Strasburg Rail Road facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Strasburg Rail Road

Overview
Headquarters	Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Reporting mark	SRC
Locale	Strasburg and Paradise Townships, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Dates of operation	1832 (1832)–present
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length	4.5 mi (7.2 km)

The Strasburg Rail Road (reporting mark SRC) is the oldest continuously operating railroad in the western hemisphere and the oldest public utility in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Chartered in 1832, the Strasburg Rail Road Company is today a heritage railroad offering excursion trains hauled by steam locomotives and rarely diesel locomotives on 4.5 mi (7.2 km) of track in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, as well as providing freight service to area shippers. Its headquarters are outside Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

Strasburg currently has four operating steam locomotives: Great Western No. 90, Canadian National No. 89, Norfolk & Western No. 475 and Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal No. 15 (rebuilt as Thomas the Tank Engine) and the nation's largest operating fleet of historic wooden passenger coaches. The Strasburg Rail Road is one of the few railroads in the US to occasionally use steam locomotives to haul revenue freight trains. It hosts 300,000 visitors per year.

The nearby Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania occasionally uses Strasburg Rail Road tracks to connect to the Amtrak Philadelphia-to-Harrisburg Main Line junction in Paradise, Pennsylvania.

Description

Strasburg RR 2004

Strasburg Rail Road is a shortline railroad built to connect the town of Strasburg with a main line. Today, the original four and a half miles (7.2 km) line carries passengers on a 45-minute round-trip journey from Strasburg to Leaman Place Junction through nearly 2,000 acres (810 ha) in southeastern Lancaster County.

The train includes the United States' only operational wooden dining car on which visitors may dine while riding. Attractions at the station include the fully operational 15 in (381 mm) gauge Pint-Sized Pufferbelly (Cagney steam-powered ridable miniature railway) a vintage pump car and several c.1930s "cranky cars" along with several gift shops and a cafe.

A percentage of each train ticket is contributed to the Lancaster Farmland Trust.

The railroad's mechanical and car shops maintain and restore locomotives and rolling stock for the Strasburg Rail Road and a wide variety of public and private clients, including fellow steam railroads, train museums, attractions, and more. In 2016–17, the shops were enlarged by 12,000 square feet (1,110 m²) to accommodate demand for their services.

Its freight department carries goods to and from the main line for local and regional clients. Since 2008, freight carloadings have increased substantially, spurred by development of a $1.5 million transshipment facility funded by the railroad and matching grants.

History

By the 1820s, the canal system had replaced the Conestoga wagon as the primary method of overland transportation. When the Susquehanna Canal opened, the majority of goods were directed through Baltimore, Maryland, rather than Philadelphia. The small amount of goods that were destined for Philadelphia traveled via a wagon road through Strasburg. Philadelphia attempted to reclaim its position as a major port city by constructing the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad in 1831. A railroad was easier and more cost effective to build than a canal. Because the new railroad would bypass Strasburg and cause Strasburg to lose its livelihood, a group of businessmen petitioned the state government for the right to build their own railroad to connect Strasburg to the Philadelphia and Columbia. A charter was issued by the Pennsylvania Legislature with the signature of Governor George Wolf on June 9, 1832 to "incorporate the Strasburg rail road [sic]".

Strasburg Rail Road ex-PRR 4-4-0 number 929 in Strasburg around 1894.

Although the pre-1852 history of the Strasburg Rail Road is sketchy, it is believed that the line was graded in 1835 and was operational by 1837. The railroad operated as a horse-drawn railroad until it purchased a second-hand Norris-built, 4-2-0 steam locomotive named the William Penn in 1851. Controlling interest in the railroad was purchased by John F. and Cyrus N. Herr in 1863. The rails were replaced around the same time with heavier ones to accommodate the locomotive. In 1866, the Herrs were granted a charter to extend the Strasburg Rail Road to Quarryville; surveys were carried out, but the extension was eventually canceled because of an economic depression in 1867. Isaac Groff managed The Strasburg Rail Road for about 20 years until the fire of January 16, 1871, which destroyed the depot, grist, and merchant-mill, planing-mill and machine-shop — in all, more than $50,000 worth of property. In 1878, the Strasburg Rail Road and the shops were sold. The railroad was eventually again sold in 1888 to the Edward Musselman, with the Musselmans retaining control of it until 1918 when it was purchased by State Senator John Homsher. By this time, the number of passengers had dropped off due to tracks for the Conestoga Traction Company's streetcars reaching Strasburg in 1908, which offered a more direct route between Lancaster and Strasburg.

