Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Model railroad museumOpen daily 10 am to 5 pm; closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
The Choo Choo Barn, Traintown U.S.A., is a 1,700-square-foot model train layout of Lancaster County life that the Groff family has been building since 1945, now home to 17 operating trains and more than 180 hand-built animated figures and vehicles.
- Open since Thanksgiving Day 1961
- 1,700 sq ft layout
- 17 operating trains
- 180+ animated figures and vehicles
- Built by two generations of Groffs
- Strasburg Train Shop for modelers
Choo Choo Barn at a glance
- Hours
- Monday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm; closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
- Admission
- Adults (12+) $12, kids (3 to 11) $8, 2 and under free; 2-day pass $18 and $12; military $10
- Plan for
- At least 1 hour
- Best for
- Families with young kids and model railroaders
- Best ages
- Ages 2 to 10
- Parking
- On-site lot
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address226 Gap Road (Route 741 East), Strasburg, PA 17579(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(717) 687-7911
- Emailinfo@choochoobarn.com
- Websitechoochoobarn.com(opens in a new tab)
Follow Choo Choo Barn
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Choo Choo Barn? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Strasburg.
Rally Takes the Train
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A Christmas train set that outgrew the basement
The Choo Choo Barn began in 1945 in the basement of the Groff home on Franklin Street in Strasburg. George Groff had just come home from World War II and wanted a Christmas present for his two-year-old son, Gary. He found a $12.50 Lionel train set, helped Gary set it up, and kept adding to it. Within a few years the trains had claimed more and more of the basement, and by the 1950s the family was opening their display to neighbors and local school groups at Christmas.
In the early 1960s, with college bills coming, George and his wife Florence saw a chance. A small township maintenance building, really more of a barn, came up for sale on Route 741, just west of the newly reopened Strasburg Rail Road. They moved the trains, scenery and animated figures there, and the Choo Choo Barn opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1961 with 600 square feet of landscape, six trains and six animated figures. George added something new every year, and the children pitched in, from taking tickets to adding their own ideas.
When George and Florence retired in 1979, their youngest son Thomas and his wife Linda became the new owners, builders and operators. In 1983 they opened the Strasburg Train Shop for modelers, built on Tom's belief that detail and originality made the layout special and that other modelers should be able to buy the same pieces. More than 60 years after opening, the display is still growing, one scene at a time.
A whole county in miniature
Inside the barn, a 1,700-square-foot layout fills the room with scenes from Lancaster County and across America. Seventeen operating trains wind through the landscape, and more than 180 hand-built animated figures and vehicles keep things moving. Listings describe fire trucks racing to a blaze and Amish farmers at work, and every corner has small details to find.
The Groffs also run the Strasburg Train Shop, which stocks thousands of items for model railroaders, with a specialty in detail parts and scenery, including the kinds of small, unusual pieces the Groffs use on the layout itself. The family also offers a 360-degree online tour if you want a preview before you go.
Don’t miss
- The animated scenesMore than 180 hand-built animated figures and vehicles bring the layout to life, from emergency crews to farm scenes.
- Seventeen operating trainsTrains run all over the layout at once, so there is always one coming around the bend.
- Lancaster County scenesMuch of the layout is modeled on the farms and towns around Strasburg, a good warm-up before riding the real Strasburg Rail Road.
- The Strasburg Train ShopOpened in 1983 by Tom and Linda Groff, it is known for hard-to-find detail parts, so modelers can buy what they see on the layout.
- The barn itselfA former township maintenance building on Route 741 that has held the layout since Thanksgiving Day 1961.
Little scenes for little eyes
Kids love spotting the moving pieces, and with 17 trains and more than 180 animated figures there is always something happening. The layout is a good size for young children, and the visit is short enough for toddlers, since the barn recommends about an hour. Children 2 and under are free.
