There is a moment when the whistle echoes across the rolling farmland of Lancaster County, and you feel transported to a different time. Steam curls into the sky, wheels clatter against polished rails, and a train straight out of the 19th century rolls forward. This is the Strasburg Rail Road, the oldest continuously operating short-line railroad in the western hemisphere. For nearly two centuries, it has carried freight, passengers, and now generations of visitors through the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
In the early 1800s, Strasburg was a prosperous market town. The wagon road that cut through its streets brought trade from the countryside to Lancaster and Philadelphia. But progress threatened to bypass the community. In 1831, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania began building the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad, one of the nation’s earliest major lines. Its route skirted Strasburg by several miles, raising fears that the town’s economy would wither.
Determined to maintain their place in the region’s trade network, a group of Strasburg businessmen petitioned the state for their own line. On June 9, 1832, Governor George Wolf signed the charter for the Strasburg Rail Road. In an age when canals and wagons still dominated, it was a bold bet on the future.
By 1835, the line had been graded, and by 1837, trains were running, though not yet pulled by locomotives. Horses provided the first power, pulling cars along the 4-mile stretch of track. Freight and passengers alike rattled slowly toward Paradise, where the Strasburg line met the larger Philadelphia and Columbia.
The leap into steam came in 1851 when the railroad purchased a second-hand Norris-built locomotive called the William Penn. To support the heavier load, the Herr family, who had gained control of the company, replaced the original rails with sturdier ones. For a brief time, it looked as though Strasburg would flourish on rails.
The Civil War era proved difficult. An economic depression halted plans to extend the line to Quarryville. Then in 1871, disaster struck. A fire destroyed the depot, mills, and machine shop, causing more than $50,000 in damage, the equivalent of over a million dollars today.
Ownership changed hands several times. By the late 19th century, passenger numbers dwindled as electric streetcars offered faster travel between Lancaster and Strasburg. Freight kept the line alive, but just barely. By the 1950s, the little railroad looked destined for abandonment.
When the Homsher family, who then owned the line, sought to abandon it, railfans in Lancaster took notice. Henry K. Long and Donald E. L. Hallock rallied support to save it. They believed it was not just a railroad but a piece of living history. After months of clearing weeds, repairing the track, and raising funds, their group of 24 investors bought the railroad on November 1, 1958.
Tourist service began the following January, and the first steam excursion ran in 1960. What started as a rescue mission became one of the great success stories in heritage preservation. Today, more than 300,000 people ride the Strasburg Rail Road each year, experiencing firsthand the sights, sounds, and smells of early railroading.
The modern excursion follows the same four miles of track laid out in the 1830s. Trains depart from East Strasburg and roll toward Leaman Place Junction, a 45-minute round trip through fields and farmsteads. The view is a living diorama of Lancaster County: rows of corn and Amish farmers tending the land.
The cars themselves are part of the attraction. Strasburg maintains one of the largest fleets of wooden passenger coaches in the country, many over a century old and meticulously restored. Coal-burning steam locomotives provide the power, their rhythmic exhaust carrying visitors back to a world before diesel or electricity.
Although most visitors come for the ride, Strasburg Rail Road is still a working railroad. It provides limited freight service, connecting with the Norfolk Southern line at Paradise. Its shops are world-renowned for restoring historic locomotives and cars, serving clients from museums and railroads across the country. In this way, Strasburg has become both a time capsule and a laboratory, keeping steam technology alive for future generations.
Did You Know?
- Strasburg once built its own gasoline locomotive in 1926, a 20-ton Plymouth switcher. The only locomotive ever constructed specifically for the line.
- The railroad operates the United States’ only working wooden dining car, where passengers can enjoy a meal on the move.
- Strasburg has appeared on the silver screen, providing authentic trains for Hollywood productions like Wild, Wild West and Hello, Dolly.
Planning Your Visit
The Strasburg Rail Road is located at 301 Gap Road, Ronks, Pennsylvania, just outside the town of Strasburg. Excursion trains run regularly, with options ranging from coach to open-air cars and premium first-class seating. The journey lasts about 45 minutes.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the station. On site, you will also find shops, food, and family-friendly attractions like the Pint-Sized Pufferbelly miniature train and cranky cars. Across the street is the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, making Strasburg one of the best railfan destinations in the country. For schedules, tickets, and special events, visit strasburgrailroad.com.
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Learn More
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Packed with history, local stories, and GPS locations, this book is your ticket to exploring the mysterious corners of Lancaster like never before. Whether you’re a lifelong local, a history buff, or just looking for a unique adventure, this field guide will spark your curiosity and send you exploring. Start your adventure here.
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