Stewartstown Railroad

The Stewartstown Railroad, chartered in 1884 by local citizens, began operations in 1885 as a 7.4-mile shortline connecting the agricultural community of Stewartstown, Pennsylvania, with the Northern Central Railway at New Freedom. Originally supporting six daily trains carrying both passengers and farm goods, it weathered the Great Depression by switching from steam to gas-powered locomotives and held on even as freight traffic declined. The line closed temporarily after the 1972 flooding from Hurricane Agnes severed its connection to the national rail network, but reopened for excursions in 1985, transitioning into a heritage railroad under its original charter. After another hiatus in 2004 due to financial disputes, the railroad was restored through community donations by 2013 and now operates seasonal short excursions on the eastern end of the line. Speeder and motorcar excursions are conducted over most of the original route. Offices, yard, and an enginehouse are in Stewartstown, just across the Pennsylvania line, north of Baltimore, Maryland.