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On the Road to Paradise: A History of the Strasburg Rail Road

The Strasburg Rail Road, dating back to 1832 - the oldest shortline in the United States - is still operating under its original charter. This exhibit traces the history of the railroad through photographs and artifacts, emphasizing the importance of the operation to the community of Strasburg and the railroad's evolution into a popular tourist and heritage attraction.

Beneath the photo of a shabby and cluttered Plymouth engine that appeared in the March 19, 1957 issue of the Lancaster New Era was the intriguing headline, "Here's Chance to Buy Own Railroad." Reading on, it was reported that the four-and-one-half-mile Strasburg Rail Road Company linking a feed and lumber mill on the east end of the Borough of Strasburg with the Pennsylvania Railroad's New York-Chicago main line at Leaman Place Junction hadn't run in several months due to flood damage sustained when Hurricane Hazel passed through the area. The line was up for sale and several local railroad buffs anticipated that it would go for scrap once the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission approved abandonment.

One local group took notice, however. They planned to make the railroad self-sufficient through freight and possibly even passenger traffic. Spearheaded by Henry K. Long, president of Lancaster's Champion Blower & Forge Company and Donald L. Hallock, a plant engineer employed by Hubley Toys, they gathered a group of local rail buffs and businessmen to invest enough capital to acquire shares of the corporation outright. The idea worked, and on November 1, 1958, the Homsher estate sold the Strasburg Rail Road to a group of 24 individuals—one president and 23 vice-presidents, averaging more than five vice-presidents per mile!

The rest, as they say, was history. Situated in the heart of Pennsylvania's rich Amish country, the Strasburg Rail Road remains one of the oldest and most successful steam-powered tourist railroads in North America.

This exhibit is curated by Kurt R. Bell and Bradley K. Smith. The presentation is supported by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and Friends of the Railroad Museum. The exhibit includes the Museum's collection of Strasburg Rail Road photographs and memorabilia, loaned artifacts, artwork and archival material borrowed from the Rail Road and from collectors.

On the Road to Paradise tells the story of the economic and social factors that created and sustained the SRR, as well as its glorious revival in striking black-and-white and color photography, interpretive label text and historic artifacts in a broad historical context. Numerous professionally matted photographs and/or graphics accompany each section as well as artifacts and objects that best tell the story of each section. Historic materials are drawn from various historical sources, including Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania collection, the Strasburg Rail Road Company, and from various private collections of veteran employees and railroad.

Six thematic sections tell the story of the Strasburg Rail Road: Birth of America's Oldest Short Line (1832-1851); The Grasshopper Railroad (1852-1918); Homsher's Folly (1918-1958); A Glorious Revival: The Return of Steam! (1958-1965); Years of Growth and Prosperity (1965-1980); and Thomas, Tourists and Tonnage-A Bright Future Ahead (1980-present).

The Strasburg Railroad's station is located across the street from the Railroad Museum.