It seems to me that Amtrak would get enough business at specific times to make it worthwhile, and that Amtrak, Strassburg RR, the Pennsylvania RR Museum, and the local economy would all benefit.
There's a fair amount of cost, and a fair amount of added time, involved in adding a stop to Amtrak service.
What I wonder is whether it could be made a 'flag stop' for an adequate number of patrons... enough to cover the added operating costs (including perhaps the added power to make up time, where possible).
The existing Amtrak ticket system ought to be able to work with this, even to the extent of e-mailing when a given train would be stopping, or tracking how many 'more' fares would be needed to authorize the stop.
State money for 'rail' access to RRMPA might also come into play...
But there is no station there for the Strasburg RR...and I don't believe the traffic count would warrant it either. But to me it brings up an old point that railroads used to have flag stops that none of the commuter roads nor Amtrak have anymore.
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Since Amtrak appears to stop down the road at Lancaster, I really see no reason for spending money on platforms/station facilities at Leahman Place. Much of the tourist lodging is in the Lancaster area, and tour bus/car rental is available to get to the Amish area(and maybe even stop at Strasburg).
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
It seems to me a many people would like to visit Strassburg and the Pensylvania State Railroad museum by hopping on a Harisurg train at lots of stations from Penn Station, NY to a direct transfer at Lehman Place and return.
I've always felt that a station at Lehman Place would be a wonderful idea. What better way to showcase the progress and practicality of rail transportation. Currently, one must bow to the alter of the mighty auto, conceding that railroads are a quaint curiosity in a black top world. Either that or put on some REALLY good walking shoes or bike the busy roads from Lancaster. It ain't that close, either!
henry6But to me it brings up an old point that railroads used to have flag stops that none of the commuter roads nor Amtrak have anymore.
Amtrak still has them. Check the Crescent's timetable. There are five of them.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
daveklepper It seems to me a many people would like to visit Strassburg and the Pensylvania State Railroad museum by hopping on a Harisurg train at lots of stations from Penn Station, NY to a direct transfer at Lehman Place and return.
Agree! You could sell tour tickets out of Phila, and NY for day trips. Sort of like they sell day trips from SF to Yosemite.
The idea of a station at Lehman Place (pronounced locally as "Lemin Place", BTW) has been kicked around for a station ever since I could remember. It just never gained any traction. Probably due to the fact the area is represented by the very conservative of the conservatives and associating themselves with Amtrak would be beneath them. Personally, I think an additional stop on either side of Lancaster (WITH ADEQUATE PARKING!) would be very beneficial.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
oltmannd henry6But to me it brings up an old point that railroads used to have flag stops that none of the commuter roads nor Amtrak have anymore. Amtrak still has them. Check the Crescent's timetable. There are five of them.
Port Kent NY on Lake Champlain
Okay, folks, first, it's spelled LEAMAN place, and yes, it's pronounced "Lemon" as far as most folks can tell.
Second, the idea of a transfer station has been batted about for at least 20 years, and probably closer to 40 or even 50 years. The most serious effort I can remember by far was a proposal by the Amish community that basically offered to pay for AND BUILD a station at Leaman Place, IF the "powers that be" could be persuaded to stop the trains there. I can't remember exactly when this was, but I remember it being around the 1990s or 2000s when SEPTA was forced to run trains as far west as an interlocking just east of Lancaster to change tracks during a major interlocking reconstruction project. At the time, SEPTA service had been extended west from Paoli to Downingtown and Parkesburg because of a major reconstruction project on Rt. 30 or the Schuylkill Expressway, and SEPTA ended up running those trains both ways through Leaman Place just to cross over from one main to the other. Amish residents saw the SEPTA cars/trains rolling by, and decided to ask for service. Needless to say, it wasn't that easy, and the service/station never materialized.
