Strasburg Rail Road — Yesterday and Today
We're sorry, this event has been cancelled.
Since its founding in 1832, Strasburg Rail Road Company has evolved to become one of the most well-known and successful steam railroads in the country. Get a behind-the-scenes look at this railroad operation - Yesterday and Today.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Train times are as follows - 11, 11:30 am, 12, 12:30, 1, 1:30, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 pm
Breakfast on your own.
- 8:00 am - 8:30 am — Participants will meet at the enginehouse for the official welcome and safety talk. All of the tickets/vouchers and written information will be given out at this time.
- 8:40 am - 9:30 am — Behind the scenes tour of the station. This presentation will include how selling tickets has evolved from using a cigar box for a cash register to today's Point of Sale system. In addition, you will see how the ticket choices have gone from one in 1958 to well over 150 (!) today.
- 9:40 am - 10:50 am - — * "The History of the Strasburg Rail Road Company". This will consist of a power point presentation and talk on the history of the Company from its founding in 1832 to the present day operations.
- 11:00 am - 11:45 am — * "Strasburg Rail Road Conductor". What he does and how he does it, along with some colorful stories. This will be accompanied by a power point.
- 11:45 am - 1:15 pm — Lunch on your own. This time allotment allows you to ride the train if you choose in addition to having lunch.
- 1:15 pm - 2:50 pm — Strasburg Rail Road mechanical shops. You will get a tour of the shops and learn their history. You will learn how the "original" car shop was actually the locomotive shop as well. You will see what projects are currently in the shops and how the shops have evolved over the years.
- 3:00 pm - 4:45 pm — The history of the LO&S car and a "ghost tour" of Leaman Place Junction. You will take a round trip ride on Car #10 while being presented with its history. At Leaman Place, the participants will get off and take a tour of the junction. You will be shown how the junction has changed over the years.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Train times are as follows - 11, 11:30 am, 12, 12:30, 1, 1:30, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 pm
Breakfast on your own.
- 7:30 am - 10:30 am — "Hostling a Steam Locomotive". Participants will be shown how a locomotive is readied for service. This will include trying your hand at shoveling coal and running an injector. A short cab ride will be included as well.
- 10:45 am - 11:45 am — * The history of the Strasburg Rail Road's steam locomotives. This will consist of a power point presentation and talk. You will learn about the locomotives' original service and how and why they survived to serve another day. You will also see how our current operating locomotives have been changed both mechanically and cosmetically and why.
- 11:45 am - 1:15 pm — Lunch on your own. This time allotment allows you to ride the train if you choose in addition to having lunch.
- 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm — * "Plowing Snow with Steam and a Russell Plow". This will consist of a tour of the plow, a power point presentation, and a talk on the Rail Road's struggle to get and keep the line open this past record breaking winter. It may be exciting to watch, but it's not as much fun for the crew as you may think!
- 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm — Strasburg Rail Road freight service and modern freight car inspection and repair. With the Company back in the freight business, there are a lot of things to be dealt with both mechanically and logistically that are many times unseen.
- 3:00 pm - 3:50 pm — CNC demonstration. Watch a computer programmed mill and lathe in action. You will quickly see their advantages over manual machines.
- 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm — Follow-up, Q & A session.
* Denotes that the presentation will be held in a passenger coach.
Due to various venues included, this event is not handicapped-accessible.
