Gettysburg Railroad (1976-1996)
Encyclopedia
The Gettysburg Railroad was a short-line railroad that operated in Pennsylvania
from 1976 to 1996. The 23.4 mi (37.7 km) line ran from Gettysburg
to Mount Holly Springs
.
The railroad shipped freight for local companies and interchanged with CSX Transportation
at Carlisle Junction in Mount Holly Springs. It also operated a tourist railroad under a subsidiary, Gettysburg Passenger Services.
. The line was later leased to the Reading Railroad and operated as the "Gettysburg Branch." Following the Reading's bankruptcy in 1971, it sold portions of its assets to the new-formed Conrail in 1976, however the Gettysburg branch was not included in the transfer. The branch was acquired by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
, which then sold the line to a new company, the Blairsville & Indiana Railroad, in 1976. The latter company subsequently changed its name to Gettysburg Railroad.
The Gettysburg Railroad was sold to Delaware Valley Railroad Company, a subsidiary of RailAmerica
, in 1996. Delaware Valley created a new operating company, the Gettysburg Railway
.
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...
from 1976 to 1996. The 23.4 mi (37.7 km) line ran from Gettysburg
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
to Mount Holly Springs
Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania
Mount Holly Springs is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,925 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.
The railroad shipped freight for local companies and interchanged with CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
at Carlisle Junction in Mount Holly Springs. It also operated a tourist railroad under a subsidiary, Gettysburg Passenger Services.
History
The railroad was built in the late 19th century and opened in 1891 as the Gettysburg and Harrisburg RailwayGettysburg and Harrisburg Railway
The Gettysburg and Harrisburg Railway was a Pennsylvania line from near Carlisle southward to Gettysburg operated by a of the Reading Company...
. The line was later leased to the Reading Railroad and operated as the "Gettysburg Branch." Following the Reading's bankruptcy in 1971, it sold portions of its assets to the new-formed Conrail in 1976, however the Gettysburg branch was not included in the transfer. The branch was acquired by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation oversees transportation issues in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The administrator of PennDOT is the Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation, currently Barry Schoch Presently, PennDOT supports over of state roads and highways, about 25,000...
, which then sold the line to a new company, the Blairsville & Indiana Railroad, in 1976. The latter company subsequently changed its name to Gettysburg Railroad.
The Gettysburg Railroad was sold to Delaware Valley Railroad Company, a subsidiary of RailAmerica
RailAmerica
RailAmerica, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a holding company of a number of short-line railroads and regional railroads in the United States and Canada....
, in 1996. Delaware Valley created a new operating company, the Gettysburg Railway
Gettysburg Railway
The Gettysburg Railway was a Pennsylvania short-line railroad that operated from 1996 to 2001. The 23.4 mi line ran from Gettysburg to Mount Holly Springs. It was a subsidiary of RailAmerica....
.
See also
- Gettysburg RailroadGettysburg RailroadThe Gettysburg Railroad was a railway line in Pennsylvania that operated from 1858-1870 over the 17 mile main line from the terminus in Gettysburg to the 1849 Hanover Junction...
(1858-1870, Gettysburg to Hanover) - Gettysburg RailwayGettysburg RailwayThe Gettysburg Railway was a Pennsylvania short-line railroad that operated from 1996 to 2001. The 23.4 mi line ran from Gettysburg to Mount Holly Springs. It was a subsidiary of RailAmerica....
(1996-2001) - List of defunct Pennsylvania railroads