This is a question for someone that lives around the Strasburg railroad. The January trains mag. has a picture of #90 on a new bridge which was built to support the increasing freight traffic. What and how much freight traffic do they have? It has been about years since I was there and they only one or two cars and a team track.
The last I'd read about the Strasburg's increased freight traffic had the level at well over 300 cars per year; that was some time back, and I imagine the traffic level has gone up since then.
Traffic consists of building materials, biofuel, grain and other bulk commodities that might travel in a covered hopper, and machinery. The road has expanded its freight facilities, and those do include a team track--which, on occasion, given Strasburg's territory, may well be used by its original namesake, men with teams of horses!
Steam locomotives are handy to have with the biofuel, providing a source of steam to heat the tank cars in cold weather, allowing the fuel to flow.
http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/machine-shop-freight/
http://lancasteronline.com/business/strasburg-railroad-lands-m-state-grant/article_2bc82ffd-87cb-553d-bb93-80b357305318.html
There are quite a few videos of the steam freights on the Strasburg on YouTube, this is just a sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvQNPVcZAFg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_lFhyZaZR0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KauITgZP5VM
Enjoy!
Thanks for the update.
Are they hauling freight with steam power?
Indeed they do, at least during the tourist season! Sometimes it's been done with a single steam locomotive, sometimes it's been done with the EMD switcher they currently own as a helper, and sometimes it's been done with double-headed steam!
I think it makes sense for them. After all, the engines are hot for the tourist trains, and the two larger locomotives (90 and 475) likely have more "oomph" than that EMD switcher, so why not run steam on freight?
Some of the trains have been quite close to the rated loading limits of the steam locomotives, in which case the engines work hard and loud.
And, if you know where to look for notices, it's possible to make arrangements to ride in the caboose of at least some of these revenue steam movements.
Generally speaking, when the Strasburg runs a freight it is early in the morning, often right around day-break. You probably need to contact them a day or so ahead of time since the freight is not usually an everyday occurance.
It looks like the passenger business has picked up too.
It's good to see Strasburg railroad getting freight service, and getting some money to upgrade their rail service from the state of PA.
I've been to Strasburg several times, it's a small city but has a lot of tourist stuff to see as well. The Pennsy RR museum is right across from them.
Lee F.
A lot of goof places to eat good food
There is also the TCA museum just down the road a little, and the Choo Choo Barn O gauge layout and hobby shop around the corner.
If you like to have a PA buffet head over to East Earl for the Shady Maple, however it is a little pricey.
Lee F.