The original Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad Company was granted charter by the state in August of 1888 to local businessmen, including John W. Rife, Joseph Campbell, C. W. Raymond, Josept F. Raymond, H.B. Campbell, Edward M. Hoffer, George H. Grove, Joseph Strickler, H. B. Bechtel, and James I. Chamberland.  The railroad was constructed on the same land/towpath as the Union Canal had utilized until those operations ceased in 1884. Costs were estimated at $100,000.

 

By 1890, construction of the shortline railroad was completed.  The first PA steel locomotive was "The Conewago" constructed in 1889. 

 

Upon the railroad's completion, local coal prices dropped considerably for the surrounding areas. 

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In Lower Swatara folks were able to commute or travel at a reasonable cost (there were no automobiles until 1908) making entertainment and shopping more widely available.  There were stops at Freysgrove on Vine Street, Clifton, by the Clifton bridge, and Stoverdale, the old church and camp ground meeting area.

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Just under 3 miles of the track runs through Lower Swatara Township (LST) but there were more scheduled stops in LST than in Middletown or Hummelstown. 

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By 1939, the passenger trains stopped running as the railroad was used for commerce.  Brownstone and limestone were in big demand.  Ice was cut and shipped.  Milk was shipped to Reading to Philadelpha.  Cows and other livestock were also shipped from the stockyards in Middletown.  Middletown Car Company shipped thousands of railroad cars on the M&H.  Raymond and Campbell Stove Company (later the Wincroft Stove Co)* shipped their gas ranges on the M&H.  Middletown Furniture Company shipped their finished furniture out.  Olmstead Airforce base paid M&H for shipping their supplies and finished parts as well.

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Milton Hershey came to the area in 1903.  By the 1960s through 1972, he shipped his cocoa into Hershey by rail.

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In 1972, the rail line was severed by Hurricane Agnes. The Pennsylvania Railroad picked up service to/from Middletown and the Reading Railroad would serviced Lebanon.

 

From then until 1976 it was part of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, later the Reading Company.

 

Since 1976, the current Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad has been an independent company operating the 7-mile line providing freight service.

 

In 1986, tourist passenger train service began.  They acquired old railroad cars and refurbished them.  Currently, special tours, dinner trains, and 1-hour express rides are held throughout the year. 

 

There are three railroads still in operation today in Lower Swatara Township.  They are Amtrack, Norfolk Southern, and the M&H Railroad.

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* The older part of the Karns Building in downtown Middletown was the Wincroft Stove Company and you can still see the tracks of the main M&H line there.

 

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Sources:

​M&H Railroad website: Mhrailroad.com

Wikipedia.org

Charlie High's presentation on January 26, 2020

Harrisburg Telegraph, August 2-3, 1888