In 1926, the Strasburg Rail Road purchased a 20-short-ton (17.9-long-ton; 18.1 t), gasoline-powered, Plymouth switcher—the only locomotive that was ever built specifically for the Strasburg Rail Road. By 1958, the railroad fell on hard-times from cumulative effect of years of declining freight business and infrequent runs, damage caused by Hurricane Hazel and inspectors from the Interstate Commerce Commission's lack of approval for operation of the Plymouth locomotive. Upon the death of Bryson Homsher, the Homsher estate filed for abandonment with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Hearing of the potential abandonment, an effort to purchase and save the railroad was organized by Henry K. Long and Donald E. L. Hallock, both railfans from Lancaster. They organized a small, non-profit group to purchase the railroad. After the better part of a year of hard work, the purchase was completed on November 1, 1958. The following week, on November 8, the first carload of revenue freight was hauled to what was then the only customer, a mill in Strasburg.

Tourist excursion service began on January 4, 1959 and their first steam locomotive arrived the following year.

Locomotive roster

Main units

Number	Type	Images	Wheel Arrangement	Builder	Built	Serial Number	Former	Status	At Strasburg	Notes
475	Steam		4-8-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1906	28343	Norfolk and Western Railway	Operational	Since 1991	Strasburg Rail Road 475, ex-Norfolk and Western 475 No. 475 is Strasburg's oldest operating steam locomotive. Used for pulling excursions and occasionally heavy freight. 475 uses a Norfolk and Western "Hooter" Whistle.
90	Steam		2-10-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1924	57812	Great Western Railway of Colorado	Operational	Since 1967	Strasburg Rail Road 90, ex-Great Western Railway 90 No. 90 is Strasburg's strongest and largest steam locomotive. Used for pulling excursions and occasionally heavy freight. 90 wears a Reading 6 chime.
89	Steam		2-6-0	Canadian Locomotive Company	1910	922	Canadian National Railway	Operational	Since 1972	Strasburg Rail Road 89, ex-Canadian National Railway 89, exx-Canadian National 911, originally Grand Trunk Railway 1009 No. 89 is Strasburg's fastest steam locomotive. Used for pulling excursions and occasionally heavy freight. Currently sports a PRR 3 chime whistle.
31 or 7312	Steam		0-6-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1908	32894	Canadian National Railway	Stored Awaiting Restoration	Since 1960	Formerly Strasburg Rail Road 31, ex-Canadian National Railway 7312, exx-Canadian National 7240, exxx-Canadian National 7157, exxxx-Grand Trunk Railway 1708, originally Grand Trunk Railway 118. Last operation in 2009, restoration work is currently put on hold due to other busy projects. Steve Weaver, the VP of freight services, stated that the railroad still indeed wants to get the locomotive back up and running again once they have the time and money.
15	Steam		0-6-0T	H.K. Porter, Inc.	1917	5966	Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal	Operational	Since 1998	ex-Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal No. 15. Heavily altered by the Strasburg Rail Road to resemble Thomas the Tank Engine, it is used for pulling trains for the railroad's annual Day Out with Thomas.
3	Steam		4-4-0	Cagney Bros.	1920	Unknown	Unknown	Operational	Since 2003	Miniature steam train, originally operated at an amusement park. 15 in (381 mm) gauge.
972	Steam		4-6-0	Montreal Locomotive Works	1912	51106	Canadian Pacific Railway	Stored Awaiting Restoration	Since 1995	ex-Canadian Pacific Railway. Acquired from the Rail Tours Inc. of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, last visited in 1979. Currently sitting idol in the yard in pieces, awaiting for restoration.
39	Steam		4-6-0	Juniata Shops	1929	4207	Long Island Rail Road	Boiler Under Restoration	Boiler since 2008, remainder pending	No. 39 is a PRR G5 class "Ten Wheeler" type steam locomotive. Potentially on lease to Strasburg Rail Road for 48 years if prerequisites of signed lease are met. ex-Long Island Rail Road. Boiler and firebox is currently under restoration, while the rest of the locomotives parts is being restored at the Railroad Museum of Long Island.
9	Steam		4-4-0	Cagney Bros.	1903	Unknown	Unknown	Under Restoration	Since 2012	Another 15 in (381 mm) gauge miniature engine, similar to No. 3.
1	Gas		(B)	Plymouth Locomotive Works	1926	2452	Unknown	Operational	Since 1926	Operates on occasion. Only engine specifically built for Strasburg. 20-ton plymouth
2	Gas		(B)	Plymouth Locomotive Works	1930	Unknown	Unknown	Operational	Since 1984	Operates on occasion, only for moving restoration engines. Plymouth 10 ton diesel and rethemed to "Rusty" in 2020 for pictures.
10	Diesel		(B-B)	Sanders Machine Shop	1915	Unknown	Lancaster, Oxford and Southern Railway	Operational	Since 1962	ex-Lancaster, Oxford and Southern Railway Railcar(LO&S) and only car at Strasburg with roller bearings. Used in some occasions. Called "THE WHISTLER" in the 1980's.
1235	Diesel		(B-B)	Electro-Motive Diesel	1953	18960	Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway	Inoperable Awaiting Restoration	Since 2018	ex-Santa Fe Railway SW9; future service will be used to help with freight services after being restored fully.
8618	Diesel		(B-B)	Electro-Motive Diesel	1952	16193	New York Central Railroad	Operational	Since 2009	ex-New York Central SW8 Used for freight service and on rare occasions, excursion service. Rethemed to "Mavis" in 2019.

