Train Lore Includes Steam Ride
By Mike Shoup
Staten Island Sunday News

The whistle blew and my granddaughter, Carrie, and I climbed aboard our open-air train coach for what was billed as “The Trip to Paradise.”

Paradise, Pa, that is – a village just 4.5 miles east of our departure point on the Strasburg Rail Road, an old freight line rescued from oblivion in the 1960s to become one of Lancaster County’s most popular tourist attractions.

The 45-minute, round trip ride through the Pequea Valley is just long enough to provide a small glimpse of the beautiful Lancaster County countryside, while traveling aboard restored turn-of-the century railroad cars pulled by a steam locomotive.

The trip begins at the 1882 East Strasburg Depot, itself restored and now the center of a small complex that includes the ticket office, gift shop and a restaurant.

For true railroad buffs, the state-run Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is just across the road. Nearby, too, is the National Toy Train Museum, as well as the Choo Choo Barn, a collection of toy trains and miniatures.

As we traveled along, we saw an Amish man mowing alfalfa with a team of six mules, an Amish woman side her tidy white farmhouse, dairy pasture and fields of corn and soybeans. One cornfield has a large maze cut into it, where tourists paid to try their luck at getting through - an enterprise undoubtedly more profitable than just raising and selling the corn.

Our train, even with several brief stops, took all of 20 minutes to arrive in Paradise, where it paused for five minutes to permit another train to pass before heading west again. There was a brief stop at a picnic grove, where riders could get off to picnic and take the next train, or get on again, and before we knew it we were back in East Strasburg.

The trip was perfect for an 8-year-old’s attention span, but I felt a need for something more, so we crossed the road –Carrie reluctantly- to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, where the collection far surpasses the Strasburg Rail Road, with more than 100 locomotives and cars from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The core of this collection came from Pennsylvania Railroad rolling stock that was assembled by the Pennsy for the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. As railroads in America declined after World War II and the Pennsy edged toward bankruptcy, the state of Pennsylvania began acquiring the collection and, between 1972 and 1975, built and opened the current facility. A 1995 expansion doubled the exhibit hall space.

Today the collection contains 19th century wooden coach stock, including an 1855 Cumberland Valley Railroad car, and various steam locomotives, including two full size replicas of 1825 and 1831 locomotives that were built in the Pennsy’s Altoona yards specifically for the 1939 World’s Fair.

By this time, Carrie had had enough. She was anxious to return to the farm bed-and-breakfast where we were staying, to play with their kittens. So that’s what we did.

To read the entire article, please visit Staten Island Sunday News.

Strasburg Turns Its Eyes To Thomas
By Sue Gleiter
The Patriot-News

All aboard. Here comes Thomas the Tank Engine. For the eighth year, the popular storybook character will come to life at the Strasburg Rail Road in Lancaster County.

The railroad’s Day Out With Thomas attracts thousands of visitors who hop on board the steam engine’s cars for 22-minute rides.

This year, the cheeky choo-choo’s smiling face looks even more genuine. His once stationary eyes now move.

“He can look from side to side, and he can get a better view of the kids,” said Linn Moedinger, the railroad’s president and chief mechanical officer.

Strasburg is responsible for overseeing five replica Thomas engines that travel the country appearing at different railroads.

The facelift was part of recent upgrades on the fleet of engines, including the steam engine at Strasburg. Engineers control the eye movements.

I think it will have a long-term effect. When you see the eyes move, it’s pretty cool,” Moedinger said.

Thomas is based on a railway series of books written by the Rev. W. Awdry. The stories were created in 1942 to entertain the reverend’s son, Christopher, who was confined to bed with the measles.

They have spawned an industry of toys, games, DVDs and a television show.

Strasburg introduced the Thomas rides in 1998, and the event includes visits by Sir Topham Hatt along with storytelling, activities and live music.

Parking is available in a satellite lot at The Netherlands Inn & Spa (formally known as The Historic Strasburg Inn), Route 896, Strasburg. Shuttle bus service is provided to and from the inn.

