Western Extension (Baltimore and Harrisburg Railway) explained

The Western Extension is a Western Maryland section of railway line between Highfield-Cascade, Maryland, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The extension of the Hanover Junction, Hanover and Gettysburg Railroad westward from the Gettysburg Battlefield to Marsh Creek (Monocacy River) was completed in 1884, crossing the north-south Gettysburg and Harrisburg Railroad and its 1884 Round Top Branch in the borough[1] (site of a 1909 Reading and Western Maryland collision of freight trains.)[2] The line was completed to Orr Station by June 30, 1885,[3] then after an 1886 merger formed the Baltimore and Harrisburg Railway, the 15miles to the mainline at Highland near the Mason–Dixon line was completed in 1888-1889. The B&H leased their line to the Western Maryland Railway until the WM purchased it in 1917. The Western Extension used portions of the 1830s Tapeworm Railroad bed (e.g., the McPherson Ridge railway cut on the Gettysburg Battlefield) and required construction of the Jacks Mountain Tunnel south of Maria Furnace.

Notes and References

  1. News: July 29, 1884 . Town and Country . Google News Archives . Gettysburg Compiler . 2010-06-29 . Engineer Gitt has located the connection between the "Tapeworm" track and the Round-Top branch, and grading will be commenced at once. It is to have new steel rails. … State Editorial Association…annual excursion…Indian School at Carlislle, then to Pine Grove Park…Wednesday morning by rail to Round-Top…Thursday evening "hop" at the Springs Hotel … Orr Station..
  2. News: May 10, 1892 . Collision . Google News Archive . Gettysburg Compiler . 2011-07-17 . Improvements.--The two buildings adjoining the W. M. R. R. depot have been joined and fixed up to form an office of Mr. S. J. Diller's livery..
  3. News: June 30, 1885 . Orr Station . Google News Archive . Gettysburg Compiler . 2011-12-31 . The track on the "Tapeworm" Railroad has been laid as far as Orr Station, about eight miles, and the company expect to run regular trains to it in a few weeks..

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