Shortlines

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The scope of the Central Pennsylvania Shortlines RPM includes shortlines that operate(d) within the counties of Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Snyder, and Union (see map below). A further qualification is that they were not "paper railroads" (see below). 

Historical Shortlines

  • The Allegheny Valley Railway. Operated as the Allegheny Valley Railroad (1852-1891), then absorbed by the AVRy and operated 1892-1910. Absorbed by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1910.
  • The Altoona & Beech Creek Railroad. Chartered as the Altoona and Wopsononock Railroad (1891-1892), succeeded by the Altoona, Clearfield, & Northern Railroad (1892-1897), and then reorganized as the A&BC.
  • The Beech Creek Railroad. Originally chartered in 1882, it was leased by the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad (later the New York Central Railroad) in 1890 and was directly operated by that company afterwards. 
  • The Beech Creek Extension Railroad. Operated from 1901-1961; leased by the New York Central system.
  • The Bellefonte Central Railroad (previously the Bellefonte & Buffalo Run Railroad and the Buffalo Run, Bellefonte & Bald Eagle Railroad). Ceased operations in 1984. 
  • The Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad. Operated 1885-1932. Absorbed by the Baltimore & Ohio in 1932 and now part of CSX.
  • The Buffalo & Susquehanna Railroad.  Operated 1893-1929. The Baltimore & Ohio attained a majority stock ownership in 1932.
  • The Cambria & Clearfield Railway. Started as the Ebensburg & Cresson Railroad in 1891, then as the Cresson Railroad, then as the Cambria & Clearfield Railroad (1887-1903)., then as the C&CRy 1903-1913 when absorbed into the Pennsylvania Railroad.
  • The Cambria & Indiana Railroad. Started as the Black Lick & Yellow Creek Railroad. Operated 1910-1995.
  • The Central Railroad of Pennsylvania. Started as the Central Pennsylvania Railroad and the Central Pennsylvania Railroad Eastern Extension. Ceased operations in 1918. 
  • The Conemaugh & Blacklick Railroad.
  • The East Broad Top Railroad. Ceased freight operations in 1954. Continues as a tourist railroad. 
  • The Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain Railroad. Ceased operations in 1954. 
  • The Johnstown & Stonycreek Railroad.
  • The Kishacoquillas Valley Railroad. Ceased operations in 1941. 
  • The New Berlin & Windfield Railroad. Operated 1904-1918.
  • The Pennsylvania & North Western Railroad. Started as the Bell's Gap Railroad (1872-1874) and a narrow gauge line, the railroad reorganized in 1874 and rebuilt to standard gauge as the P&NW and under the control of the Pennsylvania Railroad. 
  • The Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad. The "Shawmut Line" operated 1899-1947. The Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad is often confused with the similarly named Pittsburg and Shawmut Railroad which was a spinoff company from the PS&N. Further adding to the confusion is the fact that both were nicknamed the "Shawmut Line," both operated in roughly the same geographic area, and both used nearly identical logos during their history. In fact, the two were completely separate companies after their 1916 split.
  • The Pittsburgh and Susquehanna Railroad. Operated 1892-1936. Built by the Altoona and Philipsburg Connecting Railroad (nicknamed the "Alley Popper"), and was incorporated in July 1892. Through successive foreclosures and reorganizations, the property passed to the New York and Pittsburgh Air Line Railroad in April 1906, the Philipsburg Railroad in January 1907, the Philipsburg and Susquehanna Valley Railroad in December 1909, and the Pittsburgh and Susquehanna Railroad in March 1910. Finally, in August 1913, that company was reorganized once more, under the same name.
  • The Reynoldsville & Falls Creek Railroad. Operated 1883-1934.
  • The Tuscarora Valley Railroad. Narrow gauge. Ceased operations in 1935. 
  • The White Deer Railroad. Incorporated in 1864. Became the White Deer & Loganton Railroad in 1906. 

Contemporary Shortlines

cps counties

Paper Railroads

Paper Railroads are out of scope for the Pennsylvania Shortlines RPM events. Paper railroads...

...existed on paper only and were never built or otherwise realized; or

...were charted and constructed with the intended purpose to be immediately acquired or leased by a larger parent railroad.