Ma & Pa Railroad Still Rolls On
Craig Sansonetti, President of the nonprofit, Ma & Pa Railroad Preservation Society, addressed York East Rotarians on 8/29/2017 at their weekly breakfast meeting at Heritage Hills. He described the economic impact of the Ma and Pa Railroad that connected York and Baltimore before the modern highways came into existence. .JPG) With 51 stations, running 18 passenger trains daily and as many as 30 freight cars to transport furniture from Red Lion, slate from Delta, milk from farms along the route and people to big city jobs, entertainment and shopping. | .JPG) Times changed, automobiles and highways replaced the train as a form of basic transportation and manufacturing and mining practices changed. The train stopped running in the mid 1980s and the track was dismantled except for a small 8 mile portion between Laurel and Bridgeton. The Ma & Pa RR Preservation Society acquired this section of land and began to restore the train and create the Heritage Village at Muddy Creek Forks. |
.JPG) Visitors will step into a time capsule and experience the town as it was in 1907 - complete with Post Office (featuring a rope elevator), general store, mill and grain elevator. The museum features collections and archives featuring railroad equipment as the Preservation Society seeks to interpret the relationship of the railroad to the community. No visit would be complete without the 5.6 mile train ride through the picturesque Muddy Creek Valley. Many docents explain and discuss the “old days” with visitors |  The Ma and Pa Railroad Preservation Society is an all- volunteer organization welcoming new volunteers, railroad enthusiasts, history buffs and all visitors throughout the year. Photo: left, Past-President York East Rotary, Greg Kern Right, Craig Sansonetti, President, Ma & Pa Railroad Preservation Soiety
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