America's Oldest Continuously Operating Railroad Offers A Fun Trip Through Amish Country

There's a sense of comfort to be found when traveling through miles of Pennsylvania farmland. The fields stretch out before you like a colorful patchwork quilt, as you quietly slip back in time. This is exactly how you'll feel if you take a trip aboard America's oldest continuously operating railroad, the Strasburg Rail Road. Located right in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, near the top-rated Amish town of Lancaster, Strasburg is a peaceful rural escape and makes an ideal day trip or weekend getaway from the city. While train enthusiasts are drawn by the railroad history, the unexpected appeal of riding on a restored Victorian-era steam train makes it a fun day out for families too. At only 9 miles long round trip, it's far from being the longest train route in America, but the 45-minute journey gives you plenty of time to appreciate the views on this Amish country train ride.

Founded in 1832, the Strasburg Rail Road carries more than 300,000 passengers each year, and is the most visited heritage railroad in the U.S. It's also home to one of the world's biggest collections of wooden passenger cars, which have all been lovingly restored in the railroad's workshops. The short-line railroad originally transported passengers and freight to and from Strasburg before it gradually fell into decline. In 1958, a group of dedicated railway fans bought the railroad, stopping it from falling into further disrepair, and turning it into a working steam railway again. Strasburg is around 63 miles from Philadelphia, and if you're arriving by car, there's free parking at Strasburg Station. If you're keen on keeping it a rail journey, take Amtrak's Keystone Service from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station to Lancaster, then take a 20-minute rideshare into Strasburg.

The Strasburg Rail Road experience begins as soon as you arrive at East Strasburg Station, a beautifully restored Victorian-era building, helping to set the scene for what's to come. Train enthusiasts will want to visit the Switch Tower beside the station, and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania with its impressive collections of trains, opposite the station. Then it's all aboard one of the vintage wooden railway carriages for a fully-narrated trip through 2,500 acres of Lancaster County Amish country. Choose between the wooden bench seats of the open-air carriage, the reversible walkover seats in coach class, elegant wooden dining chairs in the dining carriage, or the comfortable armchairs in first class to sit back and enjoy the ride.

As the train rolls through the countryside, look out for horse-drawn buggies and red barns, which are a common sight on the roads and farmsteads in the Amish community. Not just limited to a quick ride around the tracks, the railroad offers a variety of themed events and entertainment on show. Throughout the year, choose from a heated encounter with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, or help solve a murder mystery, as well as many other scenarios. Children can also meet some old family favorites, such as Peter Pan and Santa Claus himself come December.

There are several options when it comes to ticket prices, depending on whether you want to go dining class, coach class, or first class. The cheapest option is dining class, which costs $27.56 for adults. If you're splurging on first class, an adult ticket will set you back $44.52. Don't make the mistake of bringing your dog though, as pets are not allowed, and access is limited on the old carriages, so you should call the railroad ahead for any special requirements.

In a town where the railroad is the main attraction, it stands to reason that many of the other attractions in Strasburg are train themed, including the Strasburg Train Shop. Good luck trying to escape without buying anything for the kids here. It literally has everything the model railway enthusiast could wish for, packed into its 2,000 square feet. Even if you're not a fan, you can't help but be mesmerized by the huge collection of tiny trains or the 1,700-foot model railway on display next door in the Choo Choo Barn. If you skipped eating on the train, you can still dine in style at Casey Jones' Restaurant, where you can watch the trains head out from the comfort of an original railway carriage dating back to the early 1900s. Located on the Paradise Station complex, there's also the Red Caboose Motel where you can stay in a luxury restored railroad caboose.

Not everything is railway themed though. Take a tour into the Amish way of life on an Amish Village tour. Learn more about their history and culture as you ride by bus or take a self-guided walking tour through the beautiful Lancaster County countryside. To quench your thirst at the end of the day, try one of the craft beers on offer at Bespoke Brewing. Relax and enjoy a bite to eat in the outdoor beer garden before settling down for the night in one of the rooms at Limestone Inn, a 200-plus-year-old bed & breakfast listed on the National Register of Historic Places. And if you're still craving more trains, why not go and see the world's largest steam engine, while it visits Pennsylvania on the eastern leg of its U.S. tour?