((PKG))  US STEAM TRAIN 
((Banner:  Traveling)) 
((Reporter/Camera:  Deborah Block))
((Adapted by:  Philip Alexiou)) 
((Map:  Ronks, Pennsylvania)) 

 
((NATS - Train))
((Pop-Up Banner:  Riding a coal powered steam train on 
America’s oldest operating railroad)) 
((NATS - Train))  
((Steve Barrall, Station Manager, Strasburg Railroad))   
The Strasburg Railroad exists as this time capsule, if you 
will, somewhat stuck in time.   
((NATS - Train))    
((Steve Barrall, Station Manager, Strasburg Railroad))   
We really desire for people to come here and just experience 
early 20th century steam railroading like they would have 
back then.   
((NATS - Train))    
((Robert, Train Rider))   
I think it’s very historical.  It's very entertaining and 
educational and I really enjoyed it.  And trains are such a 
part of the fabric of this country, in fact, a lot of nations in the 
world.  So, it's nice to go back and see how the trains 
operated in history.   
((Polly Campbell, Train Rider))  
Well, it's fun and I enjoy it because the scenery is so 
different, and it just takes you way back in time.  
((NATS – Train))    
((Steve Barrall, Station Manager, Strasburg Railroad)) 
The short line railroad is essentially a short connection of rail 
from one point to another, and in our case, we exist as this 
short connection between Strasburg Borough and then the 
mainline.   
((NATS – Train….up, under))    
((Ryan Merrill, Train Master, Strasburg Railroad))
So, the railroad was chartered in 1832, June of 1832.  And 
we're the oldest continuously operating railroad in North 
America.   
((NATS – Train….up, under))    
((Ryan Merrill, Train Master, Strasburg Railroad))  
So, the town people wanted a way to get to the outside 
world.  So, they were granted a railroad in 1832 and laid 
four-and-a-half miles of track, still the same length that we 
are today.  And it was a freight and passenger conveyance 
until about 1950, when the railroad had fallen to the wayside 
by truck and airplane, and truck and car traffic, and train 
travel wasn't really a thing any longer.   
((NATS – Train….up, under))    
((Ryan Merrill, Train Master, Strasburg Railroad)) 
People flock to this area to Lancaster County, to the Amish 
countryside, to see steam locomotives and to see the Amish, 
both of which we carry out today.   
((NATS – Train….up, under))   
((Carol, Train Rider))  
It was fun to feel the sway back and forth and the slow 
pace.  It does take you back in time, and it is something 
that's unique, and I think everybody should at least have a 
chance to experience something like this for an old steam 
engine that you don't see anymore.  And it's nice to go back.
((NATS – Train))