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Red Caboose Motel entrance taken from the Strasburg Railroad in 2004.

After the previous post from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, the next part of my Railroad vacation was bringing me back to a place I had visited back in the summer of 2004. It  was a family trip back then to the southern part of Pennsylvannia, that trip including a day in Strasburg and Gettysburg, PA. That trip the family and myself were staying in York, PA, which had made travelling to each of these areas easier. Gettysburg was to the West and Strasburg was to the East. It was on the trip to the East in Strasburg that I had the chance to experince the “Amish Country, ” which is a very peaceful place to visit for sure. Strasburg, PA is also where I decided to make a mini vacation and visit once again. So thinking back on that trip to 2004 is where I got the inspiration for the full day I had planned in Strasburg/ Ronks, PA. I wanted to recreate the day I had with family for memory purposes, and that was the plan, but the only challenge was that I needed a place to stay!

I will be the first to admit that I am a shutterbug and in this case I am so glad that I am, looking back in to the photos that were taken back in 2004, I had stumbled across a photo I took of the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant, which is the first picture posted with this post (Just up above).

Picture of the Red Caboose Motel taken in 2017

Seeing that photo in the photo library I was sold and that is where the real inspiration behind my railroad trip was, to look at the trains from the days past, ride on a real live running steam train and stay in a CABOOSE! I remember when I had seen the hotel the first time from the Strasburg Railroad that it was a neat place back then but now I was gonna stay there!One has to love the modern age of the internet, I happen to plug the name into Google and discovered that there is a website to book a stay at the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant. On the website I saw the many different ways that the Cabooses were set up, like hotel rooms, and it seems they can accommodate different party sizes. If a party size goes over, just add another Caboose!

I had decided that I was going to stay for 2 nights, I wanted the opportunity to really experince the area and relive some memories, and of course make a few new memories! At the time that I had booked this for myself I decided on a “couples caboose”, which came with a full size bed, full bathroom, TV and Air Conditioning, and a fridge. These are the Caboose accommodations from the website.

The plan for the stay was after visiting the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, drive up to Lancaster County, PA (Strasburg area) on a Sunday Evening to check out the area and prep to spend all day Monday between the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvannia and the Strasburg Railroad. So that was the plan and it was becoming a reality!

Upon my arrival at the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant, it was like it was 2004 all over again. It appeared that the area has changed somewhat, however it was still the lush green area of Amish Country that I remember seeing. Funny how quickly a memory can come back to you! However it was one of those picture perfect evenings setting up and considering the day I had just experinced in Baltimore, I was just downright content.

View of the Casey Jones Restaurant car

I had parked the truck I was driving and walked up the on the porch to find that there is a player piano there playing some “Old West” tunes. On the left hand side of the check-in building, which is an attached passenger car,  there is a Restaurant called “Casey Jones” and to the right side of the check-in, there is another passenger car that is an ice cream parlor. However it is all one building. Upon entering the check-in area there is a small snack area and behind the check-in area there is a gift shop.

The Caboose I stayed in

I was greeted by Christine who happened to be running the front desk and the gift shop area. The check in process was very simple, since I had taken the liberty of booking online, I just had to present the method of payment and I was good to go. Christine gave me a map of the property, and to be honest I didn’t think it was that big, but there was more there that what meets the eye. She had pointed out to me what Caboose I was in, I was in #2, basically right behind the check in building. She told me all I had to do was drive up and park in front of the Caboose!

My first impression as I parked in front of the Caboose I was staying was it was gonna be cool that I had a Caboose all to myself! So I grabbed my key and went to enter the Caboose, walking into it I was literrally floored at how nice looking all the wood paneling was and the room that there was in the Caboose. I am sure if there were more than two people in the room it would be cramped, but it was just me and I was AOK with what I saw. In the room I was greeted by a wall table on the left with a refrigerator underneath. On the right of the doorway was a table with two chairs. In the room there was also a full size bed, and a 3 piece bathroom, Toilet, sink and shower. I took a stand in the shower and it was a bit tight, but doable. I was content, staying in a Caboose was defiantely a great idea for a railroad vacation! I decided to unload my things from the vehicle, grab my camera and head back up to the check in area. Christine had told me that there were 3 more trips that the Strasburg Railroad would make for the evening. Oh that’s right I didn’t mention that the train goes right in front of the motel, which makes for great rail fanning.

