FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Strasburg Rail Road is a real, operating steam railroad. The primary difference between the Strasburg Rail Road and modern-day trains is that Strasburg Rail Road’s trains are pulled by larger-than-life steam locomotives, and passengers ride in authentically restored, turn-of-the-century wooden rail cars. However, the same safety issues remain. Please abide by our safety measures while visiting the Strasburg Rail Road.

No. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is a separate entity, completely independent of the historic Strasburg Rail Road.

Since its opening in 1975, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s network of state-owned museums. The museum was created in Strasburg because of its rail connection via the Strasburg Rail Road. The Strasburg Rail Road has been and continues to be privately owned by about 250 shareholders.

Consistent with most rail travel, trains operate on a fixed timetable; therefore, all trains depart promptly at their scheduled departure time. Ticketed passengers board the train about 10 to 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

All regular train rides are 45 minutes roundtrip. This includes special ticketed events such as the Wine & Cheese experience, Dinner trains, and most special event trains.

Because the Strasburg Rail Road is a short-line railroad. That’s the nature of a short-line railroad–to go directly from Point A to Point B.

As America’s oldest short-line railroad, Strasburg Rail Road trains have traveled the same 4.5-mile track since 1832. Throughout its history, the locomotive has traveled in reverse for the first part of the trip, uncoupled at the end of the line, and recoupled on the opposite end of the train for the return trip.

Why? The railroad played an important role in the transportation network in Central Pennsylvania, and expediency was valued. With no need (or real estate space) for a turntable and no compelling rationale for re-orienting the locomotive, this process was a viable solution that continues today!

Today’s railroad network began as a system of smaller railroads, serving specific purposes within various communities and industrial centers. As industrial America developed, so did the hub-and-spoke railroad system, with longer routes providing vital connections from coast to coast. Despite the advent of these longer railroad companies, today’s short lines continue to play an important economic role within the communities they serve, providing what’s known as the “first mile/last mile” connection where commodities are shipped and/or received. While short lines may vary widely in length, they represent the small businesses of railroading.

The Strasburg Rail Road exists today as the nation’s oldest continuously operating short line, connecting the community of Strasburg across a short 4.5-mile single stretch of track that terminates at the main line operated today by Amtrak.

Parking is available on-site in close walking distance to the station. Drop-offs are also permitted near station entrances. During special events, remote parking may be used, with free a shuttle provided to the railroad.

First-Class cars – President’s Car, Parlor, Lounge, and Dining – have restrooms on board. Select Coach cars do have restrooms, and at least one of these cars is always on the daily train. Open Air cars do not have restrooms. We recommend arriving early and using the public restrooms so as not to miss any of your ride.

Due to the historic nature of our railcars, Strasburg Rail Road’s passenger train does not meet current Americans with Disabilities Act standards with respect to accessibility. For individuals who use a wheelchair, a mobility device, or have difficulty navigating steps, we do have a mobile lift. (Please note: The mobile lift has a combined weight limitation of 400 pounds). Though we cannot guarantee accessibility, we have a variety of accommodation options available, and we will make a reasonable effort to provide each and every guest who wishes to ride the opportunity to do so. If you are concerned about whether you or a member of your traveling party will be able to board the train, we recommend contacting our business office to discuss your particular circumstances.

Our business office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., holidays excluded. Our business office phone number is 717-687-8421, or you may email us at [email protected].

The on-site gift shops and Cafe 1832 open one hour before the first train of the day. On Thursdays – Sundays, period costumed characters are walking through the mall and often perform a Vaudeville-style show.

No, the Strasburg Rail Road is not BYOB.

In accordance with Pennsylvania law, alcohol can only be served during the train ride. Purchased and served alcoholic drinks must be consumed before exiting the train; alcohol is not permitted off the train.

In addition, Strasburg Rail Road is not permitted to serve alcoholic drinks while the train is berthed in the Station.

Strasburg Rail Road does not permit pets or animals on trains or in customer-occupied areas of the station mall and train platform. Service animals are not considered pets and are permitted in all areas where customers are allowed. Service animals are animals trained to perform a specific task for the benefit of a person with a disability.

What information do we collect?

We collect information from you when you register on the site to purchase tickets and passes, respond to a survey, or communicate with us via e-mail or use another site feature.

We may ask you for your name, e-mail address, mailing address, phone number, or other information. You may, however, simply visit our site anonymously.

Like many websites, we use cookies to enhance your experience and gather information about visitors and visits to our website. Please refer to the “Do we use ‘cookies’?” section below for information about cookies and how we use them.

How do we use your information?

We may use the information we collect from you when you register, respond to a survey or marketing communication, browse the Web site, or use certain other site features in the following ways:

• For research to guide our advertising and marketing decisions. We may also enter into agreements with third parties that possess technology that enables us to customize the advertising and marketing messages you receive on our website and on others
• To inform you of changes, improvements, or new opportunities at the Strasburg Rail Road
• To improve our experience and events
• To communicate pertinent information to ticket holders of upcoming events
• To communicate details on new events and opportunities at Strasburg Rail Road

How do we protect visitor information?

We implement a variety of security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information. Your personal information is contained behind secured networks and is only accessible by a limited number of persons who have special access rights to such systems, and are required to keep the information confidential.

Do we use “cookies”?

Yes. Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your computer’s hard drive through your Web browser (if you allow) that enables the site’s or service provider’s systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information. We use cookies to help us compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can offer better site experiences and tools in the future.

We may contract with third-party service providers to assist us in better understanding our site visitors. These service providers are not permitted to use the information collected on our behalf except to help us conduct and improve our business.

You can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You do this through your browser (like Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer) settings. Each browser is a little different, so look at your browser Help menu to learn the correct way to modify your cookies.

Do we disclose the information we collect to outside parties?

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information unless we provide you with advance notice, except as described below. The term “outside parties” does not include The Strasburg Rail Road. It also does not include Web site hosting partners and other parties who assist us in operating our Web site, conducting our organization, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may also release your information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others’ rights, property, or safety.

However, non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.

How can you opt-out or remove information you have provided to us?

To delete all of your online account information from our database, use our Contact Us form to send us a message with a subject of “Remove My Information.” Please let us know what your email address is and we will delete all information relating to that address in our online database.

Third party links

In an attempt to provide you with increased value, we may include third party links on our site. These linked sites have separate and independent privacy policies. We therefore have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our site and welcome any feedback about these linked sites (including if a specific link does not work).

Changes to our policy

If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on this page. Policy changes will apply only to information collected after the date of the change. This policy was last modified on December 1, 2006.

Questions and feedback

We welcome your questions, comments, and concerns about privacy. Please send us any and all feedback pertaining to privacy, or any other issue.

Online policy only

This online privacy policy applies only to information collected through our Web site and not to information collected offline.