, go to the Gift Shop page and order online. (Click on photo for a larger image)
	This is our first car in a new series of HO gauge cars that we will be offering. The price is $20. You can order by calling 800-813-8949 or 724-537-2647. OR, go to the Gift Shop page and order online. (Click on photo for a larger image)

Saturday, April 25, 2009 - First Annual Model Railroad Home Tour
A fundraising model-train house tour is scheduled for April 25th. The tour will include 6 layouts in the Latrobe and Ligonier areas. Layouts will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information

On Saturday,April 26, 2008 we conducted a tour of the old Booth and Flinn stone quarry and Baker Siding. The group started the tour at the Darlington Station at 1:00 PM with about 30 people. Refreshments were served after the tour.

January 16, 2008 - Article in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about Donated Caboose.(Courtesy of Tribune-Review)

Dave Crawley of KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh did a short feature on the Darlington Station. (Video Clip Courtesy of KDKA)

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review published an article about the September 20th. Darlington Station Gala.
(Courtesy of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

We would like your help. If you have or know of any items from the Ligonier Valley Rail Road including old photographs, timetables, employee information, badges etc. please call us at 800-813-8949. We would love to hear from you!

Idlewild Park & Ligonier Valley Rail Road Association Save Historic Landmark - October 11, 2006 - Details