Strasburg Rail Road

Strasburg Rail Road

Company type	Private
Industry	Heritage railroad, Freight rail transport
Founded	1832
Headquarters	Strasburg , United States
Area served	Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Pennsylvania, United States
Key people	John F. Herr, Cyrus N. Herr, John Homsher (historical owners)
Products	Heritage steam locomotive excursions, mechanical restoration services, freight operations

Strasburg Rail Road holds the distinction of being the longest-operating standard-gauge railroad continuously running in the western hemisphere, as well as Pennsylvania's oldest public utility. Established by charter in 1832, it runs heritage steam locomotive excursions along of track nestled in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The company also provides contracted mechanical services and freight operations. Its main offices are situated near Strasburg, Pennsylvania, drawing approximately 300,000 visitors each year.

Distinctively, this railroad employs steam locomotives to haul revenue-generating freight trains and maintains a connection with Amtrak’s Philadelphia-to-Harrisburg Main Line at Paradise.

History

During the 1820s, the development of canal networks diverted freight traffic away from Philadelphia. To preserve local trade routes, entrepreneurs from Strasburg obtained a charter in 1832 to construct a rail line linking Strasburg with the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad. By 1835, grading was completed, and by 1837 the line was operational using horse-drawn cars until a steam locomotive was acquired in 1851.

In 1863, John F. and Cyrus N. Herr gained controlling interest and upgraded the rails to accommodate locomotives. Although there were intentions to extend the line to Quarryville, these plans were abandoned due to economic hardships. A significant fire in 1871 resulted in major property damage; ownership changed several times before State Senator John Homsher purchased it in 1918.

The early 20th century saw a decline in passenger numbers as streetcar systems became more prevalent. In 1926, Strasburg added a rare Plymouth gasoline-powered switcher locomotive to its roster. By 1958, dwindling freight volumes combined with regulatory challenges prompted abandonment filings following Homsher’s passing.

Railroad enthusiasts Henry K. Long and Donald E. L. Hallock formed a nonprofit organization in 1958 to acquire and preserve the line. Tourist excursion services commenced in January 1959, with steam locomotives returning to operation by June 1960.

Today, the railroad offers a scenic 45-minute round trip through nearly of rural farmland, allocating a portion of ticket proceeds towards farmland preservation efforts. It is notable for operating the only wooden dining car currently in use across the United States, offering passengers an exclusive onboard dining experience.

Its mechanical workshops provide restoration and repair services for external customers including other railroads and museums. To meet increased demand for restoration work, facilities were expanded by 30,000 square feet during 2016–17.

Freight operations connect with Norfolk Southern at Leaman Place Junction along Amtrak’s Keystone Corridor. After freight activity nearly ceased by the early 2000s, a revitalization effort launched in 2008 enhanced infrastructure and added locomotives such as EMD SW8 #8618 and a rebuilt SW9. This growth facilitated construction of a $1.5 million transloading facility supported through grant funding and railroad investment.

In February 2023, Strasburg inaugurated a new six-track freight yard adjacent to U.S. Route 30 designed to improve logistical capabilities.

In January 2025, following an investigation by the Department of Labor, Strasburg Rail Road was directed to compensate back wages and damages due to an unlawful termination connected to safety concerns raised by an employee.

Locomotives

Locomotive details

Number	Image	Type	Class	Builder	Built	Former owner	Status
1		Diesel	Gas turbine	Plymouth Locomotive Works	1926	None	Operational
2		Diesel	Gas turbine	Plymouth Locomotive Works	1930	Unknown	Operational
3		Steam	4-4-0	Cagney Bros.	1920	Coney Island	Operational
9		Steam	4-4-0	Cagney Bros.	1903	Coney Island	Stored
10		Railcar	Doodlebug	Sanders Machine Shop	1915	Lancaster, Oxford and Southern Railway	Operational
15		Steam	0-6-0ST	H.K. Porter, Inc.	1917	Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal	Operational
89		Steam	2-6-0	Canadian Locomotive Company	1910	Canadian National Railway	Operational
90		Steam	2-10-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1924	Great Western Railway of Colorado	Operational
475		Steam	4-8-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1906	Norfolk and Western Railway	Operational
972		Steam	4-6-0	Montreal Locomotive Works	1912	Canadian Pacific Railway	Stored, awaiting restoration
1235		Diesel	EMD SW9	Electro-Motive Diesel	1953	Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway	Under restoration
7312		Steam	0-6-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1908	Canadian National Railway	Undergoing inspection and overhaul
8618		Diesel	EMD SW8	Electro-Motive Diesel	1952	New York Central Railroad	Operational

Former equipment

Locomotive information

Number	Image	Category	Class	Manufacturer	Year built	Present owner
21		Railcar	Railbus	Mack	1921	Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
1187		Steam locomotive	0-4-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1903	Age of Steam Roundhouse
1223		Steam locomotive	4-4-0	Juniata Shops	1905	Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
7002		Steam locomotive	4-4-2	Juniata Shops	1902	Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
8000		Diesel-electric	Electric	American Locomotives, General Electric Company & Ingersoll Rand	1931	National Museum of Transportation
9331		Diesel locomotive	44-ton switcher	General-Electric	1948	Walkersville Southern Railroad (private ownership)

Locomotives visited or restored

Number	Image	Category	Wheel configuration	Manufacturer	Year built	Remarks
B&O Tom Thumb replica		Steam locomotive	2-2-0VB	Baltimore and Ohio Railroad	1926-1927	Reconstructed
WDWRR 1/Walter E. Disney		Steam locomotive	4-6-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1925	Refurbished between 2016 and 2020
WDWRR 2/Lilly Belle		Steam locomotive	2-6-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1928	Refurbished from 2010 to 2016
WDWRR 3/Roger E. Broggie		Steam locomotive	4-6-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1925	Overhauled during 2019–2023
WDWRR 4/Roy O. Disney		Steam locomotive	4-4-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1916	In restoration since 2024
B&O 25/William Mason		Steam locomotive	4-4-0	Mason Machine Works	1856	Reconstructed
37		Steam locomotive	2-8-2T	ALCO	1924	Stored at Strasburg between 2010 and 2023
39		Steam locomotive	4-6-0	Juniata Shops	1929	Awaiting restoration since 2008
40		Steam locomotive	2-8-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1925	Restored to operational status in 1990–1991
98		Steam locomotive	4-4-0	ALCO	1909	Stored at Strasburg from 1960 to1964
611		Steam locomotive	4-8-4	Roanoke Shops	1950	Visited Strasburg in years including2019, and from2021 to2023
614		Steam locomotive	4-8-4	Lima Locomotive Works	1948	Owned by RJD America, LLC; restoration work contracted to Strasburg
764		GP7	(B-B)	Electro-Motive Diesel	1954	Leased in the year2016
902		FP7	(B-B)	Electro-Motive Diesel	1950	Visited Strasburg during2001
903		FP7	(B-B)	Electro-Motive Diesel	1950	Visited Strasburg during2001

Pre-1958 equipment

5203|||Combination coach||(B+B)||Juniata|||Unknown|||Previously a Pennsylvania Railroad combine coach; adapted for milk and supply loading at Leaman Place station and Homsher Mill; withdrawn from service in1929. W‑04|||Boxcar||(B+B)||Pressed Steel Car Company|||1907|||Former New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad boxcar; oldest surviving piece aside from Plymouth No.1 from pre-tourist era; utilized for photo charters.

Locomotive information

Number	Image	Category	Wheel arrangement	Manufacturer	Year constructed	Remarks
560		Steam locomotive	0-4-0	Juniata	1893	Formerly a PRR A3 class switcher; last steam engine acquired by Strasburg before obtaining the Plymouth.
937		Steam locomotive	4-4-0	Juniata	1876	Previously a Pennsylvania Railroad D5 class engine; became Strasburg’s second No.1; dismantled in1924 after retirement.
929		Steam locomotive	4-4-0	Juniata	1873	Ex-Pennsylvania Railroad D3 engine; designated as Strasburg’s first No.1; sold in1906 when Plymouth proved more economical.
"Strasburg"	Steam locomotive	4-4-0T	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1863	Strasburg’s inaugural new engine.
"William Penn"	Steam locomotive	4-2-0	Long & Norris	1835	Formerly Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad; Strasburg’s earliest engine, possibly among America’s first fifty locomotives; likely rebuilt prior to sale in1865.

Passenger car equipment

... [entries for cars #68 to #118 follow a similar format] ... }

Accidents and incidents

• On September 4, 2014, an unoccupied excursion train’s open-air passenger car number 99 derailed due to a malfunctioning track switch near the station. No injuries were reported, and the crew managed to realign the car on the rails by 3:30 pm the same day.
• On November 2, 2022, locomotive number 475 collided head-on with an excavator stationed on a siding at Leaman Place. The collision resulted in minor damage, including a puncture to the smokebox door. There were no injuries. The cause was identified as a misaligned switch, prompting an investigation by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Repairs commenced the following day, with locomotive No. 475 resuming service on November 7. The event attracted considerable attention through live streams and passenger-recorded footage.

Appearances in media

The Strasburg Rail Road along with its locomotives has been featured prominently across numerous films and television productions such as Hello, Dolly!, Wild Wild West, Thomas and the Magic Railroad, The Gilded Age, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, The Men Who Built America, and I Heard the Bells. These media exposures have significantly contributed to enhancing the company's profile and influence within heritage tourism and entertainment markets.

External links

Present rolling stock

SRR No.	Designation	Image	Manufacturer	Year Built	Classification	Remarks	Origin of Car Name
10	Reading		Harlan and Hollingsworth	1913	Business car	Originally from Reading Railroad; restored to its initial "Reading" livery.	Named by Edward Stotesbury, who served as president of the Reading Railroad.
20	William M. Moedinger		Jackson & Sharpe	1913	Coach	Formerly Maryland and Pennsylvania; operational at Strasburg since 1959.	Honors the company’s founder and fifth president (1971–1982); renamed in 2007 from "Willow Brook."
58	Cherry Hill / Huber Leath		Harlan and Hollingsworth	1911	Coach	Previously Reading Railroad; acquired by Strasburg in 1958.	Named after the company founder and chief marketing officer (1962–1986); retitled "Huber Leath" in 2007.
59	Grasshopper Level		B&M Salem Shops	1904	Coach	Originally Boston and Maine; arrived in 1959.	"Grasshopper Level" denotes a local area in Lancaster County near Strasburg.
60	Eshleman Run / Donald E.L. Hallock		B&M Concord Shops	1903	Combine car	Ex-Boston and Maine; obtained in 1960.	Named for founder and third president (1965–1970); renamed from "Eshelman Run" in 1999.
62	Gobbler's Knob		Pullman Company	1897	Coach	Former Boston and Maine car; entered service in 1962.	"Gobbler's Knob" refers to a notable spot in Lancaster County near Strasburg.
65	Walnut Hollow		Harlan & Hollingsworth	1910	Coach	Ex-Reading Railroad; introduced into service in 1965.