Southern York County Life

This is from a railroad site I subscribe to:

I’m sad to report that George Hart passed away yesterday morning after a
prolonged illness, at the age of 89. George was owner and operator of
Rail Tours, Inc., which operated steam-powered excursion trips over the
Ma & Pa from York to Delta from 1964-1967. Until recently he was
President and General Manager of the nearby Stewartstown RR, and from
1969-1983 he was the founding Director of the Railroad Museum of
Pennsylvania in Strasburg. George’s passing is a tremendous loss to the
entire railway preservation community; he knew his Ma & Pa history well.
Godspeed, George.

R.I.P. George

Until recently he was President and General Manager of the nearby Stewartstown RR

Until recently?  What happened?

Sorry to hear the gentleman passed away.  So now, how about cleaning up the rickity buildings, fixing up the station & using it for something constructive and most importantly turn the rail right-a-way over to the rail trail assoc.  A rail trail would be an asset to the community. The railroad property has been an eyesore on Stewartstown too long. It can never run profitabilly again, so lets move on to enhance our town. It’s ugly when entering town ..... run down buildings and rotting passenger cars.

stephen - 19 April 2008 12:14 PM

Until recently he was President and General Manager of the nearby Stewartstown RR

Until recently?  What happened?

He died.

Rainsong - 21 April 2008 03:41 PM

stephen - 19 April 2008 12:14 PM

Until recently he was President and General Manager of the nearby Stewartstown RR

Until recently?  What happened?

He died.

It says “Until recently he was President and General Manager of the nearby Stewartstown RR”, so I assumed that meant that something happened legally with the railroad before he died.

Rainsong - 21 April 2008 03:41 PM

stephen - 19 April 2008 12:14 PM

Until recently he was President and General Manager of the nearby Stewartstown RR

Until recently?  What happened?

He died.

I feel awful for this, but the combination of your avatar and your comment made me laugh a little bit.

Yuppykiller - 21 April 2008 10:13 PM

Rainsong - 21 April 2008 03:41 PM

stephen - 19 April 2008 12:14 PM

Until recently he was President and General Manager of the nearby Stewartstown RR

Until recently?  What happened?

He died.

I feel awful for this, but the combination of your avatar and your comment made me laugh a little bit.

Ur not alone!!

Article on the Stewartstown RR:

http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_9590491

Thank you for posting that article Yuppykiller.

Does anyone want to know what the railroad groups want to do to fix up the station?  Is there going to be any function beyond restoring it to its former condition and trying to restore the tracks?  Some places do things like turn old stations into coffee shops (could be a “Railroad Museum/Coffee Shop).

k80m - 17 June 2008 05:27 PM

Does anyone want to know what the railroad groups want to do to fix up the station?  Is there going to be any function beyond restoring it to its former condition and trying to restore the tracks?  Some places do things like turn old stations into coffee shops (could be a “Railroad Museum/Coffee Shop).

I think someone needs to buy that place and turn it into a good old fashioned burger joint.  Just remodel the building and leave the railroad theme intact, but make it a unique restaurant that would be a perfect complement to Summers!  And no, NOT a pizza place!

Sorry to hear the gentleman passed away.  So now, how about cleaning up the rickity buildings, fixing up the station & using it for something constructive and most importantly turn the rail right-a-way over to the rail trail assoc.  A rail trail would be an asset to the community. The railroad property has been an eyesore on Stewartstown too long. It can never run profitabilly again, so lets move on to enhance our town. It’s ugly when entering town ..... run down buildings and rotting passenger cars.

The buildings were restored to their original state a couple of decades ago. T here used to be Easter Bunny rides on the train for the kids and a Halloween train ride and excursion rides.  I don’t know what happened but all came to a screeching halt years ago.  The Halloween train ride was awesome in that people in the community created scenes which could be seen from the railroad cars. T he creativity displayed was outstanding!  Over the years the Halloween scenes were toned down because parents complained they were too scary for their children.  Give me a break! It’s Halloween, hello! Duh? No one ever got hurt! Everyone had a great time for years until a parent complained! 

It became an eyesore because a parent complained! 

I would like to see the train rides return. 

I wouldn’t give up the railroad yet!  You claim it will never be profitable again?   When was the last time you read the cost of a gallon of gasoline at a gasoline station? 

I seem to remember the actual station as being pretty cool - granted I was pretty young the last time I rode the train rather than participating in the Haunted Train Ride skits.  I think people lost interest- I think by the end they were trying to advertise the haunted train to the Baltimore area, since it was mostly the same skits every year. 

Don’t think giving it to the rail trail would help much - a lot of the area is wooded and you’d have to destroy that to put in a walking trail, and I think a stream runs along it in some places, though I might be wrong on that one.  Good bit of the woods/fields were pulled out for Baily Springs already.

Hopefully they can fix up the station again and bring some activity to that part of town.  We always fun during the haunted train ride, and walking the tracks on days when the train wasn’t running.

In my opinion the Stewartstown Train Station should be restored similar to what was done in New Freedom. This would cost lots of money as the roofs, concrete retaining walls, concrete sidewalks all need to be replaced, the bricks needs re-pointing/ repair, parking is needed, etc, etc, etc. Than the station could be used as a museum, small shop, whatever. It could once again be a valuable asset to our community rather than an eyesore. The railroad aficionado’s should be focused on raising funds to restore the station and beginning the work.

As far as the actual rail line/ tracks, the right-away should be given to the York County Rail Trail Authority to be converted into a walking/ biking trail that would serve our community.
The Authority has expressed an interest in a Stewartstown to Shrewsbury rail trail.

The reason I believe this to be the best option is because the tracks are so deteriorated (especially when you get west of Baily Springs) that restoral to service would be cost prohibitive. The insurance costs alone would never allow the train to run and carry passengers again. Plus the maintenance to restore the tracks to safe service would be astronomical. A third or more of the railroad ties would have to be replaced and hundreds of missing iron pins would need replacement for the tracks to be safe, not to mention repair of at least two bridges. If you doubt this, walk a couple miles west on the tracks. Anyone who says the train will run again carrying passengers or freight is deluding themselves. I like trains as much as anyone, but it just is not going to happen. Too much money! Not enough interest or need.

I urge the folks involved with the railroad and the Borough to get moving on some workable plans, as currently the train cars are rotting and rusting away, the station building has deteriorated into an eyesore and the tracks are getting overgrown with weeds. This is not a pretty sight for people entering our beloved Stewartstown.

I agree on the restoration needed! Now there’s a junked out car rotting in front of the old warehouse as you come into town. We love Stewartstown and have so much hope for it. We are not from this area and when we have family and friends visit, they see the beauty in the area and ask why Stewartstown seems so run down. We’ve been hear for 5 years now and keep thinking that something will change...we’ve attended a few meetings, etc. but really want to know how to help out in creating the initiative to give this town a face lift. It really looks like it is uncared for at the moment and that doesn’t represent the people here.