The Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

In the heyday of the railroad, there were railroad lines all over the United States of America.? As the railroad declined, less used railroad lines were abandoned.? Although many of these railroad lines are lost forever to time, many were preserved as rail trails.? Among these rail trails is the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail that runs between the towns of Newville to Shippensburg in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the U.S. state that produced the Penn Central Transportation Company (simply known as the Penn Central) and the world famous Pennsylvania Railroad of which, sadly, neither of them exist today.

Why is it called the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail?? Although Conrail was the last owner of the railroad line who took over the line from the Penn Central Transportation Company, the railroad line was originally owned by the Cumberland Valley Railroad that ran railroad service throughout what is called the Cumberland Valley with railroad line through much of the south central region of Pennsylvania and in the northern parts of the U.S. state of Maryland.? Very little of the railroad lines of the Cumberland Valley Railroad were preserved.

This brings us to the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail.? As mentioned, it begins in the town of Newville and it ends in Shippensburg.? What it special about Shippensburg?? Well, although it is not a famous railroad town, the Norfolk Southern Railway does continue to pass through the town, but it was also served by the Cumberland Valley Railroad that was taken over by the Penn Central Transportation Company and, the railroad line’s last owner, Conrail, who donated the railroad line to be converted into the railroad trail.

What is special about Shippensburg?? The town’s claim to fame is that it is the home of Shippensburg University.? The west end of the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail begins at the south side of Shippensburg University.? What is special about the rail trail beginning at Shippensburg University?? It is here where the Cumberland Valley Railroad Museum is located.

Why here at Shippensburg University?? Shippensburg University was a benefactor of the Cumberland Valley Railroad.? Here, you will find the Shippensburg Station, a replica train station that serves as a restroom stop for those utilizing the rail trail and is located where a passenger stop for the university was located.

Then you have a boxcar from the Penn Central Transportation Company.? What is special about this boxcar?? Well, it was not originally owned by the Penn Central Transportation Company but the New York Central System, a railroad company that was taken over by the Penn Central Transportation Company.? The boxcar was abandoned at a warehouse in town and was spared from being scrap metal and restored to house artifacts of the Cumberland Valley Railroad and its history and impact on the region.

Then you have another boxcar.? This one is from Conrail.? Inside, you will see artifacts and the history of Conrail and its people.

You take a short walk down the trail and you see a coal car From the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.? Why is it here if the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad never came to Shippensburg?? The coal car came from a train wreck, and it was brought here as coal was shipped to Shippensburg University, and it is a reminder of how coal impacted the region.

So, if you need a reason to visit Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, you now have one.? The rail trail is easy for wheelchairs and so are the boxcars which are open from sunrise to sunset.? Most important, the rail trail and the boxcars are free to visit.