Gettysburg Railroad (1976–1996)

The Gettysburg Railroad (reporting mark GETY) was a short-line heritage railroad that operated in Pennsylvania from 1976 to 1996. The 23.4 mi (37.7 km) line ran from Gettysburg to Mount Holly Springs.

Gettysburg Railroad
Overview
HeadquartersGettysburg, Pennsylvania
Reporting markGETY/GPSX
LocaleGettysburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Dates of operation1976–1996
SuccessorGettysburg Railway
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length23.4 mi (37.7 km)

The railroad shipped freight for local companies and interchanged with CSX Transportation in Gettysburg and Conrail 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 Railway. 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.[1] 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.[2]

Locomotives

The Gettysburg Railroad went through a total of four steam locomotives in use, and they only had two by 1988.[3] Between January and June 1995, both locomotives were inspected by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and deemed to be in good enough working order to remain in service.[3]

Number Builder Railroad Type Build date At Gettysburg Notes
3254 Canadian Locomotive Company Canadian National Railway Steam 1917 1982–1987 Originally built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in 1917.[4] It was acquired by the railroad in 1982, it was reassembled and put into service in 1985. It operated on its mainline excursion trains until being put into storage in mid 1986, due to the engine being oversized and overpowered for the railroad's needs. It was traded to Steamtown National Historic Site for Canadian Pacific 1278.[4] As of 2023, the engine remains at Steamtown and it is now on static display.[4]
1278 Canadian Locomotive Company Canadian Pacific Railway Steam 1948 1987–1996 Originally built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in 1948, and is a type 4-6-2, class G5d light weight "Pacific" locomotive.[5] It was acquired by the Gettysburg Railroad in 1987 in a traded with Steamtown National Historic Site for Canadian National 3254.[5] It was returned to operation a year later in 1988, it operated until 1995 when it suffered a backdraft explosion in the firebox, causing it to burn its crew members. It was later acquired by Jerry Jacobson at an auction in 1998, and it sat in an Ohio Central Railroad storage facility. As of 2023, 1278 currently resides inside the Age of Steam Roundhouse on static display.[5]
76 Baldwin Locomotive Works Mississippian Railway Steam 1920 1976–1996 Originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1920, and is a 2-8-0 steam locomotive.[6] It was the very first steam locomotive to be used by the Gettysburg Railroad since they began operations in 1976. It continued service until 1995 when the railroad ended steam operations after 1278's boiler accident. It was subsequently sold along with No. 1278 to Jerry Jacobson at an auction in 1998. The locomotive was later acquired by the Steam Railroading Institute in 2005, and it sat in storage in the yard for several years awaiting for restoration.[7] It was later sold to the Oakland B&O Museum in 2017, where it went under a cosmetic restoration as B&O No. 476.[8]
38 Baldwin Locomotive Works Huntingdon and Broad Top Mountain Railroad and Coal Company Steam 1927 1977–1986 Originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1927, and is a type 2‑8‑0 type steam locomotive. It was acquired by the Railroad in 1977. The engine ran on the railroad for many years until it was transferred to the Knox and Kane Railroad in 1986. It later fell victim to a catastrophic shed fire in 2008. As of 2023, it is undergoing restoration back to operating condition at the Everett Railroad.[9]
39 EMD GP9 Western Maryland Railway Diesel 1957 1989–1996 It was transferred to the Knox and Kane Railroad, and it operated there until it fell victim to a catastrophic shed fire in 2008. As of 2023, it is currently undergoing restoration by the Georges Creek Railway.
28 GE U30B Penn Central Transportation Company Diesel 1967 1985–1989 It operated for the railroad from 1985 to 1989 before it was sold to the South Central Florida Express, Inc. as 9016. Current status unknown.[10]
56 ALCO RS-3 Long Island Rail Road Diesel 1955 1978–1988 It was used on the railroad from 1978 to 1983. It currently remains on static display as 1556 at the Railroad Museum of Long Island.[11]
70 ALCO RS-36 Norfolk and Western Railway Diesel 1962 1985–1996 It served the railroad from 1985 to the end of operations in 1996 before it was transferred to the Knox and Kane Railroad. It was scrapped in 2004.
407 Baldwin S-12 Norfolk and Western Railway Diesel 1953 1976–1985 It was one of the very first diesel locomotives to serve the Gettysburg Railroad. It was sold to the Nucor Steel Corporation. It was scrapped in 2004.[12]

Incident
Main article: Canadian Pacific 1278 § Gettysburg Railroad

On June 16, 1995, steam engine No. 1278 suffered a boiler backdraft explosion while hauling an excursion train, seriously injuring the engineer and both firemen, however, no passengers were injured.[13] The excursion train was delayed 45 minutes until a diesel could be connected to complete the train's trip.[13] The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the explosion occurred because the crew had allowed the water level in the boiler to drop too low, causing the boiler's crown sheet to fail. The NTSB also determined that poor maintenance of the locomotive, as well as inadequate training, were contributing factors to the accident.[14]

After the incident, much of the equipment from the Gettysburg Railroad was auctioned off. The Gettysburg Railroad also stopped using steam locomotives for their excursions and only used diesel locomotives.[13] The railroad itself was sold the following year.

References
  1. Lewis, Edward A. (1996). American Short Line Railway Guide (5th ed.). Milwaukee, WI: Kalmbach. p. 134. ISBN 0-89024-290-9.
  2. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (1996). "Report Form 10-K: RailAmerica, Inc".
  3. Gostomski, Christina (1995-06-25). "Inspection found flaws in most locomotives...except the one that blew". York Sunday News. p. 11. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  4. "Steamtown National Historic Site - Canadian National 3254 (U.S. National Park Service)". Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  5. "Canadian Pacific #1278 4-6-2 – The Unheralded Hero of Modern-day Steam – Age of Steam Roundhouse". Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  6. "The Frisco Survivors" (PDF). All Aboard, The Frisco Railroad Museum, November, 1987 (accessed on CondrenRails.com). Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  7. "Mississippian #77". HawkinsRails. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  8. "Homepage (Post of January 15, 2021)". Oakland B&O Museum. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  9. Burkey, Keith (2018-02-22). "Baldwin 2-8-0 Number 38". Everett Railroad. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  10. "Consolidated Railroad Corp GE U30B Diesels". donsdepot.donrossgroup.net. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  11. "LIRR RS-3 #1556". Railroad Museum of Long Island. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  12. "The Baldwin Diesel Zone - Nucor Steel". yardlimit.railfan.net. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  13. Kurish, J. P. (1995-06-19). "Gettysburg Railroad to re-open this week". The York Dispatch. p. 19. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  14. "National Transportation Safety Board" (PDF). www.ntsb.gov. 15 November 1996.
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