Well since I'm only a half hour away from Strasburg now I went for a visit this today. Long crowd waiting for tickets! A couple younger boys were saying "this is the best day of my life!" even before they got on the train! 89 and 90 were doing the honors this day. The bookstore is very well stocked... Took the shop tour. 475 in the backshop- being re-lettered for N&W. One side of the tender done, the other side half done. The chassis and boiler shell for the Lyon was right behind the 4-8-0, too bad that proect is at a standstill for now. In the rolling stock bay next door a PRR bobber and a WM passenger car were in the midst of repair/rebuild. Truly amazing work that goes on here. In the enginehouse itself, 31 reposed- to be fired up in a month. A wood shelter coming together for the asbestos abatement of the 1187- looks like that's a go. That will make 2 engines at the SRC burning Anthracite- along with the Cagney. There was a little loop of track on the platform for those kiddy crank cars- quite popular! Then took a ride behind 89, rode the open cars despite the nip in the air. Met the 90 at Cherry Hill, and 2 Amtrak trains passed us at Paradise. After paying my respects to the 4 engines outside the RRMPA (the K4s, the M-1a, the L-?, and in particular the E6) it was time to head down the road. A great day- thanks SRC, RRMPA!

Joshua

Steamtown could learn something from these folks at Strasburg!

Ed K. cp. Laurel Run