Share this page on

ALL ABOARD! STRASBURG, PA-FAMOUS FOR ITS TRAIN HISTORY AND CULTURE-IS STILL CHUGGING ALONG, WITH MUSEUMS AND RAILROADS THAT EXCITE LOCOMOTIVE ENTHUSIASTS.

"Toot! Toot! Toot!" goes the steam locomotive whistle, before embarking on its 4.5-mile trip to Paradise, PA. Along the way through Amish country, passengers aboard the Strasburg Rail Road (www.strasburgrailroad.com)-the oldest short-line railroad in the country-can see farms growing corn, barley, alfalfa and Lancaster County's big crop, broad-leaf tobacco, and maybe even Amish farmers working with horse-drawn farm equipment. "Not only is the landscape beautiful, but so is the experience. Traveling in an authentically restored passenger car with a lush interior and beautiful woodwork transports you to the days of Victorian luxury," says Linn Moedinger, president of Strasburg Rail Road, located 49 miles from Harrisburg.

Founded in 1832, the train was first used to transport passengers and exchange freight with the Pennsylvania Railroad. In the late 1950s, however, an improved highway system eliminated the need for the train. In 1958, a group of visionaries paid $18,000 for the railroad, repairing its tracks to entertain and educate generations to come.

Today, the railroad is part of a complex of buildings that includes a model train shop and gift shop. Besides the ride on a restored coal-burning steam train, you can also tour the mechanical shop, where trains are built and refurbished. On the railroad, passengers can book seats for the Wine & Cheese Train (the $30 fare includes wine and cheese), the first-class parlor, standard coach or open-air seats for the best views of Amish country.

It's these kind of attractions that have made Strasburg a draw for train buff s of all ages. "I've watched Strasburg grow from a kids' destination with a train ride and museum to a sophisticated center of railroad history," says lifelong rail fan and Pennsylvanian Brian Johnstone. In addition to the Strasburg Rail Road, lovers of life-size trains will find an enormous museum-and even a motel made up of cabooses (see below for more).

The look to the past begins at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (www.rr.museumpa.org), which opened in 1975. Th e first museum of its kind in the US, it's home to one of the most significant collections of historic railroad artifacts in the world, and the exhibit hall is modeled after a vintage train shed. More than 100 locomotives and rail cars are exhibited here and in the outdoor yard, where ongoing restoration work takes place (depending on weather and staff availability, the outdoor section may be closed to the public). Although the focus is on Pennsylvania railroad history, there are also rotating displays of other art, photographs and artifacts.

Trains of a smaller size are on view in nearby Paradise, and model collectors will find no shortage of accessories to add to their collections. At the National Toy Train Museum (www.nttmuseum.org)-home to a toy train reference library-visitors will see toy trains in all scales, including a model of an alcohol-burning train dating back to 1840 and a sizable collection of toys made by Lionel, the famous train-maker. There are also three huge, interactive layouts where visitors can push buttons to make the trains move and accessories work.

Another model museum is the Choo Choo Barn (www.choochoobarn.com), which will reopen in March aft er renovations with a new feature or two. Check out a 1,700-square-foot train layout with local flavor: Tiny Strasburg Rail Road and Pennsylvania Railroad trains roll through the spread, which also includes models of the Strasburg Station, Th e Red Caboose Motel and more than 150 animated figures. The lights occasionally dim and stars come out. Now and then, a siren will go off and a fire engine will roll out of the station to save the day. There is even a snowy mountain with a working ski lift .

Whether miniature or full-scale, the railroads in Strasburg run like clockwork. It's one place where you definitely won't miss the train.

• Events March 2010

  
  read more ›
  
  

• HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GO!

  It's been five years since the inflight magazine for airtran airways was launched-and here's to many more.
  read more ›
  
  

• Events January 2010

  
  read more ›
  
  

• Fast Pass

  For the new AirTran Airways routes to Montego Bay, Nassau and Aruba, you’ll need a passport. Luckily, getting one fast has never been easier.
  read more ›
  
  

• Events December 2009

  
  read more ›
  
  

• Game Theory

  Business leaders look to video games as the future of management training.
  read more ›
  
  

• Mission Control

  Creating a direct, powerful company mission statement can help your bottom line.
  read more ›
  
  

• Odd Man In

  Once considered an eccentric outsider, Johnny Depp has managed to shoot to the top of Hollywood's A-list—on his own terms.
  read more ›
  
  

• The List - Asheville

  
  read more ›
  
  

• On the Town - Indianapolis

  
  read more ›