Trains.com

Strasburg museum

2522 views
9 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 8, 2003 8:10 PM
Just went 2 weeks ago. Awesome! We got the day pass and figured we got our money's worth because we rode the train twice, toured the Reading 10 car, did the hand-pump car and kiddie train thing. We hope to visit the museum next time.

Jay
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 8, 2003 8:10 PM
Just went 2 weeks ago. Awesome! We got the day pass and figured we got our money's worth because we rode the train twice, toured the Reading 10 car, did the hand-pump car and kiddie train thing. We hope to visit the museum next time.

Jay
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 9:58 PM
I've been to the railroad and the museum within the last month. Both are a fine outing - avoid a Thomas day unless you have rabid 3-year-old Thomas fans in tow, in which case it's the best Thomas day you'll find. None of those rail cars that look like an engine - Strassburg railroad remodeled one of their own steam engines into a real Thomas engine (well as close as you can get, starting with a standard gauge American engine).

The museum's very nicely done as well.

I haven't stayed there, but a fellow historic railway rider told me of a less-than-favorable experience with the motel made of cabooses... very expensive and kind of shabby they said.

I took lots of pictures at both the railway and the museum which I'll post on my web site if I ever get around to it.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 9:58 PM
I've been to the railroad and the museum within the last month. Both are a fine outing - avoid a Thomas day unless you have rabid 3-year-old Thomas fans in tow, in which case it's the best Thomas day you'll find. None of those rail cars that look like an engine - Strassburg railroad remodeled one of their own steam engines into a real Thomas engine (well as close as you can get, starting with a standard gauge American engine).

The museum's very nicely done as well.

I haven't stayed there, but a fellow historic railway rider told me of a less-than-favorable experience with the motel made of cabooses... very expensive and kind of shabby they said.

I took lots of pictures at both the railway and the museum which I'll post on my web site if I ever get around to it.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 8:14 PM
Thanks, everyone, for your input. Sounds like Strasburg would definitely be a great place to stop! And yes, I WILL avoid any Thomas weekends!!!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 8:14 PM
Thanks, everyone, for your input. Sounds like Strasburg would definitely be a great place to stop! And yes, I WILL avoid any Thomas weekends!!!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 10:31 AM
Ride the train...it's a short but authentic bit of branchline railroading from a century ago; check out the RRMPA across the street. It's a work in progress, as they're continually adding or improving exhibits. The HO model railroad exhibit should be opening the next year after a complete rebuilding. Don't forget to walk under the PRR H3 2-8-0 over the inspection pit. Look at the LVRR bobber caboose; you'll want to put it in your pocket and take it home, or at least go home and build a model of one. For accomodations, look at Willow Valley Resort. They're about 5 miles west of Strasburg. They have a web site.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 10:31 AM
Ride the train...it's a short but authentic bit of branchline railroading from a century ago; check out the RRMPA across the street. It's a work in progress, as they're continually adding or improving exhibits. The HO model railroad exhibit should be opening the next year after a complete rebuilding. Don't forget to walk under the PRR H3 2-8-0 over the inspection pit. Look at the LVRR bobber caboose; you'll want to put it in your pocket and take it home, or at least go home and build a model of one. For accomodations, look at Willow Valley Resort. They're about 5 miles west of Strasburg. They have a web site.
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: CANADA
  • 126 posts
Posted by Grinandbearit on Sunday, September 7, 2003 8:36 AM
Strasburg steam ride is great and the surrounding area has many other attractions including a motel of cabooses called the Red Caboose Motel. I hope it still exists. and if you have kids and like chocolate be sure and go to HERSHEY . Its not far away.
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: CANADA
  • 126 posts
Posted by Grinandbearit on Sunday, September 7, 2003 8:36 AM
Strasburg steam ride is great and the surrounding area has many other attractions including a motel of cabooses called the Red Caboose Motel. I hope it still exists. and if you have kids and like chocolate be sure and go to HERSHEY . Its not far away.
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Sunday, September 7, 2003 7:45 AM
....Back in the 80's visited the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum and rode the Strasburg Railroad and it was all interesting. The well lit museum seemed to be near new then as it was spotlessly clean. Hope it all is still very much as good and well kept as then.

