Hi I will be heading to Hershey Pa this summer and will go to Strasburg I am wondering where the good hobby shops are I would like to get a train car or two
for souviners.Also I will be staying at the Hershey park camp ground and at there web sight they say there is an active RR tracks going thru the camp ground. I am wondering which RR this , and if there is a scheduale of trains going thru . Thanks Dan
There is a really really really good hobby shop next to the choo choo barn(a big O scale layout) it is just down the road a couple hundred feet from the strausburg RR. It is the strausberg train shop. Be sure to stop by the choo choo barn. There is another shopat the strausburg RR but it is not nearly as good as the one by choo choo barn
Go to strasburg website and look for choo choo barn and they have links to site
also in Model railroader is ads for two hobby shops in the area
( towars the back of magazine)
Come around july 4th it will be Reading days
I like the choo choo barn for a lot of my scratchbuilding supplies. However there is a store down the street called A Taste Of Italy, they have a great meatball sub and fries that is worth stopping for. Then accross the street for some good ice cream.
If your interested i’ll send better directions. Bill
BRING LOTS OF $$$$ these are the ultimate candy stores. I drive up from S.C. jsut to bum around and get some GOOD PIZZA!! [:D]
Figure at least TWO days for the Strasburg stuff - the railroad iteslef on which you’ll want to ride, theyhave a hobby shop right thre as well. Then across the street is the Railroad Museum of PA, that is an all-day thing just itself. Up the road is the TCA museum, even if you’re not a big toy train person it’s still interesting to see. Then the Choo Choo Barn.
I’ve been on the Strasburg ride about a dozen time since I was 4 years old. It was that year or the year after that we stayed at the capmground at hershey, and indeed there is a freight line through there (former Reading, I believe), and I can remember runnign down to the tracks from our camper every time I heard a train coming. A shame I was so young and don’t recall the details, but the Reading was still in business then. Also, that year was the last year the tours in Hershey actually went througt he real factory. After that they opened the chocolate World exhibit which is quite interesting but there’s nothing like the actual plant where all the yummy things are made.
–Randy
IF you want to go all out, don’t forget to book a night at the Red Caboose Inn!! You’ll get to stay in actual cabooses.
I definitely like the shop right next to the Choo Choo Barn. If you’ve got a kid into Thomas… there’s a whole shop dedicated to that upstairs.
Also, if you come in late summer (when the corn is nice and tall) stop at the corn maze. It’ll take a couple of hours to go through but definitely fun. They also make a very good grilled corn on the cob there. Lots of activities there. Not just the maze.
http://www.crtraincrew.com/gallery/dan/strasburg/index.html
Pics of my visit to Strasburg RR, a great place to visit Starsburg is and will definatly go back may may times.
If you get the chance to drive further around PA I’d suggest Horseshoe curve and Sandpatch Grade also. Both are excellent railfanning spots to see.
Enjoy
Norfolk Southern operates the former Conrail, originally Reading, line between Harrisburg and Reading PA. This line runs through Hershey. I don’t know if it runs through that camp ground.
We are looking forward to another trip there in the spring. We had a great time and plan on staying at the Red Caboose. Joseph