Baltimore - Harrisburg

[johnny.menhennet]

I was just looking through some old Amtrak stuff at timetables.com and I was reminded of something I had heard about in the past. I know that the Washington - Baltimore - Harrisburg section of the Nat Lim met up with the NYC - North Philly - Harrisburg section, but after this was discontinued, what happened to that line and why was no service continued at all. This thread does not need to become off topic or argumentative, like many recent ones; I was just looking for some more information on something I don't know that much about.

Johnny

 

[George Harris]

I rode this once. Had to be about 1977. The train consisted of one coach through from St. Louis, one other car, I do not remember what type, pulled by a GG1. It ran down the Port Road Branch which parallels the Susquehanna River, in fact right on the east bank for a goodly part of the distance. At Perryville MD the line wyes into the Northeast Corridor. The Port Road Branch had recently been relaid with new rail and it was a very smooth ride. We got into DC about a half hour early. The electrification has since been removed.

This was not the route of passenger trains during the Pennsylvania RR era. That was on Northern Central Branch tbat went straight north out of Baltimre through York PA. Trains out of DC had to reverse directions in Baltimre to use this line. The line went out of service after a hurricane caused several washouts. Within Baltimore, this route is used by the Baltimore Light rail.

The National Limited's run time on our trip on it using the Port Road was faster than the scheduled times DC to Harrisburg on the NC branch in PRR days.

 

[Joeker]

I think this connection was a 3x weekly train, and when it did not run connections were made via NEC and PHL.

 

[fairviewroad]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the bulk of this route is still in working condition and used by freights. It's a

very scenic stretch of railway but even if there was capacity for a passenger train along this route it would

likely be a slow journey in comparison to other passenger rail services in the region. I'm not sure it would

be a very viable option for Harrisburg-Baltimore service, though it would certainly be a great place for an excursion.

That said, I-83 btw Harrisburg and Baltimore is very congested and it would certainly be a great candidate for

corridor service. But...I'm not aware of any plans to start service there and you could probably file it in the "pipedream"

category for now.

 

[George Harris]

Here are the distances between Washington DC and Harrisburg PA based on a 1957 Official Guide:

Via the Northern Central through York PA: 123.4 miles

Via Perryville and the Port Road branch: 149.7 miles

>>0.0 Washington DC

>40.1 Baltimore MD

>96.3 York PA

120.2 New Cumberland PA (jct)

123.4 Harrisburg PA

>>0.0 Washington DC

>40.1 Baltimore MD

>76.3 Perryville MD (from Northeast Corridor to Port Road line)

119.8 Columbia PA

146.5 New Cumberland PA (jct)

149.7 Harrisburg PA

The Port Road was and is the favored freight route because it is near grade free.

My opinion is that the route through York PA was the chosen passenger route because it had the greater on-line population. It was hilly and crooked which made for it being a fairly slow route. The need for passenger trains to reverse directions at Baltimore also worked against achieving a good running time DC to Harrisburg.

The increased speed limit on the Northeast Corridor from the 80 mph prevailing in Pennsylvania RR days has improved the speed capability of the route via Perryville. Even if still available the Northern Central would be the less favored route today because, even though 26 miles shorter it would be slower.

 

[jis]

I rode this once. Had to be about 1977. The train consisted of one coach through from St. Louis, one other car, I do not remember what type, pulled by a GG1. It ran down the Port Road Branch which parallels the Susquehanna River, in fact right on the east bank for a goodly part of the distance. At Perryville MD the line wyes into the Northeast Corridor. The Port Road Branch had recently been relaid with new rail and it was a very smooth ride. We got into DC about a half hour early. The electrification has since been removed.

This was not the route of passenger trains during the Pennsylvania RR era. That was on Northern Central Branch tbat went straight north out of Baltimre through York PA. Trains out of DC had to reverse directions in Baltimre to use this line. The line went out of service after a hurricane caused several washouts. Within Baltimore, this route is used by the Baltimore Light rail.

The National Limited's run time on our trip on it using the Port Road was faster than the scheduled times DC to Harrisburg on the NC branch in PRR days.

Soon after that, by the end of 1979, there was no National Limited left, and the Washington section of Broadway Limited ran via Philadelphia. So at around that time the use of the Port Road for passenger service was discontinued.

The Port Road still carries some through freight Bayview - Perryville- Harrisburg, but is not a major freight route anymore either since it involves expensive transit on the NEC between Bayview and Perryville.