Train lovers come in all shapes and sizes and certainly all ages! If you are visiting Pennsylvania or live there and have a passion for trains, Strasburg is the place you want to visit!
Strasburg is home to the Railroad Museum, an indoor/outdoor museum with life size trains to see. Inside, in the Hall, there are approximately 50 displays, most of which are real trains. There are some exhibits as well, including artwork. There are cabooses, dining cars, steam engines, locomotives, and passenger cars all on display for you to see. Unfortunately you cannot access all the cars in the museum, but there are a few you can actually walk through. The purpose of this museum is to preserve the cars, but they do allow you to get up close to see inside them. There is even a section where you can actually go under a train and see how things work. Once your pay your admission, you are free to roam about at your leisure. The outside is accessible when weather permits, and contains many more trains, including a train turntable. There are approximately 100 locomotives and cars in all, including restored cars, a snow plow car, a replica of the historic John Bull engine, freight cars and more! You can even have fun with their simulator engine! You can view the entire indoor museum via the catwalk above, too!
The Railroad Museum also has a gift shop where you can purchase artwork, books, videos, t-shirts and other apparel, souvenirs and related railroad gifts. You can also visit their shop on-line at www.whistlestopshop.org.
General admission fees are as follows: adults (ages 18-59) $8.00, Senior Citizen discount rate of $7.00 for those 60 and older, children’s tickets for those 6-17 cost $6.00 and there is no cost to any child under the age of 6. Group rates consist of parties of 10 or more adults and school groups. You must call the museum for pricing information. There is also discounted admission for Travel and Motor Clubs. Again, call ahead for details.
The Railroad Museum is open April 2 through October, Monday – Saturday from 9-5 and on Sundays, 12-5. Again, outdoor hours may or may not apply, depending on weather conditions and staff assistance. During November 1 through April 1 the museum is closed on Mondays, open Tuesday – Saturday from 9-5 and open Sundays, 12-5. The Railroad Museum is closed New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
For further information you can visit their very informative website: www.rrmuseumpa.org, or you can call them at 1-717-687-8628. The railroad Museum is located on PA Route 741, about a mile east of the main traffic signal in downtown Strasburg. Visit their website for further directions
So once you’ve seen all the BIG trains, head across the street – its on to the LITTLE trains! Visit the National Toy Train Museum! The National Toy Train Museum is one of the most extensive toy train museums in the world. Here you will find five large train layouts in gauges O, S, G, HO and Z. You can even help run the trains yourself! There are electric trains, all dating from the mid – 1800s to the present. See train brands such as Lionel, American Flyer, Marx, Marklin, LGB and more! See toys that children pushed, pulled, and even rode on. There are also associates there to answer any questions you may have.
The Toy Train Museum also has a gift shop where you can purchase toy trains, such as Thomas the Tank Engine and His Friends, games, gifts, books, trains to add to your own collection as well as accessories and more! Their gift shop is open during normal museum hours, but they do have on-line shopping at
The Toy Train Museum is open 10 am – 5 pm during the following times, but keep in mind, visitors will not be admitted after 4:30 pm, as you will not have enough time to see all the exhibits. April – open Saturdays and Sundays, May 1 to October 31 the museum is open daily, during November only Saturday and Sunday hours and includes the Friday after Thanksgiving. During December the museum is open Saturdays and Sundays, December 5, and after Christmas from December 26th through December 31, closing at 3 pm on December 31. The Toy Train Museum is CLOSED January through March.
Admission to the Toy Train Museum is as follows: Adults (ages 13-64) $5.00, children (6-12) $2.50, Senior Citizen Discount to those 65+ is $4.00, children under the age of 6 are free. You can also purchase a family package for $12.00. There are also group rates, please call ahead for information and if you choose, you can purchase a season pass for $15.00 per person.
After the LITTLE trains you must sit and relax. What better place than aboard the Strasburg Railroad! Climb aboard the Strasburg Railroad as it takes you through farmland and Amish Country. There are many events going on with the Strasburg Railroad but the best is have a “Day Out With Thomas”!!!! Yes, Thomas the Tank Engine will pull you along the route! Bring your camera for this one! See their website for all listings of this event. Call 1-717-687-7522 for times and prices for all events the Strasburg Railroad has to offer.
The Strasburg Railroad has several cars, each offering its passenger something different. If you choose the most luxurious car, the President’s Car, you’ll be seated inside, with air conditioning comfort, as you dine on their selection of hors d’oeuvres, featured wines, cold drinks, coffee and tea. This car is available July thru August. Fare is $45.00 per adult and you must be 21 or older.
The Wine & Cheese Train includes first-class accommodations on the Parlor Car, where you’ll receive complimentary wine, cheese and crackers. You can also purchase beer, mixed drinks, other wines, hot and cold drinks as well. You must be 21 years of age or older, with a photo ID. The cost of this train is $30.00 per person. They suggest getting your tickets ahead of time as there are only a select number of seats available. Departure days are Friday and Saturday evenings, times and dates can be found at their website.
The First-Class Parlor car is designed in old Victorian. Here you can purchase their unique selections of pastries. Beverages are also available. Fares for adults (12+) is $19.00. Children ages 3-11 is $13.00 and Toddlers under 3 years of age are $7.00.
The Coach car is also restored Victorian style. With open windows, a pot belly stove will keep you warm when it is cold outside. Adult fares (12+) is $12.00, Children ages 3-11 is $6.00 and Toddlers under 3 ride free.
For a great ride free from any obstructions such as windows, ride in the Open Air car, giving you a great view of the beautiful countryside and farmlands! Adults (12+) is $14.00, children ages 3-11 is $8.00 and Toddlers under 3 is $2.00.
So now that you’ve done all you can possibly do, all within walking distance from each other, it’s time to relax for the night. Well, where else except The Red Caboose Motel! Your kids will have a blast (and you will too!) sleeping in an authentic caboose! There are several caboose sizes to choose from to accommodate your needs. Going as a couple only? you can stay in the smaller caboose (half a car, actually) or for a larger family you can choose a caboose suite or efficiency. Depending on which caboose you need, there are double beds, bunk beds, queen beds and single beds. You will have a microwave and refrigerator if you choose the Efficiency, Caboose Suites or the Mail Car Suite. Whichever you choose, it will be a great experience!
Kids can have fun running around on the open property, playing in the swing area or feeding animals at the petting zoo! Bring your camera to the top of the viewing tower where the view extends for miles!
All cabooses are fully restored 25-ton cabooses. The prices vary accordingly by size and whether you choose to say during the weekday or weekend and also if you plan on staying during one of the events, such as the Thomas the Train days. Please call them at 1-717-687-5000 for current rates, as rates can change without notice. They accept Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Discover. A personal check will only be accepted for reservations made in advance only. Visit their website for further information! www.redcaboosemotel.com.
Next to the motel is the dining car! Seriously, its an 80 ton coach made into a restaurant! Inside you’ll hear all the old train songs being played in the background. The service is wonderful, the food is excellent! You can choose from their breakfast, lunch or dinner menus, depending the time of day. Adjacent to the restaurant is the gift shop where you can buy what else – Trains! They have many other gifts there as well! There specialty being candies from all over Dutch Country!
This is truly a great weekend or 2-day vacation for families who love trains. Everything is all within walking distance. There are also other nearby attractions to see, such as Dutch Wonderland, which is a children’s amusement park, the Living Waters Theater and more.