To read the entire article, please visit The Patriot News.

Munching Your Way Through Lancaster County
By Rhonda Cohen
MetroKids Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Dutch culture is distinctive for its religious commitment, a simple style of dress and transportation, wooden handcrafts and a special taste in foods. This last attribute is being celebrated with a Pennsylvania Dutch Country “FlavorFest – a celebration of food so big it lasts all year.” The festival re-acquaints folks with famous Pennsylvania Dutch delicacies and introduces them to gourmet experiences as well as entertaining and educational food experiences for the family.

The 2006 Flavorfest entices visitors to Lancaster County to experience “Foodie Towns” such as Lititz, home of American’s first pretzel bakery, and “Market Towns” with their farmer’s markets, baked goods and local specialties. FlavorFest trails are mapped out and open for traffic, such as the so-called Sweet n’ Salty Trail, the Dairy Trail and the Ale Trail.

Pennsylvania Dutch cooking has a German base since the population is actually descended from German, or “Deutsch” immigrants. The term Pennsylvania “Dutch” actually comes from a mispronunciation of “Deutsch.”

Families will love the Sturgis Pretzel House. It is America’s first pretzel bakery, founded in 1874, and here you will learn how to hand-twist a pretzel. With step-by-step instruction, it’s easy to do and you will never look at a pretzel the same way again. Sturgis sells large bags of pretzels including some unusually-flavored varieties.

The Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau has planned special events throughout the year. Check on www.padutchcountry.com to see current attractions. Many of them are food-oriented, including a Rhubarb Festival. Some “rhubarbian” events include: watching the Rhubarb Derby Car Race where contestants design their own car made from rhubarb stalks, and ogling the King and Queen of Rhubarb at the Rhubarb stroll. These events are held in Intercourse, PA, on Friday May 19th and Saturday, May 20th. The annual Berry Festival takes place on June 16th and 17th. Other fun festivals and events occur throughout the year.

The tradition of preserving the harvest comes into play at Kitchen Kettle Village where you can sample their homemade jams, jellies, sauces and salsas. They have unusual items such as carrot jam and apple butter barbecue sauce. You might try their Peanut Butter Schmier that tastes like a cross between peanut butter and caramel or stick to local favorites like “chow chow,” consisting of chunks of preserved vegetables. At the Village, kids can decorate their own cookie for $1. Also in Intercourse (formerly known as Cross Keys), you can visit the Intercourse Pretzel Factory. Somewhat different from the Lititz factory, their pretzels are lighter to the bite. The owners boast that they use no lard and no preservatives. Here you actually can view the pretzel baking if you arrive on their baking days.

Lancaster County easily can be reached by car from all parts of the Delaware Valley – about an hour and a half from Philadelphia. Having kids in the car for a long time (even with a dvd player) can be daunting. There are plenty of kid-friendly destinations like Dutch Wonderland, an amusement park for the younger set, to break up the trip. The famed Strasburg Railroad is a great attraction. You ride for six miles in antique cars, pulled by a vintage steam locomotive, from the Golden Age of railroading in the late Nineteenth century. If you make reservations in advance, you can ride in the only mahogany dining car still in use. The simple menu features kids’ specials as well as adult food. Finish the meal with a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dessert such as Shoe-Fly pie, made from molasses, sugar and flour. Aside from this dining car, the Strasburg Railroad includes coaches and a parlor car, each having its own distinctive décor. Snacks are served on all cars and there is live commentary onboard about the surroundings and the history of the train. According to Craig Schmid, owner of the train’s food services, the rail trips are geared towards all ages and at night, a magic show, murder mystery and other entertainment take place. Call for more information, prices and times. This is a great way to experience part of Pennsylvania history.

