A brief history and current disposition of the stewartstown railroad, a short line located in pennsylvania which has been in existence since 1884. The expansion of the excursion programs required this new 1990 edition to describe all the new routes followed by the trains, including stewartstown to new freedom and new freedom to hyde. Glenn bittner obituary stewartstown, pa york daily record. The railroad recently placed new timbers on a large bridge over a rural road, and over the summer, the volunteer track crew will continue replacing ties as they strive to extend the passable trackage beyond the bridge. Stewartstown railroad pennsylvania civil war trails. Stewartstown historical society family history and. For more information, contact the historical society at 7179935003, or go to our website. The historical preservation group friends of the stewartstown railroad began a letterwriting campaign in hopes of convincing the society to hold off on collecting the money until the railroad is back on its feet. Welcome to the next generation facebook page for the stewartstown railroad company. Mar 22, 2018 lancaster county caboose motel shares honor with ultimate nick jonas tour bus. The stewartstown railroad and its affiliated friends organization have been restoring track and equipment for several years. Come take a ride on the stewartstown railroad during the 2016 stockholders special run. The yearold stewartstown railroad operates under its original corporate charter and its original line is intact.
Since everyones tax situation is unique, we encourage. Aug, 20 the stewartstown railroad, located in stewartstown, pa south of york and harrisburg is a small short line that runs between its namesake town and new freedom, pa home of the current steam into. A pictorial history of the changing faces of our town kathryn b. As with this and other history books about pennsylvania rr affiliates, the information after the prr absorption in 1914 is somewhat lacking, but still wellresearched and informative. An earlier edition of this pamphlet was issued in 1985 in observance of the 100th anniversary of the stewartstown railroad. Stewartstown railroad in jeopardy from historical society. Stewartstown railroad bridge, stewartstown railroad. The central susquehanna river valley has a rich railroad history which has helped build many communities and create thousands of jobs and industries in our area. This 1914 depot is still used by the railroad, and the interior is as it was during the steam era.
The stewartstown railroad is a heritage railroad that operates in stewartstown, pennsylvania. Susquehanna river valley railroads history book pediment. Chartered in 1884 by local interests in the stewartstown area, and. Starting on sunday, july 9th, they will offer a reduced price combination. Apr 16, 2017 today on easter day april 15th 2017 i decided to visit the stewartstown railroad here and stewartstown pennsylvania the railroad is rather small i just wanted to give you guys a little tour on the. Stewartstown railroad to hold work session trains magazine. Batterdale books buys and sells secondhand books on british and overseas railways, canals, trams and buses, and industrial history.
Stewartstown railroad is a short line railroad in south central pennsylvania which is housed in an old railroad station. Friends of the stewartstown railroad posts facebook. Stewartstown historical society family history and genealogy. The story of the stewartstown railroad bickleman, eric j on. We visited on national train day and took a motorcar ride. The stewartstown railroad is a tourist railroad in stewartstown, pennsylvania. Mar 18, 2020 cries out the conductor as the stewartstown railroad pulls out of the station on authentic 1920s era passenger coaches. Stewartstown station stewartstown railroad this is the stewartstown station. Today on easter day april 15th 2017 i decided to visit the stewartstown railroad here and stewartstown pennsylvania the railroad is rather small i just wanted to give you guys a little tour on the. Donations to the friends in excess of annual membership dues are taxdeductible for most people. Photo, print, drawing stewartstown railroad bridge, stewartstown railroad, spanning valley road, stewartstown, york county, pa enlarge view 15 images in sequence. If you look at the usgs map at the bottom of the page. A very good overview history of the northern central. In 2014, they will be offering motorcar rides on select sundays.
There are displays in the station and some railroad equipment on display outside the station. Jordan stewartstown historical society, 2001 stewartstown pa. It was used as both a freight and passenger station. The stewartstown railroad, chartered in 1884, is one of the oldest, continuously running commoncarrier railroad companies in existence, providing freight and passenger service to southern york county, pennsylvania, since 1885. Friends of the stewartstown railroad inc guidestar profile. Bhi publications publishes railroad photo books intended for use by manufacturers and modelers. Unfortunately, the decline in manufacturingas well as hurricane agnes in 1972sent the railway into decline, ultimately causing it to lose its place in the greater economy. The stewartstown railroad experienced an accident in 1923, the worst in its history dating back to 1885.
This list compiles occupation and service lists as found in other sources, with the goal of being able to search and crossreference the names to see all the places where one person served. Stewartstown railroad bridge, stewartstown railroad, spanning. An intimate experience with a real piece of area history. The friends is an independent nonprofit 501c3 membership organization founded. Main street, stewartstown pa a free will offering will be taken to support the historical society. There is a separate not for profit friends of the stewartstown railroad which helps preserve the history of the railroad. This is worth visiting, a rural railroad that has not gone. Shrewsbury railroad station, stewartstown railroad is a historic railroad station located at shrewsbury, york county, pennsylvania. The daily item is pleased to present susquehanna river valley railroads, a hardcover pictorial book that captures the history of the central susquehanna river valley. Small layout design helpchallenge model railroad hobbyist.
