Freight hasn’t been hauled on York County’s section of the Northern Central rail line in more than a decade.  But prices at the pump are sparking some creative thinking about how to move things from here to there.

Three railroad men are studying the feasibility of repairing the 17 miles of track between York and the Maryland line and managing it for commercial customers.  They say it could be operated without interfering with the Heritage Rail Trail County Park, which has been developed along the same railroad line.

Don Kress and John Frantz, both of York County, recently briefed Shrewsbury Township supervisors on the Codorus Creek Railway.  Together with another entrepreneur, Gerald Altizer of Maryland, they’re sounding out county and municipal officials before investing any money in the project.

“Fuel is $3 a gallon. Four dollars and five dollars are around the corner. And you can bring four times as much freight (on the rails),” Kress told supervisors.

Rebuilding the line: Kress says the first phase of the project would involve rebuilding the line. With ties running $75 each and perhaps tens of thousands of new ones needed, the initial costs would probably run into the millions of dollars.  Kress did not have an exact figure, but said his group would try to tap into federal and state funds reserved for transportation improvements.

The second phase would involve identifying customers.

Kress said he sees a market, but he said he’s also committed to the concept of profitability.  “Everyone likes to see the train,” Kress said, “but if we can’t make money, we’re not going to do it.”

Willing to listen: Shrewsbury Township supervisors, for their part, were willing to listen.

“My sense is, I’m interested,” said supervisor Earl Schuckman. “We’re not telling you, ‘Go away.’”

“I like the idea of something that could serve the commercial operations in this area,” supervisor Joseph Newberger said.

The last traffic of any kind that the rail line saw was the Liberty Limited, a New Freedom-based dinner train. It offered weekend dining and entertainment for more than five years but folded in August 2001.  Kress said Codorus Creek Railway has little or no interest in establishing such a service.

-- Reach Damon B. Boughamer at 854-1575 or news@yorkdispatch.com.