Kreider Farms provides an unusual tour, appropriate for any age, including teens! We were joined in our car by Ruth Morris who describes the activities of this 3500 acre farm. She affectionately refers to the cows as “our girls,” and describes their care and their milking as she rides with you. She takes you to see the Cow Merry-Go-Round which is a high-tech milking carousel. It is fascinating to see their sophisticated operation. The tour ends as you sample one of their 20 flavors of home-made ice cream made with milk from their own dairy. For bio-security reasons, no petting of the animals is allowed.

The climax of the day was a diamond-in-the-rough dinner experience at Dienner’s. This relatively small, family-owned business has been in existence for 12 years. The food is Pennsylvania Dutch and just about everything is made on the premises. Its buffet is affordable for everyone. For many, Dienner’s is a destination; some visitors drive two hours to come here for dinner. There is a waiting line on weekends, but the food and service are worth it. Children under 2 are free and children under 12 pay 60 cents for each year of their age. You pay $1.80 for a three-year-old, for example. The restaurant handles about 1100 diners on weekends and word of mouth is their only advertising.

The Food Festival also encompasses farmers markets, roadside stands, and small bakeries set up around the community. Here, you usually can get terrific bargains on items such as moon pies, apple dumplings and sticky buns. The PA Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau also offers other excursions such as the Chef’s Tour, the Farm to Fork tour and the Chocolate Covered Sundays tour.

Come hungry and prepared to eat some delicious fare.

DIENNER’S COUNTRY RESTAURANT
2855 Lincoln Hwy. East, Ronks, PA 17572
Phone: 717-687-9571
Closed Sundays

KREIDER FARMS
1461 Lancaster Road Manheim, PA 17545
Phone: 717-665-5039
Reservations a must Monday-Saturday 9:30-2:30

LITITZ PRETZEL BAKERY
219 East Main Street in Lititz, PA.
Phone: 717-626-4354
Open 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., Monday through Saturday.
Admission is $2.

INTERCOURSE PRETZEL FACTORY
3614 Old Philadelphia Pike Intercourse, Pa 17534
Phone: 717-768-3432

KITCHEN KETTLE VILLAGE
Route 340 · P. O. Box 380 · Intercourse, PA 17534
Phone: 717-768-8261 or 800-732-3538
Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5pm; Closed Sundays, Christmas Eve(at 4pm) and Christmas Day.

STRASBURG RAIL ROAD
Rte. 741 East of Strasburg, PA
Phone: 717-687-7522
Reservations for the dining car are a must.

To read the entire article, please visit MetroKids Pennsylvania.

Kids Learn About Trains and History
By Diane McCormick
Central Penn Parent

For a bug-eyed bunch of steel, Thomas the Tank Engine sure has a proud lineage.

“If you take the rail system out of the United States, we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are,” said Ryan Smith, a spokesperson for the Day Out With Thomas™ 2006: Come Ride the Rails Tour. “Westward expansion, the Gold Rush— trains may be the single most important invention in American history.”

This month, Day Out with Thomas comes to the Strasburg Railroad, part of a 40-city tour of heritage railroads. Kids meet their favorite train while they see, hear and feel the power of the steam engine era.

“When kids think of trains, they may think of Amtrak,” said Hope Banner, spokesperson for the Strasburg Railroad. “Here, they get to see the train come alive—wheels moving, parts grinding. They hear the whistle and the hissing. They see the magnificent steam. It’s so different from what kids think of with trains today.”

The highlight of the show, of course, is a ride on Thomas himself—actually a steam train fitted to look like Thomas, complete with moving eyes. Kids can get their photo taken with Sir Topham Hatt™ and enjoy temporary tattoos and hands-on crafts at the Thomas and Friends Imagination Station.

But the Strasburg Railroad is rich with history, so there’s a lot more. Kids can ride a miniature steam train, or work a vintage pump car just like the old-time railroaders. They can take short-track rides in an old hay-bail car, operate their own pint-sized carts, or see the giant equipment that once moved trains from track to track.

“It’s a great family event, so you can get outside and get away from today’s technology to see what really was advanced technology in its day,” said Smith.

To read the entire article, please visit Central Penn Parent.