The Baltimore and Harrisburg Railway was a railroad that operated in Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

 and Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

 in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The 59 miles (95 km) main line ran from Emory Grove, Maryland to Orrtanna, Pennsylvania

Orrtanna, Pennsylvania

Orrtanna is a census-designated place in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 173 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Orrtanna is located at ....

, with a 6 miles (9.7 km) branch from Valley Junction, Pennsylvania (east of Hanover

Hanover, Pennsylvania

Hanover is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, southwest of York and north-northwest of Baltimore, Maryland.The town is situated in a productive agricultural region. The population was 15,289 at the 2010 census. The borough is served by a 717 area code and the Zip Codes of 17331-34...

) to Hanover Junction, Pennsylvania

Hanover Junction, Pennsylvania

Hanover Junction is a small unincorporated community in south-central York County, Pennsylvania, United States, near the borough of Seven Valleys...

; and later extensions to Highfield, Maryland and York, Pennsylvania

York, Pennsylvania

York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...

.

The railroad was formed from a merger of the Hanover Junction, Hanover and Gettysburg Railroad

Hanover Junction, Hanover and Gettysburg Railroad

The Hanover Junction, Hanover and Gettysburg Railroad was a railroad line in Pennsylvania in the 19th century. The 38 mile main line ran from Orrtanna to Hanover Junction where it connected with the Northern Central Railway...

, the Bachman Valley Railroad

Bachman Valley Railroad

The Bachman Valley Railroad was a railroad that operated in Pennsylvania and Maryland in the 19th century. The 13 mile line ran from Valley Junction, Pennsylvania to Ebbvale, Maryland . The railroad was built to transport iron ore to local blast furnaces...

 and the Baltimore and Hanover Railroad

Baltimore and Hanover Railroad

The Baltimore and Hanover Railroad was a railroad that operated in Maryland in the 19th century. The 20 mile main line ran from Emory Grove, Maryland north to the Pennsylvania state line near Black Rock Junction, where it connected with the Bachman Valley Railroad.The B&H was chartered by the...

 in 1886. It was acquired by the Western Maryland Railway

Western Maryland Railway

The Western Maryland Railway was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was primarily a coal hauling and freight railroad, with a small passenger train operation. The WM became part of the Chessie System in 1973 and ceased operating its lines...

 in 1917.

History

The railroad was chartered by the states

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

 and Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

 in 1886. In 1889 the railroad constructed a 15 miles (24 km) western extension of the tracks from Orrtanna to Highfield, Maryland, where it connected with the Western Maryland Railway

Western Maryland Railway

The Western Maryland Railway was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was primarily a coal hauling and freight railroad, with a small passenger train operation. The WM became part of the Chessie System in 1973 and ceased operating its lines...

 (WM). In 1893 it completed a 17 miles (27 km) eastern extension from Porters Sideling, Pennsylvania

Porters Sideling, Pennsylvania

Porters Sideling is an unincorporated community located in Heidelberg Township in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. Porters Sideling is located about a mile southeast off Pennsylvania Route 116 and is about 8 miles away from Codorus State Park....

 (east of Hanover) to York.

At its formation, the company was controlled by the Western Maryland Railway by means of a 99-year lease, and the WM bought the company in 1917. The original Hanover Branch Railroad

Hanover Branch Railroad

The Hanover Branch Railroad Company was a railroad that operated in Pennsylvania in the mid-19th century. The company was incorporated on March 16, 1847 and began operating trains in 1852...

portion of track between Hanover Junction and Valley Junction was abandoned and removed c. 1930.