Strasburg Rail Road facts for kids
 |
|
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Strasburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Reporting mark | SRC |
| Locale | Strasburg and Paradise Townships, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania |
| Dates of operation | 1832–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Length | 4.02 mi (6.47 km) |
The Strasburg Rail Road (also known as SRC) is a special kind of train line called a heritage railroad. It's the oldest standard-gauge railroad in the Western Hemisphere that has been running non-stop since it started. It's also the oldest public service company in Pennsylvania.
The Strasburg Rail Road Company began in 1832. Today, it offers fun train rides pulled by steam locomotives. These rides cover about 4 miles (6.4 km) of track in a beautiful area called Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The railroad also fixes trains for other companies and carries goods for businesses. Its main office is located near Strasburg, Pennsylvania.
The Strasburg Rail Road has five steam locomotives that are ready to run. Several others are being fixed up. As of 2022, three steam engines are actively running: Canadian National No. 89, Norfolk & Western No. 475, and Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal No. 15 (which looks like Thomas the Tank Engine). Canadian National No. 7312 is being restored, and Great Western No. 90 is getting a big check-up. They also have a small 15-inch gauge 4-4-0 steam engine.
This railroad also has the largest collection of old wooden passenger cars that are still used in the country. About 300,000 people visit the Strasburg Rail Road every year. It's one of the few railroads in the U.S. that sometimes uses steam locomotives to pull freight trains (trains carrying goods). The nearby Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania sometimes uses Strasburg Rail Road tracks to connect to the main Amtrak line.
Contents
What is the Strasburg Rail Road Like?
The Strasburg Rail Road is a shortline railroad. This means it's a shorter train line that connects the town of Strasburg to Amtrak's main train line. The Strasburg line is used for fun excursion trains. These trains take passengers on a 45-minute round trip. The journey goes from East Strasburg to Leaman Place Junction. You'll see nearly 2,500 acres (1,012 hectares) of beautiful farmland in Lancaster County. A part of each train ticket helps support the Lancaster Farmland Trust.
The railroad has the only working wooden dining car in the United States. Visitors can enjoy a meal while riding the train. At the station, there are other fun things to do. You can ride the Pint-Sized Pufferbelly, a working 15 in (381 mm) gauge miniature steam train. There's also an old-fashioned pump car and several "cranky cars" from the 1930s. You can also find gift shops and a cafe.
The railroad has special shops where they fix and restore locomotives and train cars. They work on trains for the Strasburg Rail Road and for many other clients. These clients include other railroads, train museums, and heavy industries. In 2016–17, the shops were made bigger to handle more work. They are now about 30,000 square feet (2,800 square meters).
The freight department helps local businesses ship and transfer goods. They connect with Norfolk Southern trains at Leaman Place Junction in Paradise.
How Did the Strasburg Rail Road Start?
By the 1820s, canals were the main way to move goods. But when the Susquehanna Canal opened, most goods went through Baltimore instead of Philadelphia. Goods going to Philadelphia had to travel by wagon through Strasburg. Philadelphia wanted to be a major port again. So, it started building the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad in 1831. Building a railroad was easier and cheaper than building a canal.
This new railroad would go around Strasburg. This meant Strasburg might lose its important role in trade. So, a group of business people asked the state government for permission. They wanted to build their own railroad to connect Strasburg to the Philadelphia and Columbia line. On June 9, 1832, Governor George Wolf signed a paper allowing them to start the Strasburg Rail Road.
We don't know much about the Strasburg Rail Road before 1852. But it's thought that the tracks were prepared in 1835. The railroad was likely running by 1837. At first, horses pulled the trains. In 1851, the railroad bought its first steam locomotive. It was a second-hand engine named William Penn.
In 1863, John F. and Cyrus N. Herr bought most of the railroad. Around that time, the tracks were replaced with stronger ones for the steam locomotive. The Herrs wanted to extend the railroad to Quarryville in 1866. But an economic problem in 1867 stopped this plan.
Isaac Groff managed the railroad for about 20 years. Then, a big fire on January 16, 1871, destroyed the train station and other buildings. This caused over $50,000 in damage. The railroad was sold in 1878 and again in 1888 to Edward Musselman. The Musselman family owned it until 1918. Then, State Senator John Homsher bought it. By this time, fewer people were riding the train. This was because Conestoga Traction Company's streetcars reached Strasburg in 1908. They offered a more direct route to Lancaster.