Here are a few views of the interior of the “Couples Caboose”:

So the Train had returned to the station just down the tracks from the motel, which gave me about 90 min or so to walk aroud and check out the layout of the motel. Christine had told me about the “silo” that was converted into an observation lookout. I thought it would be a good place to check out and over look the surrounding area. At the entrance to the silo, they did have a “gratuity” bucket, and at the time .50 wasn’t a bad price to pay to go up and take a look. Here are the pictures of what I saw on this wonderful evening. The area is VERY beautiful for sure! I have also included a video in a playlist towards the end of the post.

After spending a few minutes in the top of the silo taking the view in, the grumble started in my stomach. It had been such a busy day that I totally forgot to think about something to eat. I decided it was time to head back to the Caboose, jump in the shower and get cleaned up for dinner. On the way back to my Caboose I decided to check out the other Cabooses that were on the property. It was interesting to see all the different road names from the different Railroads that were there. Here’s look at that view on the way back to my Caboose:

There is a small Inn for those who would prefer a building.

Also on the way back to my Caboose I discovered that there are more than Cabooses to stay in, there is also an Inn, a railroad car that is used for movies, and a model Caboose to check out for interested parties. However, before dinner there was one last train for the evening, the 7 PM train. I decided that I would have to hold out for dinner, I had brought a light snack for the time being. The train departs the Strasburg Train Depot and crosses by the motel about 5 min after departure. The train then returns about 35-40 min after the hour for the return to Strasburg Train Depot.

The clock struck 7 PM and I was already on the fence line watching the billowing smoke coming from the steam engine down at the Strasburg Train Station. The whistle had blown and the Strasburg Railroad was heading towards Paradise, PA (right past me at the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant). I was excited. In life there are many pretty view, but there is something about a steam engine chugging its way along the rails of steel that is awe inspiring! Truly majestic in my opinion!

There is smoke in the distance, the train is coming!

The train passed and it was on it’s way to Paradise, PA, I had a good 30 min before the train return on the last trip of the day. I thought it was a good time to check out the gift shop. I’m glad I did, inside the gift shop there is a little G-Scale model train! Not to mention a littel preview of the Casey Jones Restaurant and the ice cream car. There is so much Railroad memorabilia around me. Just down right loved it! Checking the time it was jsut about 7:30 PM, time to head back track side to catch the train return!

WOW what a day so far! I had visited the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, travelled, to Lancaster County, PA, checked out the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant, AND had the chance to “rail fan” the Strasburg Railroad passing by the motel. Now that is a day, and now I was HUNGRY! So what was for dinner? It was finally time to head to the Casey Jones Restaurant and see what was on the menu! I mean I was on vacation, why not treat myself!

I decided on a house salad and meatloaf! Which from the description on the menu made it sound elish – “Ma’s Meatloaf” Just like Grandma used to make! Handmade meatloaf comes with smashed potatoes, gravy and vegetable of the day. A family style dinner was just what I thought would work, and it did! Now with a fully tummy of food it was time to head back to the caboose and reflect on the day that had transpired. Why? Because when it was time to wake up it was gonna be a very busy day, the next day! And why so busy? Well there was another Railroad Museum and a Railroad to see! As I mentioned before they will be the next posts to be written.

After dinner it was time to get settled in to the Caboose and call it day. Time to update social media on the day’s events. When morning would be upon me it would be a day to remember. All I can remember after turning in was falling asleep  with the phone in my hand.

To conclude the first night at the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant here is a playlist of the videos I took while there. Some pretty country and view if I do say so myself:

The next day:

Morning had come and it was about 7:30 in the morning, I remember reading that the restaurant at the motel opened at 8 am. I had a few min to wake up a little and get freshened up for the day. It was back to Casey Jones restaurant for breakfast. Believe it or not I was a tad hungry  and ready for some grub. Looking at the menu I had decided on “the Maine Central” which composed of stuffed french toast with blueberries or strawberries and cream cheese, served with warm maple syrup choice of meat and homefries and of course a lot of coffee. Here is what breakfast looked like:

After breakfast it was off to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and the Strasburg Railroad for the day (Those posts of the visit to each will be posted in the order in which they happened)

Due to the scope of how the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant fit into the trip I am going to condense the entire stay at the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant, it may seem a little out of order but there is a jump from breakfast to dinner, which is what happened next.

