Strasburg
The Strasburg Railroad has been running since the 1850's. In the 1950's the railroad was about to go into bankruptcy and filed for abandonment. A group of railfans bought the railroad with the hopes of saving the railroad and making money off of freight services. The railroad bought a few passengers cars and began running special trips. The passenger trains became very popular and the focus of the railroad switched from freight to tourists. A steam locomotive was purchased and the Strasburg railroad began a new life as a tourist railroad.
Strasburg is one of the most famous tourist railroads in the United States. They run all passenger trains with steam and during the peak summer months more than one train is running. The original intention of the owners was to operate a freight railroad and occasionally they still haul some freight but the passenger service carries on. Strasburg continues to add new attractions to the railroad including a 15" gauge live steam railroad. The motive power is a Cagney that was originally used at the World's Fair.
I visited strasburg in August 2003. I was here actually two days. The first day, I caught one of the afternoon runs, these are the nice sunny pictures. The next day it poured, but only when I was trying to take pictures, which you will find is quite common for me!
Click here to see Strasburg from above on Terraserver. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is the large building with the turntable. Above the museum is the Strasburg station and engine house.