The President's Car


Lancaster Farmland Trust

Ride aboard the private and wonderfully appointed President's Car.

  • Ride in air-conditioned comfort.
  • Confections and beverages may be purchased separately on board the car.
  • $25 per person, all ages.
  • 20 seats available for each ride.
  • Includes all value added attractions when they are in operation.
  • Tickets can be purchased online (below) or by calling 717-687-7522.
  • Please note that this is a quiet car. No on-board commentary is heard during the ride.
  • Ask about private charter options.
virtual tour

 

 


Once used by railroad presidents and dignitaries, you will be treated like royalty during the 45-minute journey through beautiful countryside and Amish farms to Paradise, PA.

Strasburg Rail Road is pleased to offer this entirely unique experience aboard The President's Car. The experience is not the only thing that is unique, however. The car itself has an interesting story.

The "Reading" as it was commonly known, was what the railroad industry referred to as a "business car." It belonged to the President of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, which later became Reading Company.

Lancaster Farmland Trust

These cars were built for the railroad "top brass" - company presidents and other high level officials. They transported these men "over the line" in the performance of their official duties - attending transportation meetings, entertaining freight shippers, holding directors' meetings, and such. But when you stepped on board, Reading Car 10 could well have been classified a pleasure car.

Although their value was often exaggerated, business cars truly were the pride of the railroad fleet. And no wonder! All the amenities were on board - including handsome handcrafted woodwork, rich tapestries, over-stuffed furniture, and much more. As many as a dozen master wood carvers crafted and installed inlays and made ornate carvings.

In the early 1960s, declining company revenues forced then Reading Company president, Paul Gangeware, to put Car 10 in mothballs in Reading, PA, and eventually place it on the auction block. Strasburg Rail Road has Huber Leath, Donald E.L. Hallock, and Lynford "Bud" Swearer to thank for buying Car 10 and bringing it to Strasburg in May of 1964.