Children must stay with an adult at all times in the display. Keep your receipt, because it lets you come back in the same day, which is handy if you are fitting in a ride on the Strasburg Rail Road too.
Plan your visit: tips for Choo Choo Barn
- Arrive by 4 pm: the display shuts down promptly at 5 pm, and the barn recommends at least an hour.
- Keep your receipt for same-day re-admission.
- A yearly pass ($30 adults, $20 kids) pays for itself in about three visits.
- Groups of 15 or more get reduced rates when paying in one transaction; bus tours must reserve.
- Active and retired military pay $10 with ID (member only).
The Groff family, two generations on
The Choo Choo Barn is a family business, started by George and Florence Groff and run since 1979 by their son Tom and his wife Linda, who build, operate and keep adding to the layout. The best ways to support it are to visit, buy a yearly pass, bring a group, or shop at the Strasburg Train Shop for your own layout.
Strasburg's train neighbors
The Strasburg Rail Road is right down Route 741, and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is just across the road from it. The National Toy Train Museum is about a mile away. Browse our list of Pennsylvania train museums to plan a longer trip.
- Strasburg Rail RoadStrasburg, PA · same town
- Railroad Museum of PennsylvaniaStrasburg, PA · same town
- National Toy Train MuseumStrasburg, PA · about 1 mi
- Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage VillageMuddy Creek Forks, PA · about 20 mi
- Stewartstown RailroadStewartstown, PA · about 28 mi
- Marshall Steam Museum at Auburn HeightsYorklyn, DE · about 28 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
The whole Choo Choo Barn grew from one little Lionel set a dad bought his two-year-old for Christmas. That reminds me of Rally packing his favorite toys for his trip in our book: his turtle, his green bone and his yellow ball. The things we love when we are small can carry us a long way. You can read why our book matters so much to us on our story page.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Pennsylvania: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Pennsylvania
- Halloween train rides in Pennsylvania
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Choo Choo Barn?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Choo Choo Barn official website(opens in a new tab)
- Choo Choo Barn on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Choo Choo Barn on YouTube(opens in a new tab)
- Choo Choo Barn on X(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Choo Choo Barn: 20 questions families ask
Where is the Choo Choo Barn in Lancaster County?
The Choo Choo Barn is at 226 Gap Road on Route 741 East, Strasburg, PA 17579, just east of Strasburg in Lancaster County. It sits a short way west of the Strasburg Rail Road station. Search for Choo Choo Barn or the Gap Road address in your GPS, and see the Directions page on choochoobarn.com.
What are the Choo Choo Barn hours?
As of October 2026, the Choo Choo Barn is open Monday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. It is closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The display shuts down promptly at 5 pm, so arrive with at least an hour to spare.
Is the Choo Choo Barn open today?
Most likely, since it is open every day of the week from 10 am to 5 pm. The only scheduled closures are Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. For weather or any surprise changes, call (717) 687-7911 or check the barn's Facebook page before you drive over.
How much are Choo Choo Barn tickets?
As of October 2026, standard admission is $12 for adults 12 and up and $8 for kids 3 to 11. Children 2 and under are free. A 2-day pass for consecutive days is $18 for adults and $12 for kids, and tickets can be bought online through the Buy Tickets button.
Are there Choo Choo Barn discounts or coupons?
The barn posts several ways to save, though no public coupon codes. As of October 2026, groups of 15 or more pay $10.50 for adults and $6.50 for kids, active and retired military pay $10 with ID, and a yearly pass is $30 for adults and $20 for kids. Sign up for the newsletter for promotions.
Is a Choo Choo Barn yearly pass worth it?
If you live nearby or visit Strasburg often, probably. The barn says its yearly pass pays for itself in about three visits, at $30 for adults and $20 for kids as of October 2026. Since the layout changes and grows over time, repeat visits can show you new scenes.
How long should I spend at the Choo Choo Barn?
