Strasburg Rail Road

Address 301 Gap Road (Route 741) Ronks, PA 17572 United States Get Directions

America’s Oldest Continuously Operating Railroad, Still Running on Steam

45 Minutes Through Amish Country Aboard the Nation’s Premier Heritage Steam Railroad

In the heart of Lancaster County’s Pennsylvania Dutch Country, within sight of working Amish farms and alongside a landscape that has barely changed in 150 years, a full-size steam locomotive makes its way back and forth on 4.5 miles of track that has been in continuous operation since 1832. The Strasburg Rail Road is not a recreation of railroad history — it is railroad history, still happening, right in front of you.

Chartered on June 1, 1832, the Strasburg Rail Road is the oldest continuously operating standard-gauge railroad in the western hemisphere and the most-visited heritage railroad in the continental United States. It draws over 300,000 visitors annually, has been featured in major Hollywood films, and carries passengers through more than 2,500 acres of some of the most photographed farmland in America. It has also been doing this, essentially without interruption, for nearly two centuries.

The Strasburg Rail Road operates most days, with trains running year-round on a scheduled timetable. Departure times and available accommodation classes vary by date and season. Advance online ticket purchase is strongly recommended, as popular runs and special events sell out regularly. Check strasburgrailroad.com for the current schedule and to book tickets.

Fares vary by accommodation class. Coach car rides start at approximately $16–$18 per person; open-air car rides are slightly higher. First-class parlor and dining car experiences carry premium pricing. Under 2 ride free in coach. Check the website for current pricing, as rates are updated seasonally. Group discounts of 20% are available for parties of 10 or more.

How an 1832 Railroad Almost Disappeared — and Was Saved for $1

The Strasburg Rail Road began as a practical piece of infrastructure: a short line connecting the community of Strasburg to the main Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad to the northeast, preserving the town’s commercial access to Philadelphia after the main line bypassed it. For over a century, it served that functional purpose — hauling freight and occasional passengers through the farmland and villages of southeastern Lancaster County.

By the mid-20th century, the railroad was in serious decline. Freight volumes had shrunk. The infrastructure was aging. When its last owner, Bryson Homsher, died, his estate filed for abandonment with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

What happened next is one of the better stories in American railroad preservation. A pair of Lancaster-area railfans — Henry K. Long and Donald E.L. Hallock — organized a small group to purchase the railroad and save it from abandonment. After nearly a year of determined effort, they completed the purchase on November 1, 1958. The price was effectively $1 after accounting for the debts and obligations involved.

A week after the purchase, the first carload of revenue freight ran. Tourist excursion service began on January 4, 1959. The first steam locomotive arrived the following June. The Strasburg Rail Road — America’s oldest railroad, saved by enthusiasts for pocket change — was back.

Trivia: Strasburg’s locomotive No. 1223 appeared in the 1969 musical film Hello, Dolly! starring Barbra Streisand and Walter Matthau. The locomotive was subsequently leased to the Strasburg Rail Road for operating service before being retired permanently in 1989. It now resides across the street at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

The Ride: 45 Minutes Through the Heart of Amish Country

Every trip on the Strasburg Rail Road is a 45-minute round trip between East Strasburg Station and Leaman Place Junction through nearly 2,500 acres of Lancaster County farmland. The route passes working farms — most farmed by Amish families who have worked this land for generations — with audio commentary highlighting the history of the railroad and the Amish community visible from the windows.

The locomotive travels in reverse for the first half of the trip, uncouples at the end of the line, and recouples at the opposite end for the return — exactly as the railroad has always operated. It is a genuinely authentic steam railroad experience, not a simulation.

Accommodation Classes

Coach: Authentically restored Victorian-era wooden coaches featuring potbelly stoves for winter heat and large windows for warm-weather air. The classic Strasburg experience and the most affordable option.

Open Air: Covered cars with open sides — exposed to the weather and to the smoke and steam from the locomotive coupling directly to these cars on the first half of the trip. Dress accordingly, and embrace the experience.

First Class: Beautifully restored parlor cars with limited seating, waitress service, and a bar. For visitors who want more space, more comfort, and a more intimate look at the railroad’s finest restored equipment.

Dining Car: The Lee E. Brenner Dining Car offers freshly prepared meals in an air-conditioned, climate-controlled environment with full table service. A premium experience aboard one of the most impressive pieces of rolling stock on the property.

A seasonal pass is available for unlimited Coach and Open Air rides — ideal for families planning multiple visits or spending multiple days in the Strasburg area.

At the Station: Beyond the Ride

East Strasburg Station is a full destination unto itself, with activities designed to fill several hours beyond the train ride:

• Miniature steam train rides on a narrow-gauge loop around the station grounds
• Pump car and Cranky Cars for younger visitors at the station playground
• Restoration Shop Tours — behind-the-scenes looks at where the railroad’s historic equipment is maintained and restored; closed-circuit TV feeds show restoration work in progress
• Café 1832 — the station restaurant serving meals and refreshments
• General Store and Toy Store — railroad-themed retail in the Station Mall
• Groff’s Grove Picnic Area — bring your own lunch for a scenic picnic alongside the tracks; April through October

Special Events

The Strasburg Rail Road’s event calendar is one of the most active of any heritage railroad in the country:

• Day Out With Thomas — the annual event where Thomas the Tank Engine himself arrives to haul trains through Lancaster County. The fastest-selling tickets on the calendar; book months in advance
• Easter Bunny Train — the Bunny conducts the train through spring farmland
• Wine & Cheese Events — evening excursions for adults
• Dinner Trains — seasonal fine dining aboard the historic cars
• Fall Foliage Rides — the Lancaster County landscape in autumn
• Halloween Trains — family-friendly seasonal fun
• Santa Claus Limited and Santa’s Paradise Express — the holiday season’s signature events, featuring Santa visits, carolers, and musicians aboard the train. Sell out weeks in advance
• Night Before Christmas Story Trains — holiday story time in the Victorian coaches

Strasburg’s Railroad Row

The Strasburg Rail Road anchors a remarkable cluster of railroad-related attractions within walking distance of each other along Route 741:

• Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania — directly across the street; over 100 historic locomotives and rail cars
• National Toy Train Museum — less than a mile away; one of the world’s largest publicly exhibited toy train collections
• Choo Choo Barn — a 1,700-square-foot model railroad layout with 22 operating trains and over 150 animated figures
• Red Caboose Motel — vintage cabooses and train cars repurposed as motel rooms

A single afternoon covers the full spectrum of American railroad history from full-size steam to HO gauge models, which is either deeply satisfying or a sign that Lancaster County takes its trains very seriously. (Both, really.)