Cn Cumberland County Deborah Whitmoyer 2011 81 Applied GIS Cumberland County Railroads Shippensburg University

Oakville Station Mount Holly Springs Station Shippensburg Station

All Aboard

Transportation by rail in Cumberland County has a long and enduring history. Enola West Fairview Some of the original lines laid in the 1800s are still being used today to haul freight Harrisburg

and passengers via Norfolk Southern, CSX, and Amtrak. Some tracks have been Wormleysburg abandoned, while others have been converted to rails to trails. The potential exists for railroads to once again play a signi cant role in the economy and lives of Camp Hill Lemoyne people in Cumberland County. New light-rail communter corridors could be New Kingstown Lower Allen New Cumberland built alongside the major interstates of 81 or 76. This would oer the Shiremanstown Norfolk Southern Railway Company

citizens of the county an alternative option for transportation; 76 Mechanicsburg 76 76

whether it be to work, school, or entertainment, further 76 Plain eld Cumberland Valley Rail Road Dillsburg and Mechanicsburg R.R. Carlisle alleviating the stress on the transportation Dickinson College infrastructure.

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Boiling Springs Messiah College

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Newburg Oakville Highway 81 North CCRTT CCRTT

Mount Holly Springs Rails to Trails Norfolk Southern Railway Company

Gettysburg Railway

Cumberland County Rails to Trails Railroad 0 6 Kilometers Hunters Run Br

Shippensburg University Shippensburg Inactive Railroad 0 6 Miles

Norfolk Southern Locomotive PinePine Grove Grove StateFurnace Park State Park

Bibliography Cumberland Valley Rails Trails. 2011. http://cvrtc.org/index.html. Miller, Matt. 2006. Cumberland County OKs Corridor One Deal, The Patriot-News: B2. Siebert, Jr., C. L. 1989. From Railroad to Turnpike, Cumberland County History 6: 45-49. West, Dan. 2009. Pennsylvania Railroad Stations: Past & Present. http://www.west2k.com/pastations/cumberland.shtml. Westhaeer, Paul J. 1979. History of the Cumberland Valley Railroad. Wing, Conway P. and Others. 1879. History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania with Illustration.

On August 12, 1837, the rst cars of the Cumberland Valley Rail After the war, large-scale excursion trac was established with Road Company (CVRR) passed from Carlisle to 1 1/2 miles from the building of excursion parks on the railroad’s branches: Harrisburg. Within two years, a railroad line ran from Harrisburg, Williams’ Grove on the Dillsburg Branch in 1874, Mont Alto Park in through Cumberland County, to Chambersburg. Also running in 1875, and Pine Grove on the South Mountain line in 1878. These Cumberland County were the Dillsburg & Mechanisburg R. R. at 7 excursions included large church, social, trade, and political 1/2 miles, the Northern Central Way at 9 miles, and the South groups. The largest of these excursions; however, was the 10-day Mountain Iron Company at 18 miles. The Harrisburg and Potomac camp meeting of the Harrisburg District of the Methodist Episco- Rail Road Company, also known as the Miramar Iron Company, pal Church, held in a grove near Oakville. For this event, rst held opened before 1875, and ran between Mount Holly Springs and in August, 1873, fares to the grounds were reduced, daily excur- the Dillsburg Branch of the Cumberland Valley Rail Road. sion trains operated, all regular trains stopped at the grounds, and shelters were built for those waiting. The Cumberland Valley Rail Road owned 18 passenger cars; 8 second class passenger, baggage, mail, and express cars; and 251 In 1873, to encourage travel on the regular trains, fares were freight and other cars. The average number of passengers per reduced for all national holidays and the rst CVRR commutation year was 322,000. In addition to hauling passengers and freight in tickets were issued. By 1874, the CVRR operated the following peace times, the railroad played roles in the American Civil War as daily runs: three scheduled main line freights each way in season; well. Over the years encompassed by the war, the railroad carried three regular main line passenger trains each way; and connect- new northern recruits from the Cumberland Valley to a camp near ing freight and passenger service on its branch lines, in addition Harrisburg. Plus, it carried Confederate General Ewell’s corps from to frequent excursions. Chambersburg to Shippensburg and then on to Carlisle in 1863, in a southern led oensive attack.

Passenger Schedule Cumbeland Valley Rail Road Locomotive Historical Cumberland County transportation map.

The Cumberland Valley Rails to Trails Council (CVRTC) is a volun- teer, non-pro t organization established to preserve the beauty and history of the former railroad tracks running through Cumber- land County. Currently, the trail encompasses 11 miles of former track from Newville to Shippensburg. This land was donated to the CVRTC by Conrail in 1995. The trail is multi-use to serve all ages and abilities. The trail may be used for walking, jogging, bicycling, horseback riding and other non-motorized recreational uses. It is also wheelchair-accessible. Along the trail, there are benches strategically located to provide respites and in Oakville, a shaded picnic area and bathroom facilities are provided. Future plans for the trail include arranging funding for a bridge to nish Summary of Public-Use Rules the last mile of the trail into downtown Shippensburg and 1. Open Dawn to Dusk extending the trail 11 miles to Carlisle. These projects, when 2. No motorized vehicles completed, will connect Shippensburg University with the 3. No rearms or weapons Dickinson College campus. 4. No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs 5. Pack out your own trash Fund raising activities occur throughout the year. In April, there is 6. No camping or res the Race, Run, Ride, & Ramble Trail Festival. In this event, you can 7. No tresapssing on adjacent properties enjoy a 15K race or a 5K fun run, a 30K bike ride, or a 15K walk. 8. All bikers must wear helmets The ArtSHIP Art, Wine & Brew Festival 10K is in June. During this 9. Keep pets on leashes Cumberland Valley Rails to Trails Map event, you can purchase a discounted wristband for wine and microbrew sampling. In October, the annual Fall Down on the Trail is a 5K race or 4 mile hike.

The proposed Capital Red Rose Corridor could combine commuter rail with express bus service, linking the East and West shores of the . The purpose of this project is to improve transportation mobility and connectivity across the Susquehanna River, provide an eective transit link to Harrisburg International Airport and its intermodal facilities, and leverage the investment made by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Amtrak in upgrading the Keystone Corridor to improve transit service.

If funding and support are found, the corridor would rst be tested on the East shore to see if it draws enough riders to be nancially viable. If the deal is extended to the West shore, an overpass would be built to allow use of a former Cumberland Valley Railroad bridge owned by Capital Area Transit (CAT).

The commuter rail system would encompass 40.5 miles and consist of 11 stations at a cost of $87 million. The forecast for average weekday boardings for ridership is 2,100. With the continued increases in the cost of gasoline, this forecasted Cumberland Valley Rails to Trails (CVRTC) number is expected to increase as well.

Proposed Capital Red Rose Corridor

Distance indicator Ranger station Wheelchair accessible Restrooms

Pullout Picnic area Campground Food service

NPS property Self-guiding trail Primitive campground Parking