Some of the problem has to do with the location. Even after the notoriously narrow and ancient Rt. 30 overpass over the location was replaced, the roadway traffic patterns locally just aren't conducive to a passenger stop--one would have to condemn, and pay for, the large lumberyard across the line from the Strasburg runaround siding, plus add more parking, roads, lanes, etc. Plus, there are ADA requirements for such a station, even if only a dozen or fewer such passengers might use it in a year. Your costs just went up exponentially. You really can't get away with stopping at an old low-level platform like Clemson, SC, Winslow, AZ, or Lewistown, Pa. anymore, sorry to say.Factor in another problem: The "East Strasburg" terminal is not exactly pedestrian-friendly to Strasburg proper itself, nor is Strasburg quite the pedestrian-friendly town many may think it to be. The big attractions--the outlet malls, the Amish Farm tourist trap, the big Christian-themed theater--are all up Rt. 896 from Strasburg proper, by several miles. Railfans would certainly appreciate a two-train ride from Philly or the suburbs to the Strasburg RR and the RR Museum of Pa., but once you get past those fans the concept is a harder sell than we want for the reasons I just described.There have been proposals to extend SEPTA service westward to Lancaster and even Harrisburg, making it really an intercity service rather than a commuter/suburban service. Only if/when that happens can the concept of a station at Leaman Place become a reality, not just as a local stop for a few tourists or Amish folks.
LNER4472There have been proposals to extend SEPTA service westward to Lancaster and even Harrisburg, making it really an intercity service rather than a commuter/suburban service. Only if/when that happens can the concept of a station at Leaman Place become a reality, not just as a local stop for a few tourists or Amish folks.
And seeing Septa service extended into Lancaster/Dauphin counties is even less likely than an Amtrak stop at Leaman. The politicians will fight tooth and nail to keep that "Philadelphia train" out of their congressional districts.
Understtood. Thank you!
Sounds like Amtrak didn't add their weight to the local push. I'd like to think Amtrak tries to maximize their market reach in the areas they serve, but there are too many examples where they just prefer to sit on their hands and preserve the existing market reach. The Lancaster area is just another example. Growing by leaps an bounds - no new stops.
LNER4472Factor in another problem: The "East Strasburg" terminal is not exactly pedestrian-friendly to Strasburg proper itself, nor is Strasburg quite the pedestrian-friendly town many may think it to be. The big attractions--the outlet malls, the Amish Farm tourist trap, the big Christian-themed theater--are all up Rt. 896 from Strasburg proper, by several miles. Railfans would certainly appreciate a two-train ride from Philly or the suburbs to the Strasburg RR and the RR Museum of Pa., but once you get past those fans the concept is a harder sell than we want for the reasons I just described.
Part of this is "chicken and egg" problem.
Tourism is 100% highway oriented in part because there is nothing else to orient it around. I would suspect the town would get busy with a shuttle service if there was demand. ...and there would be demand if there was a shuttle.
Is it currently at all possible to visit Strasburg by public transportation?
Several years ago while attending the APTA conventional in Philadelphia the host , SEPTA, ran a special to Leamon for conventioneers. On an adjacent track was the Strasberg train. We stepped onto a conductor's stool set in the ballast and directly onto the Strasberg train. It can be done.
Yes the lawyers are ruining everything. The recent Chevron case is a good sign. A lawyer lied and bribed a judge in Ecuador and got a $9 billion judgement against Chevron. Chevron appealed in the US using RICO and won! The lawyer, Donzinger, will soon be bankrupt. Serves as a good lesson to the ambulance chasers.
daveklepper Is it currently at all possible to visit Strasburg by public transportation?
Closest you can get by bus is Leaman Place, served 4x a day.
That is a bus from Lancaster? I assume it is from the Square Downtown, meaning another bus from the RR Station?
daveklepper That is a bus from Lancaster? I assume it is from the Square Downtown, meaning another bus from the RR Station?
Yeah. Lancaster isn't known for having a great bus system.
It's OK. I used it regularly while working on the Fulton Opera House, bus from the PRR station downtown, and then walk or another bus to the Opera House. A third bus line took me to the synagogue at President and Columbia Streets. I thought the people freindly and generally enjoyed my visits there. I understand that now they are thinking about a downtown crrculator streetcar.
daveklepper I understand that now they are thinking about a downtown crrculator streetcar.
I understand that now they are thinking about a downtown crrculator streetcar.
That idea has been thoroughly squashed. Just a few trolley fans with high hopes.
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