Quentin

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Sunday, September 7, 2003 7:45 AM
....Back in the 80's visited the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum and rode the Strasburg Railroad and it was all interesting. The well lit museum seemed to be near new then as it was spotlessly clean. Hope it all is still very much as good and well kept as then.

Quentin

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 11:43 PM
go you will enjoy it. i proposed to my wife across the street at the Strasburg railroad. also as Nora posted, visit the choo-choo barn it is a great layout. there is also the national toy train museum right around the corner. be sure stop at one of the amish resturants for dinner they will fill you up for a good price. there are also a ton of outlets near by if you need to do some shopping.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 11:43 PM
go you will enjoy it. i proposed to my wife across the street at the Strasburg railroad. also as Nora posted, visit the choo-choo barn it is a great layout. there is also the national toy train museum right around the corner. be sure stop at one of the amish resturants for dinner they will fill you up for a good price. there are also a ton of outlets near by if you need to do some shopping.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: US
  • 386 posts
Posted by Nora on Saturday, September 6, 2003 9:49 PM
We took our kids there to see Thomas the Tank Engine this year. It was a lot of fun to see Jay (age 2) enjoying it, but with the squealing hordes of children there...well, let's just say it was a really good incentive for birth control. So unless you're taking little kids with you, be sure you do not go on a Thomas weekend.

We tried to go back later in the summer on a regular weekend but the very same two year old decided he would not go to sleep in a motel room until well after two in the morning, so we ditched the plans and went home, we weren't going to play that game for three nights. [xx(]

They do have a lot of gorgeous old trains there; that part of the country is very pretty, and as someone mentioned there's also a large train museum across the street. My husband also visited the Choo Choo Barn down the road and said it was amazing -- it's model trains, I think it depicts that area. I didn't get to go in that one myself.

Anyway, to answer your question, if you're going to be in the vicinity, YES, it's a good place to stop at!

--Nora
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: US
  • 386 posts
Posted by Nora on Saturday, September 6, 2003 9:49 PM
We took our kids there to see Thomas the Tank Engine this year. It was a lot of fun to see Jay (age 2) enjoying it, but with the squealing hordes of children there...well, let's just say it was a really good incentive for birth control. So unless you're taking little kids with you, be sure you do not go on a Thomas weekend.

We tried to go back later in the summer on a regular weekend but the very same two year old decided he would not go to sleep in a motel room until well after two in the morning, so we ditched the plans and went home, we weren't going to play that game for three nights. [xx(]

They do have a lot of gorgeous old trains there; that part of the country is very pretty, and as someone mentioned there's also a large train museum across the street. My husband also visited the Choo Choo Barn down the road and said it was amazing -- it's model trains, I think it depicts that area. I didn't get to go in that one myself.

Anyway, to answer your question, if you're going to be in the vicinity, YES, it's a good place to stop at!

--Nora
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 9:27 PM
It's well worth it! Oh, and save some time & money for the railroad museum just across the road. You won't be let down.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 9:27 PM
It's well worth it! Oh, and save some time & money for the railroad museum just across the road. You won't be let down.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Strasburg museum
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 9:16 PM
Has anyone visited the Strasburg Railroad Museum/Traintown, USA in Pennsylvania?? How did you like it? We're planning a trip thru that area next year, and I would like to know if it would be a good place to stop at!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Strasburg museum
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 9:16 PM
Has anyone visited the Strasburg Railroad Museum/Traintown, USA in Pennsylvania?? How did you like it? We're planning a trip thru that area next year, and I would like to know if it would be a good place to stop at!

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy