Our Power for the Trip, M&H
1955 General Electric Diesel
The
kick-off event of the weekend was a chartered trip aboard the
Middletown & Hummelstown (M&H) Railroad in near by Middletown,
PA. Our chartered buses departed the Hilton in Harrisburg, PA
at 12:30 PM, arriving in Middletown about 1:00 PM.
On arrival,
we boarded our train, which consisted of a 1955 Alco Locomotive
(pictured above), and
three 1920's vintage Delaware, Lackawanna & Western coaches
at the 1891 former Reading Railroad Station, which has been
restored.
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Shop tour with CN #91
in the background
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Our
train ride followed the towpath of the historic Union Canal
and meandered along Swatara Creek. Our friendly narrator talked
about the history of the canal and area, including the history
of the Canal, which was completed in 1827, and its Lock #33.
Other sights along the way included a century old Limekiln and
"Horse Thief Cave." Our special train had the rare
treat of crossing 322 and running all the way into Hummelstown,
where a photo run-by was conducted.
On the
return leg, another photo run-by was held adjacent to an old
quarry. We returned to Middletown about 3:00 PM.
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"Shop talk"
with CN #91 in the background
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Upon
return to Middletown, we received a tour of the facilities,
including the engine shop. In the engine shop a M&H represetative
talked about the on-going of former Canadian National (CN) Steam
Locomotive #91, a 2-6-0 that was built in 1910, which is scheduled
to return to service this summer. Brian Bachman, an employee
of the M&H, was the presenter.
Our
buses departed Middletown about 4:40 PM and returned to our
hotel about 5:15 PM.
ABOUT
THE M&H: The original M& H Railroad Company was
formed in 1888 by local businessmen. Construction was completed
in 1890. From then, until 1976, it was part of the Reading Railroad.
Since that time, it has been an independent Railroad.
LINKS:
Middletown
& Hummelstown Railroad Web Site
ADDITIONAL
PHOTOS & VIDEO:
M&H
Steampower (former CN #91) under Restoration
M&H
Locomotive #1017 - One of the last Alco's built
Photo-runby
at Hummelstown
Photo-runby
at Quarry
Photo-runby
at Quarry (Video 120K)
** All photographs by NRHS Webmaster
