Riding the Strasburg Railroad

We came to Strasburg to ride a historic train through Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and we chose a deluxe car for the journey. Inside, polished wood and deep green upholstered chairs made it feel as though we had stepped into another era of travel. We settled in together as the steam locomotive drew the train away from the station and into the Lancaster County countryside.

The railroad had been part of this landscape since 1832. It began by serving the Strasburg community at a time when covered wagons and canals were still common, and it continued carrying passengers and freight for generations. When it faced abandonment in 1958, local investors bought the line and set about preserving it. Their work extended beyond the tracks: steam locomotives returned to service, and wooden railcars were restored so passengers could experience them as they were meant to be used. 

We could appreciate that work from our seats. The car was comfortable and beautifully finished, giving us time to look out at the farmland and enjoy the journey together. The train followed the old route toward Paradise, its movement providing a rhythm to the changing view beyond the windows.

Then we passed another steam locomotive beside the tracks: Great Western No. 90. Built in 1924 to haul freight in Colorado, it later came to Strasburg and became one of the railroad’s most recognizable engines. It was an impressive sight from our train, large and close enough to make us pause and take it in

That moment captured what made the ride special. We were traveling in a restored wooden car behind a working steam locomotive when another piece of railroad history appeared alongside us. Strasburg had preserved these trains so they could still do what they were built to do. For us, that meant a shared journey through the countryside.