In 1926, the Strasburg Rail Road bought a 20-ton (18-tonne) gasoline-powered switcher locomotive. This was the only engine ever built just for the Strasburg Rail Road. By 1958, the railroad was in trouble. There was less freight business, and trains didn't run often. Hurricane Hazel also caused damage. Plus, the Plymouth locomotive wasn't approved to run by inspectors.
When Bryson Homsher died, his family decided to close the railroad. But railfans Henry K. Long and Donald E. L. Hallock from Lancaster heard about it. They started a small non-profit group to buy and save the railroad. After a lot of hard work, they bought it on November 1, 1958. A week later, on November 8, the first carload of goods was carried to a mill in Strasburg.
Fun tourist train rides began on January 4, 1959. The first steam locomotive for the tourist line arrived in June 1960.
When the railroad started running for tourists, they still tried to get freight business. But it was much less than before. By the early 2000s, freight traffic almost stopped. The railroad was in danger of losing its status as a public carrier. In 2008, the railroad decided to actively look for new freight business. They improved the main line for heavier modern freight cars. They also bought a diesel locomotive, EMD SW8 #8618, for freight duties.
Since 2008, freight shipments have increased a lot. This led to a new $1.5 million facility for transferring goods. More freight also meant buying another locomotive, an EMD SW9, in 2019. On February 12, 2023, the railroad opened a new six-track freight yard.
What Trains Does Strasburg Rail Road Have?
Locomotives (Engines)
The Strasburg Rail Road has many different types of locomotives. Here are some of them:
| Number | Type | Images | Wheel arrangement | Builder | Built | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gas | B | Plymouth Locomotive Works | 1926 | Operational | |
| 2 | Gas |  |
B | Plymouth Locomotive Works | 1930 | Operational |
| 3 | Steam |  |
4-4-0 | Cagney Bros. | 1920 | Operational |
| 9 | Steam | 4-4-0 | Cagney Bros. | 1903 | Stored | |
| 10 | Diesel | .jpg) |
B-B | Sanders Machine Shop | 1915 | Operational |
| 15 | Steam |  |
0-6-0T | H.K. Porter, Inc. | 1917 | Operational |
| 89 | Steam |  |
2-6-0 | Canadian Locomotive Company | 1910 | Operational |
| 90 | Steam |  |
2-10-0 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1924 | Undergoing 1,472-day inspection and overhaul |
| 475 | Steam |  |
4-8-0 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1906 | Operational |
| 972 | Steam |  |
4-6-0 | Montreal Locomotive Works | 1912 | Stored, awaiting restoration |
| 1235 | Diesel | B-B | Electro-Motive Diesel | 1953 | Undergoing restoration | |
| 7312 | Steam |  |
0-6-0 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1908 | Undergoing restoration |
| 8618 | Diesel | _1_(26478447063).jpg) |
B-B | Electro-Motive Diesel | 1952 | Operational |
No. 7312 was the very first steam locomotive bought by the Strasburg Rail Road in June 1959. It started pulling tourist trains on September 1, 1960. It was the first steam locomotive to return to service in the United States. In 2009, it was taken out of service for a big inspection and repair, which is still ongoing.
No. 90 used to haul sugar beet trains in Colorado. Strasburg Rail Road bought it in 1967. It made its first run for Strasburg on May 13, 1967.
No. 89 was bought by Strasburg Rail Road in June 1972. On its way to Strasburg, it was caught in a flood from Hurricane Agnes. This delayed its first run until March 17, 1973. No. 89 is often used to pull smaller trains.
No. 475 used to haul freight for the Norfolk and Western Railway. Strasburg Rail Road bought it in June 1991. It was restored and returned to service on November 4, 1993. For the movie Thomas and the Magic Railroad, No. 475 was painted to look like "Indian Valley."
"Thomas" is actually Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal No. 15. It was built in 1917. The Strasburg Rail Road bought it in 1998 and rebuilt it to look like Thomas the Tank Engine. It's used for the annual "Day Out With Thomas" events. In 2014, Thomas got a new face with a moving mouth and a speaker for his voice.
No. 972 was acquired by Strasburg because its previous owner couldn't pay for repairs. It is currently stored and waiting for repairs.
The Strasburg Rail Road also has several early diesel locomotives. Most of them are working.
No. 1 has been with the Strasburg Rail Road since it was built in 1926. It was important for rebuilding the tracks between 1958 and 1959.
No. 2 was bought in 1984. It's sometimes used to move heavy equipment in the railyard. It has also been decorated to look like "Rusty" for Thomas events.
No. 10 used to run for another railroad until 1918. It was restored by Strasburg and returned to passenger service in 1997.
No. 8618 used to operate for the New York Central Railroad. Strasburg Rail Road bought it in 2009. It mainly handles freight but sometimes pulls passenger trains. It has also been decorated to look like "Mavis" for Thomas events.
No. 1235 is a diesel engine that arrived in 2018. It's currently being restored.
The railroad also has a collection of Cagney locomotives, which are smaller engines. Only one of them is currently running.
No. 3 is a 15 in (381 mm) gauge miniature steam locomotive. It might have operated at Coney Island in New York. Strasburg Rail Road bought it in 2003, and it has been running ever since.
No. 9 is another 15-inch gauge miniature steam locomotive. It was bought in 2012 to run with No. 3. It is currently stored and waiting to start service.
Former Locomotives
Here are some locomotives that used to be part of the Strasburg Rail Road's collection:
| Number | Type | Images | Wheel Arrangement | Builder | Built | Current owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Diesel | (B-B) | General-Electric | 1915 | Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad | |
| 21 | Diesel | (B) | Mack | 1921 | Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania | |
| 1187 | Steam |  |
0-4-0 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1903 | Age of Steam Roundhouse |
| 1223 | Steam |  |
4-4-0 | Juniata | 1905 | Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania |
| 7002 | Steam | _3_(27167741494).jpg) |
4-4-2 | Juniata | 1902 | Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania |
| 8000 | Electric | (B+B) | American Locomotives, General Electric Company & Ingersoll Rand | 1931 | National Museum of Transportation | |
| 9331 | Diesel |  |
(B-B) | General-Electric | 1948 | Walkersville Southern Railroad (Privately owned) |
Locomotives No. 1223 and No. 7002 were borrowed from the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. They were taken out of service because parts of their boilers were too thin. The museum wanted to keep the engines historically accurate, so they didn't renew the leases. Both engines are now on display.
SRC No. 4 was a special type of locomotive called a Camelback locomotive. It arrived at Strasburg in 1962. It wasn't strong enough for Strasburg's heavy trains. It was later sold to the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Ohio in 2020.
Visiting Locomotives
Sometimes, other locomotives visit the Strasburg Rail Road for events or repairs.
| Number | Type | Images | Wheel Arrangement | Builder | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B&O Tom Thumb Replica | Steam |  |
0-4-0 | Baltimore and Ohio Railroad | 1926-1927 | Rebuild |
| WDWRR #1 Walter E. Disney | Steam |  |
4-6-0 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1925 | Overhauled between 2016 and 2020 |
| WDWRR #2 Lilly Belle | Steam |  |
2-6-0 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1928 |
Overhauled between 2010 and 2016 |
| WDWRR #3 Roger E. Broggie | Steam |  |
4-6-0 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1925 | Overhauled between 2019 and 2023 |
| WDWRR #4 Roy O. Disney | Steam |  |
4-4-0 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1916 | To be overhauled beginning in 2024 |
| B&O 25 William Mason | Steam |  |
4-4-0 | Mason Machine Works | 1856 | Rebuild |
| PALCO 37 | Steam |  |
2-8-2T | ALCO | 1924 | Stored at Strasburg between 2010 and 2023 |
| LIRR 39 | Steam |  |
4-6-0 | Juniata Shops | 1929 | Awaiting Restoration Since 2008 |
| MSC 98 | Steam |  |
4-4-0 | ALCO | 1909 | Stored at Strasburg 1960-1964 |
| N&W 611 | Steam |  |
4-8-4 | Roanoke Shops | 1950 | At Strasburg in 2019 and 2021-2023 |
| Maine Eastern (RRPX) 764 | Diesel | _(Strasburg,_Pennsylvania,_USA)_3_(27029621006).jpg) |
GP7 (B-B) | Electro-Motive Diesel | 1954 | Leased in 2016 |
| Reading 902 | Diesel |  |
FP7 | Electro-Motive Diesel | 1950 | Visited Strasburg in 2001 |
| Reading 903 | Diesel |  |
FP7 | Electro-Motive Diesel | 1950 | Visited Strasburg in 2001 |
The Walt Disney World Railroad locomotives often come to the Strasburg Rail Road shops for major overhauls and rebuilds.
