Gettysburg and Northern Railroad

{{short description|Short-line Railroad based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania}}

{{Infobox rail

| gauge={{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}

| image =Emd-gp10-diesel-locomotive-prex-1001-on-pioneer-railcorps-gettysburg-and-northern-railroad-2016-07-11.jpg

|image_caption=PREX 1001 with a boxcar near Gettysburg in 2016

|railroad_name=Gettysburg and Northern Railroad

|marks=GET

|logo_filename=

|logo_size=

|locale=Adams and Cumberland counties in Pennsylvania

|start_year=2001

|end_year=present

|predecessor_line=Gettysburg Railway

|length={{convert|25|mi|km|1|abbr=on}}

|hq_city=Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

|website={{URL|https://pioneerlines.com/the-gettysburg-and-northern-railway-get/}}

}}

The Gettysburg and Northern Railroad {{reporting marks|GET}} is a short-line railroad located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The railroad operates a {{convert|25|mi|km|adj=on}} long line running between Gettysburg in Adams County and Mount Holly Springs in Cumberland County.

Operations

The Gettysburg and Northern Railroad operates a {{convert|25|mi|km|adj=on}} long line running from Gettysburg in Adams County north to Mount Holly Springs in Cumberland County. Between Gettysburg and Mount Holly Springs, the railroad serves Biglerville, Aspers, Gardners, Peach Glen, Hunters Run, and Upper Mill. The Gettysburg and Northern Railroad interchanges with CSX Transportation in Gettysburg and the Norfolk Southern Railway in Mount Holly Springs. Among the products carried by the railroad are canned goods, pulpboard, soda ash, grain, and scrap paper {{cite web|title=Gettysburg & Northern Railroad|publisher=Pioneer Railcorp|url=http://www.pioneer-railcorp.com/get.html|access-date=December 14, 2015}}

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." The bankrupt Reading Railroad became part of Conrail in 1976, however the Gettysburg Branch was left out of the Conrail system. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation took over the branch and sold the line to a new company, the Blairsville & Indiana Railroad, in 1976; this company changed its name to Gettysburg Railroad.{{cite book |title=American Short Line Railway Guide |last=Lewis |first=Edward A. |year=1996 |publisher=Kalmbach |location=Milwaukee, WI |isbn=0-89024-290-9 |page=134 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=kav09ZpkS6YC&q=american%20shortline%20railway%20guide&pg=PP1|edition=5th }}

In 1996, the Gettysburg Railroad was sold to RailAmerica subsidiary Delaware Valley Railroad Company, which operated the line as the Gettysburg Railway.{{cite web| author=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission| url=http://www.secinfo.com/dsVsf.83By.htm| title=Report Form 10-K: RailAmerica, Inc.| year=1996}} In 2001, the Gettysburg Railway was sold to Pioneer Railcorp and the Gettysburg and Northern Railroad took over operations.{{cite web|title=Pioneer Railcorp-Continuance in Control Exemption-Gettysburg & Northern Railroad Co.|publisher=Surface Transportation Board|date=February 27, 2001|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2001/02/27/01-4739/pioneer-railcorp-continuance-in-control-exemption-gettysburg-and-northern-railroad-co|access-date=December 14, 2015}}

Presently the Gettysburg and Northern is owned and operated by Patriot Rail Company. In early 2024, Patriot Rail announced plans to resume tourist excursions on the line.{{cite web |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/patriot-rail-to-start-tourist-service-on-gettysburg-northern/ |title=Patriot Rail to start tourist service on Gettysburg & Northern |last=Cupper |first=Dan |date=January 12, 2024 |website=trains.com |publisher=Kalmbach Media |access-date=January 12, 2024}}