Author Archives: stewartstownfriends

December Work Weekend Announcement

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To all From Dave Williamson, STRT President:

Happy Thanksgiving to all our volunteers and supporters! Thank you for your dedication and hard work on our historic railroad this year!  With 2026 ending, we will be holding the December Work Weekend, Friday through Sunday, December 5, 6, and 7.

On Friday, we will be working on the class I track, most likely installing more ties down by the coal bin. As always, this time of year, it depends on the weather!

On Saturday, we will be working on ties west of the Red Board, since the train will be running that day. There are 16 ties to install between the auto shop private crossing and the township building crossing. We are working to extend the big train run to the township building crossing, next. Extensive ditching, culvert installation and some tie work has already been done on this stretch.

On Sunday we will be working on the Plasser tamper in the enginehouse, there are damaged steel members underneath that need to be removed and replaced. We have the new steel beams and channels in stock. We will probably continue with other equipment work and maybe some inside repairs to the enginehouse itself! If we have a big crew, we can also go out and continue with more trackwork.

The track crew installed 50 ties in November; we are at about 300 for the year. Plus, the track crew raised and tamped a big low spot and gauged and spiked 20 previously installed ties. Every tie installed supports or rails, holds the gauge and gives our passengers a safe, smooth and fun ride!! We need to keep up this good work!!!

We are looking and hoping for good weather in the coming year, 2026 and plan on getting a good start to track work in the new year.

We have much planned to do, 250 maintenance and improvement ties in the class I track, extending the class I track up to Bridge 5, new ties on Bridge 2, improved track bed and new ties just before Mann & Parker Lumber Company, and spot work as needed, and resources allow on the west end!!

The tie crane is working much better, and we are having the articulated arm cylinder rebuilt. Next, we will remove the main hydraulic pump and get it resealed, it is leaking badly. The hi- rail dump truck is repaired and in service.

We will be working on and with the Nordberg Spiker and the Kershaw Ballast Regulator more next year.  They will help get more trackwork done, faster!!! All we need is you!! To come out and help push our progress!!!

November 21, 22, 23 Work Weekend Announcement

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Stewartstown Railroad is sending out this update on our work weekend coming up!

We will be continuing interior repairs and upgrades to the Hill Street house on Friday, November 21, to get it ready for leasing out! On Saturday and Sunday, the train is NOT running and we will be focusing on tie work on the class I track. We have maintenance ties to install down by the coal bin, and in the big hill between the old Pumpkin patch and Iron Bridge, and continuing with tie work in the S-curves past MP 6 and before the picnic grove.
We have five bundles of ties (80) remaining to install this year, 3 to 4 days of work, so we should get them all in before year end if the weather cooperates! We are expecting a big crew this weekend and plan to get a lot done with some good cool fall working weather!! Every tie installed improves our railroad and contributes to a smooth and safe ride for our passengers and crews!! We installed a number of maintenance ties earlier this  month and need to keep up the good work.

We also started fixing up the track on either side of Elm Street and up to the I83 bridge, that was a big improvement but more is needed. No ties have been installed on that stretch since the 1990’s. As our main track improves, we can spend more time and resources in the west end, non- class I track to keep it passable and safe for motorcar excursions.
In December the train WILL be running, so we will be working west of the red board!! The year is coming to a close quickly and we have a few remaining good workdays to finish up with a goodly  amount of progress. All are encouraged to come out and help!!
Please let us know if you have any questions! Thank you.

November 2025 work weekend coming up!!

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The November 2025 work weekend is almost here, we will be working November 7, 8 and 9. On Friday we will be working on the class I track, we have some gauging and spiking to do and also fill the ballast car and load ties for Saturday.

On Saturday, we will go west to the Elm Street crossing, about MP 2 3/4, and we will install ties between the crossing and the I83 bridge. This area has seen no work since the late 1990’s and about 32 ties are needed to keep the line open for the motorcar excursions and maintenance vehicle traffic over the line.

