Story and Photos by Steve Meyer
Everyone met at the train station in New Freedom, PA. on a beautiful fall day. From there we boarded an “old time” train, powered by a steam loco-motive, bound for Hanover Junction, PA. On board was Abraham Lincoln protected by his presidential guard. We were also accompanied on our journey by a civil war crooner armed with a guitar and banjo and what seemed like an endless supply of patriotic songs! He kept things rockin’ and rollin’!
When we arrived at Hanover Junction we visited the Train Museum, listened to the President’s impassioned speech that he was to deliver the next day at Gettysburg, and examined the steam engine up close.
After about 45 minutes we boarded the train for our one-hour journey back to New Freedom. We had lunch at Paesano’s Italian restaurant. It was a great time enjoying a train ride through the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, learning some Civil War history, and sharing the camaraderie of fellow club members.
