In June 2024, Ye Olde Photographer traveled with friends to York County, Pennsylvania. The primary event was the Saturday Penn Mar Irish Festival but we booked two nights which gave us time to explore other things in the area. Foremost for YOP was checking out this tourist railraod operation the Northern Central Railway of York, operating out of New Freedom, Pennsylvania, just north of the Mason-Dixon line. The facility is a "rail with trail" operating on the original right-of-way which goes back to the early 1800s. The trail is the York County Heritage Rail Trail, a county owned multi-use trail which connects with a trail in Maryland.

The excursions began as "Steam into History," as this route was traveled by the train that took Abraham Lincoln to Gettysburg to give the famous address. To flesh out that theme, the railway acquired a newly-built replica of a mid-1800s vintage 4-4-0 American type steam locomotive from Kloke Locomotive works in Elgin illinois. With characteristic procrastination, YOP's finally getting there to see it found the engine out of service for a major FRA inspection! At least, since our visit coincided with Father's Day, the engine, #17, had been hauled out near the station where we could see it well-lighted. The railroad also had Gramling Locomotive Works bring in an 0-4-0T switching engine -- the Jeddo Coal Company #85, which was running short excursions. Thus we got to hear steam whistles and smell coal smoke. Could hardly ask for more! #85 was built in 1928 at Vulcan Iron Works in Wilkes-Barre PA, and some of the Jeddo Coal operations appear to still exist near Hazelton in the Pennsylvania Anthracite region.

The surrounding area has several wineries and New Freedom has at least two brew pubs. In general it appeared the area is experiencing a bit of a renaissance which is nice to see.

There are two short videos on Ye Olde Photographer's WEBSITE