Fall/Winter 2009

Take a walk through history in Strasburg at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, housing more than 100 locomotives. Modeled after a train shed, the museum showcases one of the largest and most significant collections of historic railroad artifacts, locomotives and rolling stock in the world.

The museum pays tribute to the people who built and ran America’s railroads. Stories of the development of the railroad industry are told through railroad artifacts, artwork, books and photographs. The museum is also home to cars from the mid-19th and 20th centuries.

When you’ve finished exploring the 18-acre museum, head across the street and climb aboard the Strasburg Rail Road. Take a ride through Lancaster in restored passenger cars pulled by a steam locomotive on America’s oldest short-line railroad. Enjoy lunch or dinner as you watch the passing Amish farmlands.

The railroad has fun for the entire family. Ride a miniature version of the steam locomotive, or operate a hand-powered pump-car (ages 5 and older). The littlest visitors can steer hand-propelled “cranky cars.” A full-sized Thomas the Tank Engine will pull into the Strasburg station and offer rides September 12–20 and December 4–6, and on three holiday-season weekends, visitors can travel with Santa, singing Christmas carols in warmed passenger cars, aboard Santa’s Paradise Express. 

Guided tours are available for the 100,000-square-foot indoor railroad museum, its yard and restoration shop, and behind the scenes at the Strasburg Rail Road mechanical shop.

- State - Pennsylvania

- Type - Family Vacations

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