The Choo Choo Barn recommends leaving at least one hour to enjoy the display. Families with kids who like to find every detail may stay a bit longer. Keep your receipt and you can come back the same day, so it is easy to pair with a train ride nearby.
How big is the Choo Choo Barn layout?
The layout covers about 1,700 square feet, with 17 operating trains and more than 180 hand-built animated figures and vehicles, according to the Choo Choo Barn. Some listings give slightly higher counts. When it opened in 1961, it had 600 square feet, six trains and six animated figures.
What is the Strasburg Train Shop at the Choo Choo Barn?
The Strasburg Train Shop is the Groff family's model train hobby store, opened in 1983 by Tom and Linda Groff. It carries thousands of items, specializing in detail parts and scenery, and is known for hard-to-find small pieces like the ones used on the Choo Choo Barn layout. Call (717) 687-7911 with questions.
Does the Choo Choo Barn have a gift shop or store?
Yes. The family added a gift shop to the front of the building early on, and today the Strasburg Train Shop offers thousands of model railroad items for beginners and experienced builders alike. Ask at the counter if you are looking for something special for a young train fan.
Does the Choo Choo Barn do a Christmas display?
The Choo Choo Barn's roots are in Christmas: it started with a Christmas train set in 1945, the Groffs opened their basement display to the town at Christmas in the 1950s, and the barn first opened on Thanksgiving Day 1961. It is open through the holiday season except Christmas Day. Call (717) 687-7911 to ask about seasonal touches.
Who built the Choo Choo Barn?
George Groff started it in 1945 with a $12.50 Lionel set for his son Gary, and he and his wife Florence opened the Choo Choo Barn in 1961. Since 1979 their youngest son Thomas and his wife Linda have owned, built and run it, adding new scenes over the years.
Is the Choo Choo Barn good for toddlers?
Yes. Kids 2 and under get in free, a visit takes about an hour, and with 17 trains and more than 180 moving figures there is always something to point at. Children must stay with an adult at all times in the display. The Strasburg Rail Road nearby makes a nice next stop.
Does the Choo Choo Barn take groups and bus tours?
Yes. Groups of 15 or more get reduced rates when paying in one transaction, and reservations are recommended. Bus tours must reserve ahead and can ask for special rates. The barn can also open outside normal hours for a group, with a $25 surcharge. Email info@choochoobarn.com to book.
Is there a Choo Choo Barn video or VHS?
The Choo Choo Barn has a Videos page on its website and a YouTube channel, and it offers a 360-degree online tour of the layout. The website does not mention a VHS tape for sale today. Call (717) 687-7911 or ask in the shop if you are looking for an older video.
What is the Choo Choo Barn boxcar?
The Choo Choo Barn website does not describe a boxcar. It may be a souvenir model or a collectible car tied to the layout. Ask at the Strasburg Train Shop or call (717) 687-7911, since the shop is the best place to find Choo Choo Barn items.
What is a chugga choo choo?
Chugga chugga choo choo is the playful way many kids say the sound a train makes. You will hear plenty of train sounds at the Choo Choo Barn, where 17 model trains run at once, and at the real Strasburg Rail Road just down the road.
Why is it called the Choo Choo Barn?
George Groff gave the display that name when he moved his family's basement trains into a small former township maintenance building, more like a barn, on Route 741 in the early 1960s. The barn opened on Thanksgiving Day 1961, and it still calls itself Traintown U.S.A.
Can I see the Choo Choo Barn before I visit?
Yes. The website offers a 360-degree tour that gives a good idea of what to expect, and the Videos page and YouTube channel show the trains and animated scenes in action. For the full effect, plan to see it in person for about an hour.
What else is near the Choo Choo Barn?
The Strasburg Rail Road and Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania are both right along Route 741, and the National Toy Train Museum is about a mile away. The barn also points visitors to the Red Caboose Motel. Farther out, the Ma and Pa Railroad Heritage Village is about 20 miles away.
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