Bomb Threat Closes Strasburg RR For A Day

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Fri Mar 27, 2026 11:57 am

Presented without comment, as I have to leave shortly:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/ ... 8bf2d.html

Quote:

A bomb threat at Strasburg Rail Road in Strasburg Township closed down the popular tourist attraction Friday morning as Pennsylvania State Police responded to the scene.

Police said roadways around the railroad have been shut down but did not specify exact locations. Authorities are asking the public to avoid the area.

State police spokesman James Grothey confirmed the bomb threat Friday but provided no other details.

Strasburg Rail Road posted on Facebook that it will be closed for the day and that customers who booked tickets will be contacted.

“Due to circumstances beyond our control, we will be closed to the public today, Friday, March 27, 2026. If you have booked tickets for today, you will be contacted by our station department,” the post said.

Eric Hoerner, president and board chairman at Strasburg Rail Road did not share what was happening but said state police are not allowing anyone on or off the property. He said there are around 50 employees waiting for police instructions.

Hoerner said nobody has been injured and Strasburg Rail Road anticipates being open this weekend.

Strasburg Borough police did not immediately respond to requests for additional information.

One of Lancaster County's premier tourist attractions, Strasburg Rail Road shuttles visitors through the county's Amish farmscape via historic steam locomotives and daily serves hundreds of tourists.

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3011

Quote:

...state police are not allowing anyone on or off the property. He said there are around 50 employees waiting for police instructions.

Not allowing anyone OFF the property? (State Police, not SRR). Seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen. There is potentially a bomb on site and you don't allow people to leave?

Yes, I get it, they're potential suspects. But putting them in what could be life threatening danger? Seems like a problem.

Randy Musselman · **Posted:** Sat Mar 28, 2026 6:44 am

If I were Grimm, the black SRR backstop cat, the place I would sleep overnight is on the floor of 614’s combustion chamber. Good protection there.

daylight4449 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 01, 2026 12:30 pm

Bob, having been through two situations like this (one at work, another as an elected official), threats like this in my experience have been specific enough so far as where that you know where to not let the people you’re holding congregate. If for some reason it’s unclear? Bomb dogs would secure a spot to keep people. Then you move people to wherever you cleared. If it’s specific? Shelter people in place, but move people away from where a threat is aimed and work from there. As for the suspect part you’re partially right. The other side is a head count to make sure no one’s missing.

Jack Powell · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:12 pm **Posts:** 113

"The people you're holding"? This, in your experience as an elected official? You seem to be making Bobharbison's point for him.

daylight4449 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2026 10:44 am

Jack Powell wrote:

"The people you're holding"? This, in your experience as an elected official? You seem to be making Bobharbison's point for him.

As I understand that, holding is the correct term. It's the term the MSP used both times I had to go through something like this. On the one at work I showed up for the aftermath and had to deal with the stuff outside the office. In that case there was a group of people in the building they kept separate from everyone until someone with the state police said they were all set and allowed to leave. But as an official? I was in that held camp because I just happened to walk in the door when the threat was made to the secretary at the front door.