Sunday will see more work out past Elm Street as needed or we will work to the west of the red board between the auto body shop and the township building.
Bring your lunch as we will be out on the line! The company will provide water and drinks!

It will be a beautiful fall day with cool weather to work in and a great opportunity to ride over most of the railroad and enjoy the scenery !!

The second work weekend will be November 22 and 23, expect more of the same depending on progress made this weekend.

We are trying hard to get as many ties in track as we can and also to get the big train out a little farther to the township building crossing, to finish out the year which is getting close!!

We will work on the class I track on available days when the big train is not running, there is much to do there as well!!!

Be ready for an early/ on time departure as the work train must clear the yard and be out well ahead of the excursion train for the day!!

All are encouraged to come out and help, more hands make the work easier and go quicker!!

Upcoming Workdays: October 18, 24, and 25 2025 @ 9AM

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As a reminder, we have several upcoming work days in addition to the scheduled train operations.
This Saturday, October 18, we will be working inside the Hill Street house to get it ready for occupancy. There will be a nice pizza lunch for the assembled house crew!!
Next weekend, on the 24 thru the 25 th, we will be having the second trackwork work weekend for October. This will be a tie session, we have many to put in and much to do. We did not get any ties in early October on account of fixing the bank at the culvert west of the picnic grove. Mark Koppenhaver will be crew leader.
Since the train is running, we will be working past the private crossing west of the auto repair shop and headed towards the township crossing.
And soon after Halloween weekend, we have the First November work weekend on the 7 th , 8 th and 9th. On Friday we will continue maintaining the class I track, on Saturday we plan on going out to Elm Street crossing and working from there up towards the I- 83 bridge, the track needs some attention out there to stay safe for  our ongoing motorcar excursions, and there are several other spots that need improvements! Depending on progress, we may take the hirail dump truck out on Sunday and cut brush and trees on the west end of the line. That depends on how much we get done on Saturday and how much more there is to do.
Our goal for the rest of the year is to get the remaining ties in track, that will put us at about 350 for the year.
Fall is a great time to come out and help with crisp days and nice scenery, and a good opportunity to help improve and maintain your railroad!!  No ties>no track> no trains!!
All are encouraged to come out and help, we have much to do.
Since we will be out in the line all of these days, plan on bringing your lunch! The railroad will provide water and drinks!
Please contact David Williamson, fairmontdave@gmail.com, with any questions.
Thank you.

Stewartstown Railroad: Upcoming Work Weekend Announcement – OCT 3,4, and 5

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We will be holding the first October work weekend, Friday thru Sunday, this weekend October 3,4, and 5. Meet at the station at 9 AM. The train will be running so we need to depart quickly and bring your lunch! We have a spot west of the picnic grove where the roadbed is sloughing down. We need to repair that with some big rocks, concrete mix and ballast so it is in good shape for the big train to cross.
On Saturday, October 18, we will be having a house work day to do some painting and fix-up and clean-up in the house we bought at 5 N Hill Street to get it ready for rental. We need a crew of scrapers and painters for this project, the RR Company will provide materials and tools. This will follow our usual 9 to 5 timing and we will provide a pizza lunch to the crew!!
On Saturday and Sunday, October 25 and 26, we will have the second October Work Weekend. The train will also be running that weekend, so I anticipate that we will be working west of the Red Board ( end of class I track).
We need to continue pushing on our tie and trackwork to keep our railroad in good shape. Ties deteriorate every day they are out there, we need to change as many as we can!!

As always, we have much to do and all are encouraged to come out and help!! Many hands speed our progress. October is one of the nicest months for outdoor work with cooling days and pretty leaves and scenery to enjoy whilst we are out and about on the line!To improve our safety effort , we are looking to be more diligent in using eye protection ( safety glasses) while working on track and equipment while striking, digging, pneumatic and  power tools. It is very easy to get some dirt in your eye and safety glasses will prevent this. We encourage each volunteer to come with eye protection, and wear it while working . We have a small supply of safety glasses in stock if you cannot!!

Hope to see you there!
Dave Williamson