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Quick Facts About the Strasburg Railroad
| Railroad Name | Strasburg Railroad |
| Website | https://www.strasburgrailroad.com/ |
| Train ride | Steam powered train of vintage passenger cars |
| Location | 301 Gap Rd, Ronks, PA 17572 Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/GCQkiH11WcW8wYQ98 |
| Length of trip | 4 mile line |
| Cost of single ticket | $25.00 |
| Special Trains | A Day Out With Thomas Christmas Trains Easter Trains Legacy of Sleepy Hollow Murder Mystery Trains |
Information about the Strasburg Railroad
The Strasburg Rail Road (reporting mark SRC) is a heritage railroad as well as the oldest continually operating standard-gauge railroad in the western hemisphere, along with the oldest utility in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Chartered in 1832, the Strasburg Rail Road Company is today a heritage railway offering train rides pulled by steam engines on 4.02 miles of track in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, along with offering contract railway mechanical services, as well as freight solution to area shippers.
The railway’s head offices are outside Strasburg, Pennsylvania.
Strasburg has an overall of 5 functional heavy steam engines on their roster, as well as numerous others in different phases of reconstruction. As of 2021, Great Western No. 90, Canadian National No. 89, Norfolk & Western No. 475 and also Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal No. 15 (rebuilt as Thomas the Tank Engine) are all in energetic service. The Strasburg Rail Road is one of the few railroads in the U.S. to occasionally utilize steam engines to haul revenue freight trains.
History
By the 1820s, the canal system had actually replaced the Conestoga wagon as the main technique of overland transport. When the Susquehanna Canal opened, most of products were guided via Baltimore, Maryland, instead of Philadelphia. The percentage of items that were destined for Philadelphia traveled by means of a wagon roadway via Strasburg. Philadelphia attempted to redeem its placement as a significant port city by constructing the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad in 1831. A railway was easier and even more economical to build than a canal. Since the new railroad would bypass Strasburg and cost Strasburg to lose its livelihood, a group of businessmen requested the state government for the right to develop their own railroad to attach Strasburg to the Philadelphia and Columbia. A charter was provided by the Pennsylvania Legislature with the trademark of Governor George Wolf on June 9, 1832 to “integrate the Strasburg railroad”.
The pre-1852 history of the Strasburg Rail Road is sketchy, it is thought that the line was graded in 1835 as well as was operational by 1837. The railroad ran as a horse-drawn railway until it acquired a pre-owned Norris-built, 4-2-0 heavy steam locomotive called the William Penn in 1851. Managing interest in the railroad was acquired by John F. and also Cyrus N. Herr in 1863. The rails were changed around the same time with heavier ones to suit the locomotive. In 1866, the Herrs were given a charter to expand the Strasburg Rail Road to Quarryville; studies were carried out, but the extension was ultimately canceled because of a financial depression in 1867. Isaac Groff took care of The Strasburg Rail Road for about 20 years till the fire of January 16, 1871, which ruined the depot, grist, as well as merchant-mill, planing-mill as well as machine-shop, in all, greater than $50,000 worth of homes. In 1878, the Strasburg Rail Road and the shops were offered for sale. The railway was eventually once again sold in 1888 to Edward Musselman, with the Musselman family maintaining control of it until 1918 when it was purchased by State Senator John Homsher. By that time, the number of passengers had actually dropped off due to tracks for the Conestoga Traction Company’s trams getting to Strasburg in 1908, which provided a much more direct route in between Lancaster and also Strasburg.
In 1926, the Strasburg Rail Road bought a 20-ton (17.9-long-ton; 18.1 t), gasoline-powered, Plymouth switcher– the only locomotive that was ever built especially for the Strasburg Rail Road.
Notable Roster
| Engine | Type | Builder | Note |
| 475 | 4-8-0 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | Ex-Norfolk and Western. At Strasburg since 1991 |
| 89 | 2-6-0 | Canadian Locomotive Works | Ex-Canadian National. At Strasburg since 1972 |
| 90 | 2-10-0 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | Ex-Great Western At Strasburg since 1967 |
| 1 | 0-6-0T | H. K. Porter | Ex-Brooklyn East District Terminal. Made up to look like Thomas The Tank Engine. |
The railroad also has several locomotives that are in various stages of repair, as well as diesel locomotives that primarily are used for hauling any freight traffic.
In recent times the railroad has hosted restored Norfolk and Western locomotive 611, a 4-8-4 steam engine, to run passenger excursions.
In the past the railroad operated two steam locomotives that are owned by The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, which is located right across the street from the Strasburg Depot. These locomotives are both ex-Pennsylvania Railroad engines number 1223, a 4-4-0, and 7002, a 4-4-2. Both of these locomotives are on display inside the museums main building.
Special Events
There are several special events that occur during the course of the year.
These include, but are not limited to:
A Day Out With Thomas
Christmas Trains
Easter Trains
Legacy of Sleepy Hollow
Murder Mystery Trains
Check their web site for times, dates and prices
Other Attractions
There are several other attractions in and around Strasburg that you may find interesting.
These include:
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, mentioned above.
The Red Caboose Motel
The National Toy Train Museum, right next door to the Caboose Motel
The Choo Choo Barn
Getting there
All passengers first board the trains at the Strasburg Railroad station which is located on the east end of town.
The address is:
301 Gap Rd,
Ronks, PA 17572
A typical ticket costs $25 per person
Amtrak has a station in Lancaster. From there you will need your own ground transportation.
There is an airport in Lancaster as well. The only airline that fly’s there is Southern Airways Express
The next closest airport is in Harrisburg. Several airlines fly there including American, Delta, Frontier, United and Allegiant.
Places to stay:
The Red Caboose Motel, mentioned already
https://redcaboosemotel.com/
Clarion Inn Strasburg
https://www.choicehotels.com/pennsylvania/strasburg/clarion-hotels/pa643
Holiday Inn Express
https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/strasburg/lnses/hoteldetail
The Carriage House at Strasburg
https://carriagehousestrasburg.com/