The day had concluded, the sun had already set as my visit to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvannia and the Strasburg Railroad had concluded. I can tell you that it was truly a remarkable day (and when the post is written you will see for yourself there WebTraveller) It was time for some dinner and it was back to Casey Jones Restaurant to treat myself to something special to commemorate the day. For the last night I decided on a house salad and Pot Roast – Tender pot roast with roasted baby carrots, plum tomatoes and mushrooms in a Marchand de vin sauce, served with smashed potatoes and strawberry cheesecake and coffee for dessert Here is a look at what that looked like:

After dinner I will admit I was pretty tired, it had been a grand day, but not just this day, but the entire trip to this point, in the morning I would have to start a return road trip back to Virginia which will in essence close out my trip to the Amish Country, a little peace, serenity and tranquility. I dont’ think I can truly find the words to express how I felt. A dear friend of mine had made the remark of how “content and peaceful” I looked. For now I will go with that.

I can honestly say that I truly enjoyed my stay at the Red Caboose Motel and Restuarant. The property is under newer management and to be honest I think they are doing a grand job. To be a lover of Trains and Railroads, to be able to spend time in a Caboose and wonder what “life” the Caboose had on the railroad made me wonder. I will say this though. I will return there for sure. I think by far this was one of the best vacations I could have cooked up for myself, but for those who are close to me and follow me on many platforms, I know this is one stay they were all shocked about.

Selfie with crew member Christine

Selfie with crew member Uncle Wayne

Before I end this post and begin writing the next one, there are two people that I would like to thank for making my stay a grand one. The first is Christine from the front desk. This woman has a lot of things to take care of and was able to do it and still keep a fresh smile on her face. I did have ONE challenge with my door getting into the caboose, the key had broken off in the lock and there was a slight delay getting into it. I had gone to Christine at the front desk and showed her what happened, she was on the radio right away calling maintenance to drop by and see what was up with the lock. That brings me to the second person I would like to thank for adding more to my stay and that was crew member and that would be “Uncle Wayne” as his name tag read. After taking care of the lock situation on the we had gotten to talking about trains and railroads, and even stumbled upon a conversation of a common place we had worked. Now talk about a small world! Christine and Uncle Wayne, Thank you oh so much for the time we spent together and I will be back one day, both of you truly adding meaning to staying at the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant. Not to mention I loved both of their outfits! The Conductor and the Engineer! Which reminds me, I need to find a pair of those overalls to go with my Engineer’s hat!

This concludes the post on the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant, now to start the other two posts!

Until the next post WebTraveller ….

This post I am gonna share my experience with you on my first visit to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD. I have always had a love of railroads and trains, steam engines more specifically, I had recently heard about this museum through a couple of venues, the latest would be the museums YouTube page, The Museum’s web link is here. The Museum’s YouTube channel really gave me a lot of insight to the history of the museum and a lot of handy information to plan my trip.

Waiting in line to head into the B&O Railroad Museum

Engine #1 – American Freedom Train

I arrived at the museum approximately 30 minutes before the main area had opened to the public. I decided to stop for a coffee before hand and let the excitement build for the days adventures. Driving into the parking lot it was nice to see some railroad rolling stock and a bunch of engines that had once been used by the railroads themselves. The one engine that had caught my attention was engine number 1, she’s a steam engine and had a banner on her entitled “American Freedom Train.”

From what I had read about this engine was that she was used to pull a train on the eastern side of the United States in 1976 when it was the Bicentennial for this great country of ours. The other engine (which is one of my personal favorite is Southern Pacific engine #4449, also known as the “Daylight, ” which had been touted as the “most beautiful train in the world, ” when Southern Pacific had commisioned the engines and the passenger cars were built), #4449 was used to pull a train on the western side of the United States in 1976. Seeing this beautiful engine sitting in the parking lot on display made me think what it was like back in the days of when the railroads were really the only way to get around anywhere relatively quickly. The fact that I was looking at a piece of history with my own eyes brought a humbling feeling over me.

