EBT is a great take if you like to explore. That place hangs its shingle as a tourist railroad, but it really should be a museum. The original infrastructure is pretty much all there, although is not in the best of shape. I hope that some day a new owner will take over and give the place the attention it deserves. Until that happens, the Friends of the EBT have done yeoman service to help preserve what's there.
Strasburg is the opposite end of the spectrum. There, you'll see what money can do for preservation. The line is extremely well-run and the equipment is top-notch. Their coaches are pieces of fine furniture and their locos can probably run for another 100 years. They start hostling locos around 9AM and they're fine with people watching it all. Trains run every half hour from 11:00 to 1:30 and then hourly from 2:00 to 5:00. They also run an evening trip at 7:00. During the half-hour schedule, steam meets steam every 30 minutes at Groff's Picnic Grove.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=260549&nseq=155Except for a few hundred yards near Lehman Place, the line is virtually all in open country and is extremely photogenic. Be sure to take the shop tour at 12:00. It's like $20, but is discounted if you ride the train. The shops are impressive, as are the projects underway within. Also, don't miss the RR Museum of PA across the street. A lot of Pennsy history there.
Other RRs to check out down there include:
New Hope and Ivyland....about 1+15 from Strasburg. They also run hourly steam.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=289986&nseq=25Wilmington & Western.....about 1+00 from Strasburg. Check their schedule as steam ops are intermittent.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=238310&nseq=266Wannamaker, Kempton & Southern.....about 1+15 from Strasburg. Weekend steam with a Porter 0-6-0.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=282777&nseq=62Ordinarly, I'd say, "see ya down there" as I usually hit Strasburg in that timeframe. This year however, I'm doing Pete Lerro's Berk Charter in Owosso.
Happy Trails!
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