Photo: Eli Christman / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Strasburg Railroad
STRASBURG, PA
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About Strasburg Railroad
Ride a coal-fired steam train through 2,500 acres of Amish farmland on the Strasburg Rail Road, the oldest continuously operating standard-gauge railroad in the western hemisphere. The 45-minute round trip to Paradise offers everything from open-air cars to a white-tablecloth dining car, with deep seasonal programming — Day Out With Thomas, Wine & Cheese and Murder Mystery trains, and Santa's Paradise Express each winter. About 2 hours from Philadelphia and Baltimore; best for families, photographers, and steam enthusiasts.
📍 STRASBURG, PA 17579
History
Chartered by the Pennsylvania Legislature on June 9, 1832 and signed by Governor George Wolf, the Strasburg Rail Road was graded in 1835 and was operating as a horse‑drawn line by 1837, making it the oldest continuously operating standard‑gauge railroad in the western hemisphere and the oldest public utility in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. After purchasing the second‑hand Norris 4‑2‑0 locomotive *William Penn* in 1851, John F. and Cyrus N. Herr acquired a controlling interest in 1863, replaced the rails with heavier steel, and obtained a charter in 1866 to extend to Quarryville—a plan later abandoned because of an economic depression. Ownership passed to Edward Musselman in 1888 (the Musselman family retained control until 1918), when State Senator John Homsher bought the line; passenger traffic fell after the Conestoga Traction Company’s streetcars reached Strasburg in 1908, and a fire on January 16, 1871 destroyed the depot and related facilities. Facing abandonment, a nonprofit group of rail‑enthusiasts completed the purchase on November 1, 1958, launched the first revenue freight carload a week later, began tourist excursions on January 4, 1959, and received its inaugural steam locomotive in June 1960.
The Trains
The Strasburg Rail Road operates on 4.02 mi (6.47 km) of standard‑gauge track between East Strasburg and Leaman Place Junction, where it interchanges with Norfolk Southern on Amtrak’s Keystone Corridor, and its mechanical shops maintain the United States’ only operational wooden dining car as well as a 15‑inch gauge Pint‑Sized Pufferbelly Cagney miniature railway. Freight duties are handled by EMD SW8 #8618 and a rebuilt EMD SW9 acquired in 2019, while heritage passenger service relies on steam locomotives such as the 1851 Norris‑built 4‑2‑0 “William Penn.”
Nearby
Where to Stay
Featured stay
Red Caboose Motel at Paradise Station
Sleep in a genuine caboose right beside the Strasburg Rail Road line, about a mile from the depot.
Check availability →Bookings made through this map support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
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Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
Compare rentals on Discover Cars →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Book tours & activities near STRASBURG
Pre-book guided tours and things to do around the area.
Bookings made through these links support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
More in Pennsylvania
All train rides in Pennsylvania →Train Types in Pennsylvania
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