‘Baskets, Please’ Ticket Taker Is All Ears As Strasburg Rail Road Passengers Get A Visit From The Easter Bunny
By Madelyn Pennino
Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

Thousands of people - a few of them with rabbit ears on top of their heads - descended on the platform of Strasburg Rail Road Easter Sunday to celebrate the holiday with a short train ride through the countryside. Once again, the Easter Bunny was on hand and doling out animal-shaped lollipops to the train’s youngest passengers. Four-year-old Austin Westlehgn of Maine is vacationing in Lancaster County with his parents, Dwight and Vicky Westlehgn, and his 2-year-old sister, Kelsey Rose. Austin said he is fascinated by trains and was thankful for his green lollipop. “This ride is fun,” he said. “It’s good, and green is my favorite color.” Vicky Westlehgn said Austin has been talking about taking a Strasburg train ride for days. “He really wanted to ride the train,” she said. “We just had to do it.” As mid-day temperatures climbed into the 70s, passengers aboard a noon train heading from Strasburg to Paradise said they couldn’t have asked for better weather. Jeff Grablow of New Jersey said he and his family decided to do something special for Easter this year. “This is something different,” Grablow said. “Riding a train makes you feel like a kid again.” His wife, Danielle, said she hopes her children remember their Easter train ride. “That’s why we did it … for the kids,” she said. Their 10-year-old son, Jeffrey, and 4-year-old daughter, Kayla, thought the train ride was neat. “It’s cool,” Jeffrey said. “We get to see a lot of different things and the Easter Bunny too.” Easter weekend has traditionally been a busy time for Strasburg Rail Road, according to train conductor Joe Wells. Wells, of Neffsville, has been a conductor with the railroad for 31 years. The Easter Bunny has visited train riders on Easter since Strasburg Rail Road opened in 1959. “It’s a wonderful time,” Wells said. “(The Easter Bunny) brings joy to people from all over the world. Everyone enjoys themselves.” Wells said about 3,000 people visited the railroad Saturday. The Easter Bunny, dressed in a blue pin-stripped railroad jumpsuit, strolled through various trains throughout the day Sunday, waving to children and handing out sweets. Mrs. McGreggor, a friend of Peter Cottontail, accompanied the Easter Bunny and wished passengers a happy holiday. Hopton and Lystra Campbell of New Jersey are visiting Lancaster County with their 6-year-old son, Mark. Mark was ecstatic about riding the train and soaked in the railroad atmosphere. “I think this is good,” Mark said. “It’s nice and smooth, and the seats are so green and nice.” Mark’s father said the family has visited Lancaster County several times. “It’s quiet and peaceful, and we can do a lot of shopping,” Campbell said.

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