Its listed as a top roadside attraction, as is the nick jonas. Check out the stewartstown railroad facebook page for lots of pics and the progress that has been made. The stewartstown runs excursion trains over a portion of their original trackage. Cries out the conductor as the stewartstown railroad pulls out of the station on authentic 1920s era passenger coaches. Authentic, historic, original shortline railroad providing train rides through the scenic southern york county countryside. Chartered in 1884 by local interests in the stewartstown area, and opened in 1885, the stewartstown railroad survives today in very much original condition, and retains its original corporate charter. The story of the stewartstown railroad book, 1995 worldcat.
List of railroad employees with their years and location of service. This organization is required to file an irs form 990n. The story of the stewartstown railroad paperback january 1, 1995 by eric j bickleman author. He is the author or coauthor of seven books on york county history and holds a masters in american studies from penn state harrisburg, where. Unlike many railroads of the past, the stewartstown railroad was able to survive the great depression and the shift of shipping from rail to truck that occurred in the late 1950s as a result of improved roads and highways. Shrewsbury railroad station, stewartstown railroad wikipedia. Oxford times above it all is the pioneering vision that grips the reader. A truck hauling the locomotive broke down on route 851 for a period of time. The stewartstown railroad also has mighty mo and locomotive no. It has providing freight and passenger service to southern york county, pennsylvania, since 1885.
Freight locomotive telescoped runaway stewartstown railroad car. Stewartstown is next stop for gramlings steam locomotive trains. Feb 22, 2020 stewartstown railroad is a short line railroad in south central pennsylvania which is housed in an old railroad station. Theres an amazing story i discovered about a confederate cavalry raid at hanover jct. Stewartstown is next stop for gramlings steam locomotive. Stewartstown railroad company, stewartstown, pennsylvania. His fine book will likely make many feel the same way. The stewartstown railroad, a long time historical landmark in southern york county, pennsylvania, may seem dormant to the casual observer but the railroad is still very much alive. This railroad is an authentic representation of a short line farmers railroads that once dominated rural america before automobiles, and now are mostly gone. Santa train rides on the stewartstown railroad stewartstown. Service with a smile stewartstown railroad by dean manifold. The railroad is defunct and hasnt run trains in many years, though restoration efforts are under way.
An excellent track planner, nova scotian, rob chant, designed a very nice trackplan for me, based on the actual layout of stewartstown, pa, ca 1966 early in the 20th century the stewartstown connected to a second shortline, the new park and fawn grove, at the right end of the trackage depicted in the plan. Stewartstown railroad 2020 all you need to know before. Henderson bittner and they celebrated 39 years of marriage on. I have nothing against stewartstown, but the steam into history guys may be on to something for the northern central idea. The short line, which once ran freight service but in later years was a tourist hauler, had not operated since 2004 when it was entangled in a legal. Railroad history 35 books meet your next favorite book. While delivering on his title, wolmar also draws together 19th and 20th century american history. The railroad has a variety of machines for the work including motorcars, a backhoe, air compressor, air spiker, tie crane, air tampers, and others.
The stewartstown railroad is a heritage railroad that operates in stewartstown, pennsylvania chartered in 1884 by local interests in the stewartstown area, and opened in 1885, the stewartstown railroad survives today in very much original condition, and retains its original corporate charter. The spiral bound book then takes a detailed historical overview of three phases. Here are carefully selected articles, photographs, and art. Atlas and plat book york county, pa 1976 farm locations.
Stewartstown railroad 2020 all you need to know before you. The stewartstown railroad gets a new locomotive york daily record. Would have been nice to have more photos of the pa operations, as most are focused on the baltimore area. Railroad history score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Feb 23, 2020 the stewartstown area historical society. The railroad last operated in april of 2004, when a significant derailment interrupted its operations. That part of southern york county was claimed by both maryland and pennsylvania, and the boundary dispute was not settled until the surveying of the masondixon line in 1767. Bittner, 62, died suddenly friday, february 19, 2016. Railroad history books meet your next favorite book.
It contains original scholarship and fresh interpretations that set the standard in railway research. Trains magazine offers railroad news, railroad industry insight, commentary on todays freight railroads, passenger service amtrak, locomotive. The new yorker wolmars sweeping history of railroads in america is rich in dramahe makes a good case that the rail system helped create not only americas economy but its character. A jewel of living history, stewartstown railroad is possibly the oldest, and only short line railroad in america that. Sign in or create an account to view forms 990 for 2010, 2009 and 2008. The stewartstown railroad is very open with inviting the interested public to be involved. Railroads, the pioneers building americas transportation backbone, and more.
Mighty mo, a 1943 gasolinepowered locomotive roars in the distance as the engineer releases the brakes and fires up the engine. History of citizens volunteer fire company history of the borough of stewartstown history of pennsylvania published in london 1698 history of underground railroad in chester and neighboring counties history of york county 1907 volumes i, ii and index 1975 2 sets history of york county 1907 volumes i, ii and iii 1997. The stewartstown railroad served mostly farmers and a handful of small manufacturing firms in its early years. Strt stewartstown railroad company locomotive roster. Friends of the stewartstown railroad, stewartstown, pennsylvania. Stewartstown area historical society, 17 mill st, po box. The friends of the stewartstown railroad motor car rides available and the museum will be open most sunday 1 to 5.