Passenger Cars
The Strasburg Rail Road has a large collection of historic passenger cars. Many of them are made of wood.
| SRR No. | Name | Image | Builder | Built | Type | Notes | Significance of Car Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Reading | .jpg) |
Harlan and Hollingsworth | 1913 | Business | ex-Reading | Named by Edward Stotesbury, a former president of the Reading Railroad. |
| 20 | William M. Moedinger | .jpg) |
Jackson & Sharpe | 1913 | Coach | ex-Maryland and Pennsylvania | Named for a founder and former president of the Strasburg Rail Road. |
| 58 | Cherry Hill / Huber Leath | Harlan and Hollingsworth | 1911 | Coach | ex-Reading | Named for a founder and Chief Mechanical Officer of the Strasburg Rail Road. | |
| 59 | Grasshopper Level | .jpg) |
B&M Salem Shops | 1904 | Coach | ex-Boston and Maine | A local nickname for an area south of Strasburg. |
| 60 | Eshleman Run / Donald E.L. Hallock | B&M Concorde Shops | 1903 | Combine | ex-Boston and Maine | Named for a founder and former president of the Strasburg Rail Road. | |
| 62 | Gobbler's Knob | .jpg) |
Pullman | 1897 | Coach | ex-Boston and Maine | A local nickname for an area south of Strasburg. |
| 65 | Walnut Hollow | Harlan & Hollingsworth | 1910 | Coach | ex-Reading | Significance unknown. | |
| 68 | Hello Dolly |  |
Pullman | 1896 | Open Air/Observation | ex-Boston and Maine built as a coach | Named for the 1969 movie Hello, Dolly! where this car was used. |
| 70 | Cherry Crest | Pullman | 1904 | Coach | ex Boston and Maine | Named for a farm along the Strasburg Rail Road line. | |
| 71 | Daffodil Spring | .jpg) |
Pullman | 1904 | Open Air | ex-Boston and Maine built as a coach | Significance unknown. |
| 72 | Mill Creek | Pullman | 1906 | Coach | ex-Boston and Maine | Named for a local stream. | |
| 73 | Pleasant View | Pullman | 1907 | Open Air | ex-Boston and Maine, built as Coach. | Significance unknown. | |
| 75 | Henry K. Long | .jpg) |
Laconia | 1910 | Lounge | ex-Boston and Maine, built as Coach | Named for a founder and the first president of the Strasburg Rail Road. |
| 88 | Marian | .jpg) |
Laconia | 1910 | Parlor | ex-Boston and Maine, built as Coach | Named for a founder and the first board secretary of the Strasburg Rail Road. |
| 92 | Susquehanna | .jpg) |
Harlan & Hollingsworth | 1910 | Coach | ex-Reading | Named for the Susquehanna River. |
| 93 | Lee E. Brenner | Laconia | 1909 | Diner | ex-Boston and Maine, built as Coach, only wooden dining car in regular service in the US | Named for a founder and the second president of the Strasburg Rail Road. | |
| 96 | William McFarlan |  |
Pullman | 1896 | Coach | ex-Boston and Maine | Named for a former VP whose gift helped with restoration. |
| 99 | Valley View | Laconia | 1909 | Open Air | ex-Boston and Maine, built as Coach | Significance unknown. | |
| 105 | Warren F. Benner |  |
Barney & Smith | 1912 | Coach | ex-Western Maryland | Named for a founder and former treasurer of the Strasburg Rail Road. |
| 118 | Linn W. Moedinger | American Car & Foundry | 1910 | Lounge | ex-Baltimore and Ohio | Named for a former Chief Mechanical Officer and president of the Strasburg Rail Road. | |
| 3214 | none | .jpg) |
Laconia | 1909 | Baggage | ex-Boston and Maine, built as Combine | Used for storage. |
| 9125 | TBD | ACF | 1946 | Baggage | ex-New York Central | Used for storage. | |
| 9140 | TBD | ACF | 1946 | Baggage | ex-New York Central | Used for storage. | |
| 9146 | TBD | ACF | 1946 | Baggage | ex-New York Central | Used for storage. |
Train Accidents
- On September 4, 2014, an empty passenger car (No. 99) went off the tracks near the station. No one was hurt. This happened because of a problem with a track switch. The car was put back on the tracks later that day.
- On November 2, 2022, locomotive No. 475 hit an excavator that was parked on a side track. This happened while the train was moving around at Leaman Place. The front of the locomotive was damaged, but no one on the train was injured. The accident was caused by a switch that was not lined up correctly. Repairs on No. 475 started the next day and were finished quickly. The locomotive was back in service on November 7, 2022.
Strasburg Rail Road in Movies and TV
The Strasburg Rail Road and its trains have been featured in several movies and TV shows. These include:
- Hello, Dolly!
- Wild Wild West
- Thomas and the Magic Railroad
- The Gilded Age
- Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood
- The Men Who Built America
- I Heard the Bells
Images for kids
-
Strasburg Rail Road's first locomotive, the William Penn.