One of the main reasons I wanted to visit the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum was because of it’s history. The railroad is the first commissioned railroad in the United States. The site where the museum is located was once part of the work shops of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, a true nostalgic piece of history for sure and for this day,  I was proud and very happy to be a part of it. Here is a gallery of pictures from the pieces of railroad cars that I had the pleasure walk around and view prior to entering the museum itself:

Selfie with Volunteer Wayne at B&O Railroad Museum

It was just about 11 am (I had visited the museum on a Sunday), it was time to get in line and see what nostaligic history there was inside the doors of the museum. I had purchased my admission fee and had opted to take a ride on the “Mile One Express” (which I will explain in detail as it came up through out the day, and yes it is a railroad museum, why not have a train ride!). With admission ticket in hand, I turned to my left and I was greeted by Volunteer Wayne , who had asked me if this was my first visit to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, I told him that it was. He had asked if it was alright to get me started on a a good foot at the museum. How could I resist. We had passed through two sets of double doors and we were standing in the main roundhouse area where there was a lot of nostalgic history just sitting there waiting to be viewed and explored. We had started the tour of the roundhouse area by heading to the left …

The roundhouse building was originally used for  passenger cars that needed to be serviced while in use on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, it wasn’t intended for service of steam engines as I had learned from talking with volunteer Wayne. While walking to the left of the entrance to the roundhouse museum area, it is set up in a timeline of early railroading, I was not aware that the first railroad was actually drawn by the use of a horse! Volunteer Wayne had pointed out on the next exhibit, which is a series of like stage coach cars placed together in a train fashion,  that the carriages that been used where using leather straps as springs which I had not really thought of, but cool facts to know for sure.

Volunteer Wayne allowed me to stand on the cow catcher for this photo op

I have to say that Volunteer Wayne had spent a good 20 min with me and pointed out lots of great tidbits of information that any railroad fan would enjoy (I am purposely not giving away all the tidbits either, I have to leave something for others to enjoy in person). I would like to take a moment here and just say that Volunteer Wayne really made my visit an awesome experience. Thank You so much Wayne, you really left me speechless and made me feel very welcomed to the museum. Wayne had offered to let me stand on one of the cow catchers of one of the steam engines to take my picture.

Here is a gallery of some of the Roundhouse section of the museum I had the pleasure of admiring:

As I was concluding my tour with Wayne I had one last question for him and that was about the turntable. Now a turntable is what the railroads used to spin railroad rolling stock around and move it to a side spur in the roundhouse (one reason why it is called that). The turntable sits in the middle of the round house, now it is all shining for the purposes of the museum, but the understructure is that of a bridge. The railroad was clever in the way they built this one, once loaded, if the turntable is perfectly balanced, with the weight of what if placed on it, the table essentially “floats”.  There is a cut out in the floor of the turntable that one person can rotate whatever is on it. On the day of my visit, this wasn’t part of the adgenda, but I thought that was a cool fact. Check out the gallery of the turntable itself:

So much had been learned in a very short period of time, I decided to head outside to do some exploring and I discovered there is a snack bar that served pizza, hotdogs and chicken tenders to name a few. Who knew that learning could work up an appetite (not to mention all the pictures that I had snapped!). It was time to fuel up because in approximately 25 min I was to report to “Platform #2,” and what was waiting there?

After finishing up my chicken tenders, I was to be at “Platform #2” which appeared to part of the original Baltimore and Ohio Railroad passenger loading platform from days gone by. At “Platform #2” there was a passenger train the museum labels “Mile One Express,” why do they do that, well this particular passenger train travels the very first mile of track laid in the United States heading west out of the museum yard. I was fortunate that a friend had shown up to spend part of the day with me and we were heading to the platform to get in line with the other museum visitors to board the “Mile One Express.” The line proceeded to the entrance of a passenger car, the conductor was there to check everyone’s ticket boarding the train. Upon entering the passenger car I had stumbled acrossed Volunteer Wayne from earlier, I had asked him which direction that we were allowed to go, Volunteer Wayne said, “well, you two are to exit the car, turn right and head up to the engine, tell the engineer that Wayne sent you” My jaw dropped! That is precisely what we did, upon exiting the car, the engineer was waiting with the conductor as the line boarded. I told the engineer what our instructions were and to the engine with the engineer my friend and I went! (And the one time I forgot my engineers hat!)

