The Gettysburg and Northern Railroad is a short-line railroad located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The railroad operates a long line running between Gettysburg in Adams County and Mount Holly Springs in Cumberland County.
Operations The Gettysburg and Northern Railroad operates a 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 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.
In 1996, the Gettysburg Railroad was sold to RailAmerica subsidiary Delaware Valley Railroad Company, which operated the line as the Gettysburg Railway. In 2001, the Gettysburg Railway was sold to Pioneer Railcorp and the Gettysburg and Northern Railroad took over operations.
Patriot Rail Company acquired Pioneer Railcorp in 2022, and in early 2024 announced that it would resume tourist excursions on the Gettysburg and Northern Railroad. Excursion service began in mid-2025, using 5 coaches and 2 dedicated locomotives.
Locomotive roster No.ClassEngineBuilderNotesStatus105GP9DieselEMDBuilt as CV GP9, later moved around the Pioneer Lines network.Off Roster107GP10DieselEMDRebuilt by Conrail to GP10 specs. Later sold to Rock Island RailOff Roster401F7DieselEMDOriginally BLE 726, suffered engine failure in mid 2000's, sold in 2023.Off Roster402F7DieselEMDOriginally CNW 406, sold in 2023Off Roster1000GP10DieselEMDEx Elkhart & Western RailRoad, Rebuilt by Illinois Central to a GP10. Built as GP9 GN 622Active1001GP10DieselEMDEx Illinois Central 8295, Built as GP9 C&O 6080 Active1501GP20DDieselEMDOff Roster1751F9ADieselEMDEx Algoma Central, later Peoria & Western 1751, sold to BUGXOff Roster1755F9ADieselEMDEx Algoma Central, Sold to Potomac Eagle Scenic RailroadOff Roster1761F9BDieselEMDEx Algoma Central, later Peoria & Western 1761, off roster by 2022Off Roster1786GP40FH-2DieselEMDBuilt as PC GP40 3070, rebuilt by NJT. Used on excursion service.Active1863GP15DieselEMDEx CR 1678. Used on excursion service.Active3833GP38-2DieselEMDLTEX 3833, Ex NS, Built as SOU 5129Active
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