South Mountain Railroad (Cumberland)
| South Mountain Railroad | |
| railway line | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Region | Cumberland County |
| June 2, 1874 scheduled stops |
♦·•depot @ CVRR junction
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| Highest point | terminus (Pine Grove Iron Works) |
| Length | 17.78 mi (29 km) "main line … Carlisle to Pine Grove" |
| Chartered | 1865 (SM Iron Co) |
| - Constructed | 1869-70 |
| - Acquired | 1877 (SM Railway & Mining Co.) |
| - Merged | 1891 (Gett. & Harr. Railway) |
 1968 map depicting 1870 "SO MTN" RR
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1872 Carlisle-Bonny Brook map (4 spurs, 1 siding)
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1907 Henry Clay Station map (p. 26)
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1872 Laurel Forge map (depot & 2 spurs)
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The South Mountain Railroad was a southcentral Pennsylvania railway line for "connecting the Pine Grove works to the Cumberland Valley R. R." and which provided mining and passenger services via a southwest section from Hunter's Run, Pennsylvania, and a northern section from Hunter's Run to the CVRR junction northeast of Carlisle. The northern section merged with the Gettysburg & Harrisburg Railroad line south from Hunter's Run to the Gettysburg Battlefield in 1891 to create the Gettysburg & Harrisburg Railway line, while the branch southwest from Hunter's Run became the Hunter's Run and Slate Belt Railroad line.
Modernized sections of the South Mountain Railroad remain north of Hunter's Run; while parts of the railbed are available for hiking and biking such as near Carlisle (Letort Spring Run Nature Trail) and the Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Cumberland County Biker/Hiker Trail with section of the Appalachian Trail.)
The South Mountain Railroad was authorized by the South Mountain Iron Company legislation in 1864/1865, and company bonds were issued in 1869. The junction with the Cumberland Valley Railroad was laid east of Carlisle near Ashland Cemetery, Carlisle Barracks, and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. By June 2, 1874, the railroad had 8 scheduled stops between the terminus and South Mountain Junction; and in December 1875, the railway had sidings of 2.26 mi (3.64 km); 9 passenger, 6 freight, & 3 wood/water stations; and 2 engine houses.
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Wikipedia