Selfie with James the Engineer on the “Mile One Express”

There’s a interesting feeling climbing off the engine on the “Mile One Express”

We had gotten ourselves situated in the cab and I had the chance to speak with the engineer, who’s name was James.  Brief story about him, he had work for CSX Railroad for 28 years and volunteers at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum to drive the “Mile One Express.” He also mentioned to me his family is a railroad family. What a treat this was going to be. I know I personally had never ridden in the cab of an engine. The bell started to ring, the horn was blown and James the engineer pulled a lever or two the we started rolling backwards away from the station! What a treat indeed to be sitting up in the engine for a train ride. It is a whole different experience. The trip on the “Mile One Express” is approximately 20 min or so, the train is a slow moving one and I can tell you there is a lot to see, feel free to check out the videos here of some of the train ride! (There is a playlist included close to the end of the post).

I have to say that riding in the cab of the engine defineatly makes for a whole different train riding experience, of course to be able to toot the horn would be awesome as well! I would like to take a moment to thank engineer James for a pleasant and safe trip!

The train ride had concluded and there was still more museum to see! Just after grabbing a snack of chicken tenders earlier, I made a mental note of the garden railway layout. It seemed to have a few different loops associated with it, but none the less it was a layout and why not stop, take a bunch of pictures and a walk around video. Here are a few views of the garden layout (the walkaround video is included in the video playlist close to the end of the post)

Quite a nice garden layout if I do say so myself, but it was time to head onto the next stop which was the Passenger Car Facility. It was just a short walk from the garden railroad and  passenger platform of the “Mile One Express”. Once inside the sights to behold, a lot of steam engines from days gone by, however, the engine I really wanted to see was “the Allegheny, ” Volunteer Wayne had told me about this engine. It was a few rows back and tucked away, but the sheer size of the engine and tender alone was a sight to behold! The engine and tender had to be 75-80% of the length of the building that it was being housed in, the wheels were about as tall as I am which is about 6′ 2″.  However reaching the top of the boiler on the steam engine I believe it is approximately 20 feet in height (don’t quote me on that) looking at this super engine was a sight to marvel at. I remember what Volunteer Wayne had mentioned to me that the engine was once used to pull a passenger train through the Allegheny Mountains (it was normally used to pull freight), at 60 MPH it consumed approximately 3000 gallons of water per mile, THAT is a lot of water! The tender held 25,000 gallons of water (I could stand to be corrected, when Volunteer Wayne was telling me I was in sheer awe of all the history of the Museum, shops , and the engines that I was looking at, so much information to absorb).

Here is a gallery of the pictures I had taken near “The Allegheny” steam engine. Sheer size for sure!

The next stop on the tour of the museum was another type of passenger platform that had some exhibits of the use of military cars during war time. Due to the fact I have memebers of my own family that have served this great country of ours, I found it only right to stop and pay homage and a few moments of silence to “Thank” those who have served, I am sure that if the walls could talk the stories that would be revealed. The military cars that were on display, one could walk in and see how the soldiers had to travel by train to their destinations, a little tight on the sleeping quarters. Here are a few pictures from the military cars:

After paying homage to the Military cars the next stop was to a preview I had seen on the Museums’s YouTube page and that was the “china” car. The “china” car was a display of the Baltimore and Ohio’s flatware and silverware collection that was used on the railroad when food was being served on the train. The collection of china was very detailed on the scenery painted onto the cups, plates and bowls. Very impressive! I can only imagine what it would have been like to work on the railroad back in those days. There is a great story on the railroad museum’s YouTube channel that tells that story much better than I can.

Here is a look at the China Collection:

The final stop on the Museum tour was that of a model railroad that was held in a passenger car. Definately a neat idea to house a model railroad in a once used passenger car! I better start saving my pennies.

Here is a gallery of the pics of the model railroad and a video is included just a little further down:

Here is a short video list of the happenings from the day and the visit to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum.

WOW! What a day this was visting the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum. The amount of history that I had the chance to experience of what life was like back in those early days of the United States, this is one museum I will be proud to return to and see again for sure in the future. Believe it or not there are a few things that I did not mention, but the day was a fun fact filled day. However to close out this visit and prepare for the next stop on my railroad adventure, it was time to give my friend that was with me a huge hug (you know who you are), and head out for the next stop, which was about two hours away.

To where is this next stop you wonder, well, if you, the WebTraveller, have been following along from the Amtrak post previous to this post, you will know that the next stop will be in Lancaster County, Pa. The Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant would be my next post to write about and the next day’s journeys, to be written in posts by themselves.

Until next time WebTraveller, the journey will continue shortly, thanks for reading and feel free to share this post with the world, thats why it is being written from my experience to you.

I always wanted to own a caboose, but this is a great shot