(Scroll down for images)
Routes shown:
Amtrak Empire Service (Buffalo, NY – New York, NY) -1st leg of trip
Amtrak Keystone Service (New York, NY – Lancaster, PA) -2nd leg of trip
The Strasburg Railroad (Strasburg, PA) -3rd leg of trip
Amtrak Empire Service (Buffalo, NY – New York, NY):
Amtrak’s Empire Service trains connect Buffalo (Depew), NY with New York City. The trains operate on the route of the former New York Central railroad, which originally inaugurated the Empire Service on December 3, 1967.
Under Amtrak, modern equipment consists of Amfleet coaches & snack cars. Motive power consists of General Electric 4,250 horsepower P42DC diesel locomotives.
The route of Amtrak’s Empire service is a scenic one and runs from Buffalo to Utica, then along the Mohawk river to Schenectady, crossing the Hudson river at Albany, travelling along the beautiful Hudson River Valley past the Catskill mountains, lighthouses, Bannerman Castle, and Storm King State Park on its way to Penn Station in New York City.
Great views, spacious & comfortable seats, free wifi, and cafeteria style food service with tasty meals & snacks are sure to delight on Amtrak’s Empire Service.
Amtrak Keystone Service (New York, NY – Lancaster, PA):
Amtrak’s Keystone Service trains connect New York City with Lancaster, PA, (and in fact run all the way to Harrisburg, PA). The trains operate on a portion of the route of the former Pennsylvania Railroad’s all-pullman ‘Broadway Limited’, inaugurated in 1912 and which ran from New York to Chicago.
Under Amtrak, modern equipment consists of Amfleet coaches. Motive power consists of 7,000 horsepower AEM-7 electric locomotives designed by Asea in Sweden & built under licence in the US by Electro-Motive.
Highlights of the trip include a departure from Manhattan’s impressive Penn Station, with the train passing through Trenton, NJ, and the City of Brotherly Love – Philadelphia, PA – on it’s way to Lancaster in Pennsylvania’s Amish country.
Great views, spacious & comfortable seats and free wifi are sure to delight on Amtrak’s Keystone Service.
There are taxi connections between Lancaster & Strasburg for passengers wishing to connect to the Strasburg Railroad steam train and visit the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania with their expansive collection of locomotives and rolling stock. Also convenient accommodations may be found at the Clarion Inn in Strasburg.
The Strasburg Railroad (Strasburg, PA):
The Strasburg Railroad is a steam-powered tour train that operates from Strasburg, PA to Paradise, PA.
Equipment on the Strasburg Railroad includes coaches, dining & parlor cars. Motive power includes an ex-Norfolk & Western 4-8-0 steam locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1906 with 40,163 lbs of tractive effort.
The route of the Strasburg Railroad is a pretty one with the train departing the station at Strasburg, travelling past a colorful caboose motel, over grade crossings & passing through Amish Farms on a journey to the end of the line at Paradise, PA.
For great food & scenery and the opportunity to ride a steam train year-round through Pennsylvania’s Amish country, ride the Strasburg Railroad in Strasburg, PA.
