Strasburg Rail Road Unveils a First For PA Land Preservation
Strasburg Rail Road
Media Release

Strasburg, PA (June 30, 2005) - In what is being hailed as a groundbreaking initiative, the Strasburg Rail Road, one of Pennsylvania’s top tourist destinations, announced a plan to preserve one of Lancaster County’s most precious and recognized treasures.

In partnership with the Lancaster Farmland Trust, a local, non-profit farmland preservation organization, the Strasburg Rail Road has committed to taking a lead role in helping to raise funds to enable Lancaster County to maintain its crucial farming community and its revered farmland surrounding the Strasburg Rail Road.

In this effort, the Strasburg Rail Road has committed 5 cents from every ticket (excluding Thomas™ events) sold during 2005 to the Lancaster Farmland Trust. The funds are designated specifically to support the Farmland Trust in its effort to protect the rich and productive farmland in the Strasburg Rail Road corridor.

Located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, the Strasburg Rail Road is one of the region’s most successful tourist destinations with more than 300,000 visitors each year. Traveling past 20 working farms and more then one thousand acres, the Strasburg Rail Road offers one of the best ways to view Lancaster County’s breathtaking countryside.

Strasburg Rail Road President, Linn Moedinger, says his decision to support the preservation efforts not only impacts Lancaster County’s economy, but the County’s way of life. “As Lancaster County grows, we must take steps to protect our signature farmland or we will lose it,” says Moedinger. “This partnership will benefit our county, the Strasburg Rail Road and the millions of visitors who travel to our area each year.”

Lancaster Farmland Trust calls Strasburg Rail Road’s commitment a model for other business leaders in Pennsylvania. “This partnership demonstrates how important Lancaster County’s beautiful farmland is to the tourist industry,” says Karen Martynick, Executive Director of Lancaster Farmland Trust. “We’ve always believed that visitors come specifically to see our scenic farmland in Lancaster County and as a result, generate billions of dollars for our local economy.” “We applaud the Strasburg Rail Road for acknowledging the importance of this link and creating this precedent setting program to save our rich and productive farmland.”

Lancaster Farmland Trust is a private, non-profit organization working to preserve the rich and productive farmland of Lancaster County by purchasing the development rights from Lancaster’s farm families. By participating in the program, farm families own, operate and pass down the property to future generations with the assurance that no one will develop it for commercial or residential development. Since 1988, the Trust has preserved almost 13,000 acres of productive farmland for future generations. Preserving farmland means saving the freshest, local food, retaining our clean air and water, and safeguarding a cultural heritage in Pennsylvania.

“The Trust is thrilled to be a part of this joint effort to save what we cherish here in Lancaster: the beautiful landscape, farming as a livelihood, and a quiet way of life,” Martynick added. “These special characteristics enrich our own lives as well as the lives of people who visit our county.”

The Strasburg Rail Road was chartered in 1832 as a line to haul freight and passengers from Strasburg to the main line. Known as America’s oldest short-line railroad, Strasburg is a real working railroad. The Rail Road is home to museum quality, working, turn-of-the century steam locomotives, freight cars, dining cars, private cars and one of the largest fleets of historic wooden passenger cars in the world.

To learn more about the Strasburg Rail Road, visit www.Strasburgrailroad.com. To support the Lancaster Farmland Trust visit www.savelancasterfarms.org.