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4/26/2024
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Viewing Album:  Stewartstown Railroad – “rare mileage” motorcar excursion
 
By:Bob Krug
Dates:4/23/2017 - 4/23/2017
Album Info:I rode a "rare mileage" motorcar excursion over the length of the Stewartstown Railroad in York County, PA. The track is still in place, but in such poor shape that the only thing that can still run the length of the line now is track speeders - motor cars that used to be used by track maintenance crews. Heavier rolling stock would likely roll the rails at multiple locations along this light-duty, sharp curvature, roller coaster profiled branch line. From my perspective this was a GREAT ride with an unexpected bonus adventure - our "train" derailed on the return leg of the trip in Keeney, PA. The passengers and crew were able to lift and re-rail the unmotorized "Parlor Car" towed behind the speeder, but the railroad volunteers had to bring in track jacks to re-rail the Fairmont Model A4 motorized track speeder car which weighs over 1000 lbs. We were back underway after a 45 minute derailment delay. The Stewartstown railroad was an independent shortline financed by agricultural interests in its namesake town. It was built in the 1880’s with light 65 and 70 pounds/yard rail, much of which is still in place. During its heyday the Stewartstown Railroad shipped primarily agricultural products and lumber out via a connection with the PRR’s Northern Central line in New Freeedom, PA – 7-1/2 miles to the west of Stewartstown. When the Northern Central was severed by Hurricane Agnes back in 1972 the Stewartstown Railroad lost its connection with the outside world and all their freight customers were forced to switch over to truck. The Stewartstown railroad has hung on through several tourist train ventures in the ensuing years, but there was not much of a revenue stream to devote to track maintenance and the rails and ties and spikes and cinder ballast are increasingly succumbing to the ravages of Mother Nature and Father Time.
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The "train" arrived at New Freedom
Title:  The "train" arrived at New Freedom
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 11:43:48 AM
Location:  New Freedom, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Roster,Scenic,RollingStock
Locomotives: 
Views:  78   Comments: 0
Fairmont Model A-4 motorcar towing a track maintenance flat car modified with benches and railing
Title:  Fairmont Model A-4 motorcar towing a track maintenance flat car modified with benches and railing
Description:  Some wags at the Stewartstown Railroad have dubbed the trailing bench car "The PARLOR car". The track of the Northern Central Railroad, now operated by Steam Into History is in the background.
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 11:41:28 AM
Location:  New Freedom, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,RollingStock
Locomotives: 
Views:  84   Comments: 1
Profile view of the Stewartstown Railroad "train" - a Fairmont Model A-4 motorcar towing a modified maintenance of way flat car now called "the Parlor Car"
Title:  Profile view of the Stewartstown Railroad "train" - a Fairmont Model A-4 motorcar towing a modified maintenance of way flat car now called "the Parlor Car"
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 11:42:40 AM
Location:  New Freedom, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Roster,Scenic,RollingStock
Locomotives: 
Views:  59   Comments: 0
Successful completion of the journey back at Stewartstown
Title:  Successful completion of the journey back at Stewartstown
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:46:20 PM
Location:  Stewartstown, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  90   Comments: 0
Switching the parlor car for the eastbound run
Title:  Switching the parlor car for the eastbound run
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:09:26 PM
Location:  New Freedom, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,RollingStock,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  88   Comments: 0
The "parlor car" during our brief stop in Tolna to offload track jacks and crow bars to a waiting car.
Title:  The "parlor car" during our brief stop in Tolna to offload track jacks and crow bars to a waiting car.
Description:  The passengers look pretty happy that the speeder and MoW car are back on the rails, and our eastbound return journey can be continued.
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:05:11 PM
Location:  Tolna, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  90   Comments: 0
Unscheduled unloading stop in Tolna, PA - we offloaded the track jacks and crow bars back into a volunteer's car, so I hopped off the speeder to grab a few photos.
Title:  Unscheduled unloading stop in Tolna, PA - we offloaded the track jacks and crow bars back into a volunteer's car, so I hopped off the speeder to grab a few photos.
