My family and I were provided complimentary tickets for the train ride and fun extras pass to share with you all the fun at Strasburg Railroad!
The main attraction at the Strasburg Railroad is a 45-minute roundtrip train ride through the farmlands of Lancaster County. Guests can select from a variety of options including coach, dining, and luxury choices to travel the rails. Tickets are purchased at the station and passengers board the train from their assigned platforms.
Train Tip: Seats on the train can be flipped so that you can always be riding "forward" if you are someone who doesn't handle riding backwards well. This is especially helpful on busy days so you don't have to worry about changing seats!
During the ride, guests will learn a bit about the history of the railroad and the Amish farm community that surrounds the area. If you chose to purchase tickets on the dining car, you can enjoy a meal during your ride. More into packing your own food? Not a problem at all! The train actually stops at a picnic destination where guests can hop off and enjoy a picnic lunch and play time on some playground equipment. When you're ready to return back to the station, your family can just pick up the next train. My boys loved riding the rails and especially loved the ghost story that was shared when we passed a certain spot on the ride. . .don't worry, it's not too scary!! There are also themed train rides and special events throughout the year including a Day Out with Thomas, holiday train rides, and much, much more! To learn more, visit Strasburg's Events page of their website here.
Train Tip: Purchasing your tickets ahead is a great timesaver for a visit any day of the year, but is very important for those busy special event trains!
But the fun at Strasburg Railroad isn't limited to the train ride itself! Guests can purchase a "fun extras" pass which gives access to three attractions in the yard. First up is the Pint-Sized Pufferbelly. This "junior" train ride takes you on a brief journey on a small train. Next, you'll want to head on over to the Cranky Cars for a chance to power your own little engine around a small track. This was the favorite of my boys as they worked hard to see just how fast they can go! Finally, the fun extras pass includes a turn powering your own pump car. My kids were too short to participate in this activity, but look forward to trying it in the future! These three attractions certainly add to the excitement of the day for little ones!
Train Tip: There's a special play space that's a bit of a "hidden gem" if you have extra time before or after your train. Check out the playground which features slides, swings, and it's own train to climb and play on! It's tucked back behind the bathrooms and the pump car - don't miss it!
While you're waiting for your train and enjoying the fun extras, there are also gift shops and a small diner option. The restaurant is small on the inside, but also includes outdoor seating. Here, you'll find some classics like hot dogs, chicken tenders, and grilled cheese along with smoothies and ice cream to cool off on a hot day! Train enthusiasts young and old can also find plenty of toys and model trains to purchase as well in the gift shop. During your visit, you can also purchase a picture from the train ride with your family or pose for an "old time" photo before or after your ride in a studio.
All in all, we spent about 3 hours at Strasburg Railroad and had plenty of time to see and enjoy everything. Special events, like the Day Out with Thomas, can bring larger crowds and may impact the amount of time it takes to be able to do it all at the tracks. We have loved visiting the Strasburg Railroad for several generations now in our family and look forward to continuing to make memories there for years to come!
Train Tip: Seats on the train can be flipped so that you can always be riding "forward" if you are someone who doesn't handle riding backwards well. This is especially helpful on busy days so you don't have to worry about changing seats!
During the ride, guests will learn a bit about the history of the railroad and the Amish farm community that surrounds the area. If you chose to purchase tickets on the dining car, you can enjoy a meal during your ride. More into packing your own food? Not a problem at all! The train actually stops at a picnic destination where guests can hop off and enjoy a picnic lunch and play time on some playground equipment. When you're ready to return back to the station, your family can just pick up the next train. My boys loved riding the rails and especially loved the ghost story that was shared when we passed a certain spot on the ride. . .don't worry, it's not too scary!! There are also themed train rides and special events throughout the year including a Day Out with Thomas, holiday train rides, and much, much more! To learn more, visit Strasburg's Events page of their website here.
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| History of the Strasburg Railroad |
But the fun at Strasburg Railroad isn't limited to the train ride itself! Guests can purchase a "fun extras" pass which gives access to three attractions in the yard. First up is the Pint-Sized Pufferbelly. This "junior" train ride takes you on a brief journey on a small train. Next, you'll want to head on over to the Cranky Cars for a chance to power your own little engine around a small track. This was the favorite of my boys as they worked hard to see just how fast they can go! Finally, the fun extras pass includes a turn powering your own pump car. My kids were too short to participate in this activity, but look forward to trying it in the future! These three attractions certainly add to the excitement of the day for little ones!
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| Don't miss fun events like the Day Out with Thomas! |
While you're waiting for your train and enjoying the fun extras, there are also gift shops and a small diner option. The restaurant is small on the inside, but also includes outdoor seating. Here, you'll find some classics like hot dogs, chicken tenders, and grilled cheese along with smoothies and ice cream to cool off on a hot day! Train enthusiasts young and old can also find plenty of toys and model trains to purchase as well in the gift shop. During your visit, you can also purchase a picture from the train ride with your family or pose for an "old time" photo before or after your ride in a studio.
All in all, we spent about 3 hours at Strasburg Railroad and had plenty of time to see and enjoy everything. Special events, like the Day Out with Thomas, can bring larger crowds and may impact the amount of time it takes to be able to do it all at the tracks. We have loved visiting the Strasburg Railroad for several generations now in our family and look forward to continuing to make memories there for years to come!