"Thomas" is actually Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal #15. The engine was sold to the Strasburg Rail Road by Keith Brigode from the Toledo, Lake Erie and Western Railway in March 1998 and was originally going to pull excursions on the site. However, it would not be easy to run the engine the entire line and back due to the engine's limited water capacity of the saddle tank. Unfortunately, the railroad had already purchased the engine and it was scheduled to arrive in May of that year. When the Strasburg Railroad finished shooting arrangements for the film, Thomas and the Magic Railroad, a few representatives from the Britt Allcroft company were impressed and requested the railroad to host Day Out with Thomas events. The railroad accepted the offer and restored No. 15 to resemble the character, Thomas the Tank Engine. In April 2014, Thomas's face was replaced with the animatronic CGI face with the mouth’s ability to open and close, and a voice speaker.

No. 89 first operated for Steamtown, U.S.A. as F. Nelson Blount’s favorite steam locomotive. It was purchased by the Strasburg in 1972, and in route to Strasburg that June, it was in Penn Central's Buttonwood, Pennsylvania, yard when Hurricane Agnes flooded the Susquehanna River. The floodwaters entered the locomotive's stack, delaying its debut at Strasburg. 89 arrived at the railroad facing East, and it remained in that status until the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania's turntable was installed across the street in 1975.

For several years, groups have scheduled photo charters when the railroad reletters locomotives in their heritage paint scheme. For the movie Thomas and the Magic Railroad, #475 and three passenger cars (only two of which wound up being used) were relettered "Indian Valley".

No. 90 is occasionally repainted into different paint schemes for photo charters, such as the Great Western Railway (Colorado) scheme in a 2013 charter.

No. 972 was acquired from Rail Tours Inc. of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania after the company could not afford the payments for mechanical repairs that Strasburg was performing on the locomotive at the time. She sits in sidings until she can be repaired.

• While there are many locomotives which have gone through the backshop for restoration, some have been established to be in the shop only on hearsay. Only locomotives that have been publicly displayed or have been given a press release count as restorations/re-builds.

SRR also has a collection of early internal combustion locomotives; All but No. 1235 are in operation.

No. 1 has operated on the Strasburg Rail Road ever since it was built in 1926. The engine is notable for being used to reconstruct the track and rails for the railroad between 1958 and 1959, after the railroad was purchased to become a tourist line.

No. 1235 was brought to the railroad in late 2018. It arrived in poor condition, and is currently awaiting restoration to operation.

Former units

Pennsylvania Railroad D16 #1223 on the Strasburg Rail Road in 1989.

Both 1223 and 7002 were leased for operation. 1223 was leased from the PRR from 1965 to 1968, from Penn Central from 1968 to 1979 and from the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1990. 7002 was also leased from the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. After ultra-sonic testing both engines were found to have thin spots in their fireboxes, which are a part of their boilers, thus the engines were taken out of service. The railroad stated they could have done the repairs but the lessor, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, wanted to preserve the "historical fabric" of each locomotive and did not renew their leases the following year. 1223's last day of service for SRC was Thursday, October 26, 1989, while 7002's was earlier that year in January right after filming a Prudential Insurance commercial in Harrisburg Train Station. They have both remained on static display since being removed from service.

No. 1187 ran as No. 4 between 1962 and 1967. It had inadequate strength for SRR's heavy trains. As such, it ran as a switcher during the summer months from 1963 to 1967. It is a camelback-type locomotive. After a loan to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, it long sat dismantled pending long-term future restoration. It ws acquired by the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio, in an auction on July 15, 2020 and left the Strasburg yard on July 31, 2020.

No. 98 was bought by Strasburg to be used like 31 and 4, but restoration was slow and so she was sold. She is currently out of service undergoing a overhaul at the Wilmington and Western Railroad.

Pre-1958

Strasburg Rail Road's first locomotive "William Penn" after its time at Strasburg

Strasburg rostered at least six steam locomotives prior to 1958. Evidence suggests that Strasburg only rostered one locomotive at a time, operating it until it was no longer economically viable to run it anymore and would purchase a new locomotive to replace it.

Passenger car roster

Retired Equipment roster