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 11:56:37 AM
Location:  Tolna, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Roster,Scenic,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  93   Comments: 1
Fairmont Model A-4 speeder on the ground
Title:  Fairmont Model A-4 speeder on the ground
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 11:45:10 AM
Location:  Keeney, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,RollingStock,Wreck
Locomotives: 
Views:  83   Comments: 0
On the ground in Keeney, PA
Title:  On the ground in Keeney, PA
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:34:55 PM
Location:  Keeney, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,Wreck
Locomotives: 
Views:  65   Comments: 0
On the ground in Keeney, PA
Title:  On the ground in Keeney, PA
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 11:54:41 AM
Location:  Keeney, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,Wreck,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  83   Comments: 0
The "Parlor Car" also derailed
Title:  The "Parlor Car" also derailed
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 11:46:20 AM
Location:  Keeney, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,RollingStock,Wreck,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  87   Comments: 0
Parlor car re-railed
Title:  Parlor car re-railed
Description:  The able-bodied train crew with help from some able-bodied passengers were able to lift the parlor car back onto the rails by hand. We pushed the parlor bar backwards to the first grade crossing (about 200 yards) where some rail jacks and crow bars were delivered by Stewartstown RR volunteers. We used the parlor car to deliver the re-railing tools to the derailment site.
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:00:29 PM
Location:  Keeney, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  RollingStock,Wreck
Locomotives: 
Views:  86   Comments: 0
Across the big fill at Anstine
Title:  Across the big fill at Anstine
Description:  This was originally built as a high timber trestle. It was replaced by fill as the bridge timbers deteriorated. The bridge timbers are still down there, buried now.
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:16:37 PM
Location:  Anstine, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  71   Comments: 0
Crossing Deer Creek - eastbound
Title:  Crossing Deer Creek - eastbound
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:19:09 PM
Location:  Tolna, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,Bridge,InCab,Track,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  46   Comments: 0
Flagging the Waltermyer School Road lower grade crossing
Title:  Flagging the Waltermyer School Road lower grade crossing
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:20:27 PM
Location:  Orwig, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  InCab,Signal,Track,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  57   Comments: 0
Flagging the Waltermyer School Road upper grade crossing
Title:  Flagging the Waltermyer School Road upper grade crossing
Description:  We were one a pretty stiff up-grade at this point. I'll estimate 2-plus percent.
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:21:13 PM
Location:  Orwig, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,InCab,Track,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  52   Comments: 0
Passing the foundation of the old steam-era water tank
Title:  Passing the foundation of the old steam-era water tank
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:11:04 PM
Location:  Stewartstown, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,Track,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  83   Comments: 0
The old station in Hungerford, PA. Flagging South Main Street. We are eastbound in this view
Title:  The old station in Hungerford, PA. Flagging South Main Street. We are eastbound in this view
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:27:02 PM
Location:  Hungerford, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,InCab,Station,Track,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  65   Comments: 1
Rolling westbound past the old Hungerford, PA depot.
Title:  Rolling westbound past the old Hungerford, PA depot.
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:27:46 PM
Location:  Hungerford, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,InCab,Station,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  78   Comments: 0
Iron Bridge west of Stewartstown
Title:  Iron Bridge west of Stewartstown
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:28:52 PM
Location:  Stewartstown, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,Bridge,InCab,Track,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  84   Comments: 1
Milepost 5 cut in Orwig
Title:  Milepost 5 cut in Orwig
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:32:33 PM
Location:  Orwig, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  57   Comments: 0
Passing pedestrians at Anstine.
Title:  Passing pedestrians at Anstine.
Description:  I'll venture a guess that they were surprised to see our little speeder train pass by on this seldom-traversed section of the railroad.
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:35:57 PM
Location:  Anstine, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  66   Comments: 0
S-curve on an up-grade eastbound toward Stewartstown
Title:  S-curve on an up-grade eastbound toward Stewartstown
Description:  One of the more charming aspects of this little branch line is the S-curves with virtually no tangent between them.
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:36:59 PM
Location:  Stewartstown, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  94   Comments: 0
Slabbing up-grade out of the Deer Creek Valley
Title:  Slabbing up-grade out of the Deer Creek Valley
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:43:07 PM
Location:  Tolna, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  60   Comments: 0
Yard limits eastbound into Stewartstown
Title:  Yard limits eastbound into Stewartstown
Description:  Flagging PA Route 851. The railroad's single stall engine house is to the right
Photo Date:  4/23/2017  Upload Date: 4/24/2017 12:45:19 PM
Location:  Stewartstown, PA
Author:  Bob Krug
Categories:  Scenic,Yard,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  99   Comments: 0

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