Strasburg Rail Road

We get a lot of comments on this blog about the fun places we visit. I think we can be particularly proud of this one because I really did find it myself. I occasionally read a blog written by a mother or three who lives in Baltimore and posts about the fun things do with kids in the area. She wrote a post about Cherry Crest Adventure Farm. Cherry Crest Adventure Farm looks really fun, and we'll have to do it one day, but what really interested me was that Cherry Crest is a stop along the Strasburg Rail Road. When I read that we'd be able to ride a real steam engine, I knew we had to go.

The Strasburg Rail Road was established in 1832. It is the America's oldest railroad operating under it's original charter. It was almost abandoned in 1958, but instead, the locals turned it into a tourist destination.We have been wanting to ride a real steam engine for a long time. I'm so glad that this is a short (1 hr. 45 min.) drive away.

Here's Beckett's first look at the steam engine. It was loud.

Beckett pointed out the engine's parts.

We found Thomas! (His face is removed, for safe keeping, perhaps.) If you have ever seen the Thomas Special where they talk to all the kids at the Day Out With Thomas, Strasburg is where that was filmed. They have three Days Out With Thomas every year. If you want to ride Thomas, this would be a fun place to do it. I've seen some other locations that are definitely not the Island of Sodor. 

On the train, ticket in hand.

It was the first day of the Christmas Extravaganza. They had a brass band, carolers, and Santa on board. Felix loves everyone, even Santa.

It was such a lovely, scenic ride. We saw lots of fields and farms. We saw tractors. We saw Amish folk plowing with their horses.

After our ride on the train we went across the road to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. This is one of the best train museums I've ever been to.

Beckett, the fireman.

The engines and cars are in an enormous showroom, surrounded by the countryside.

Beckett loved this huge engine and spent a lot of time "driving" it.

One last look at the steam engine.