Gettysburg Electric Railway
Borough trolley serving Gettysburg Battlefield attractions / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gettysburg Electric Railway was a borough trolley that provided summer access[8][9] to Gettysburg Battlefield visitor attractions such as military engagement areas, monuments, postbellum camps, and recreation areas (e.g., Wheat-field Park[10] and the Pfeffer baseball diamond[11]). Despite the 1896 Supreme Court ruling under the Takings Clause against the railway, battlefield operations continued until 1916. The trolley generating plant was leased[12] by the Electric Light, Heat, and Power Company of Gettysburg[13] to supply streetlights and homes until electricity was imported from Hanover.
Overview | |
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Locale | Adams County, Pennsylvania Powerhouse: Gettysburg Terminus: Round Top |
Operators | |
Dates of operation | 1894 (circaJuly) – 1916 November 16 |
External images | |
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c. 1908 summer ("Howard") & winter cars | |
cars near the cemetery entrance & The Loop[specify] |
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The 94-passenger,[14] 14-bench "Brill double-truck summer cars" used the main line of 5.7 mi (9.2 km)[15] on 10-minute intervals and were powered by a 150 ft × 100 ft (46 m × 30 m) electric plant[16] with 150 hp (110 kW) Corliss steam engine(s)[17] driving 500 volt Westinghouse railway generator(s).[6] Employees included superintendent Hal J. Gintling,[18][19] managers Thomas P. Turner[8] & Harry Cunningham; crewmen Charles W Culp Jr, Mr. Grinder, William Shields, George Hughes, Norman Murray, Reuben Rupp,[9] Walter Plank,[20] Harry Robinson;[21] conductors John Thomas,[22] William G. Weaver,[14] & Edward Weikert; and motormen Warfield Collins,[23] Mr. Emmons,[24] Gervus W. Myers,[22] Arthur "Ott" Shields,[20][25] & S. A. Troxell.[26]