The Emmitsburg Railroad

The Emmitsburg Railroad. . , You are standing on the grounds of the former Emmitsburg Railroad (ERR) depot, the northern end of a 7.3-mile short line operated from Emmitsburg to Rocky Ridge, MD from 1875-1940. The ERR was vital to Emmitsburg and other nearby rural communities. It allowed farmers to ship products to larger markets and transported rural children to Emmitsburg's schools each day., In times of debilitating snowstorms or wayward cattle on the tracks, residents appeared on the scene, doing whatever was necessary to keep the train running. In its most active years, the ERR made six, full occupancy, daily round trips from Emmitsburg to Rocky Ridge-where it connected to the larger, regional Western Maryland Railroad., [Photo captions, clockwise from left center, read] , . Milk Delivery - The local dairy industry expanded in the 1920s with farmers shipping their milk to bustling Baltimore markets., . Boarding Pass - Students of all ages used ERR for weekday and weekend transport. In the 1920s, a train pass for 30 one-way trips cost $1.95., . Emmitsburg Depot - The area to your left was the site of the depot. It included a station house with a ticket office, a train shed, storage outbuildings, and an American Express office, that specialized in freight purchases and shipment., . St. Joseph's College - This stop had a two-story red railroad depot and a porter's lodge. The Sisters of Charity were ERR majority stockholders from 1897-1939 and depended on it for student transport and delivery of coal. The St. Josephs stop is now the NETC (National Emergency Training Center)., . The ERR had seven train stops, each with a varying degree of amenities. , You Are Here, Emmitsburg Depot · St. Joseph's College · Dry Bridge · Motter's Station · Ridgeway · Appolds · Rocky Ridge/Emmitsburg Junction, . Rocky Ridge/Emmitsburg Junction - Southern end of the ERR with a triangular junction and a turntable that allowed trains to back up and change directions. The depot had a dedicated women's waiting room., . The Forney Locomotive - Nicknamed "The Dinky” by local students because of its smaller scale and size, the ERR employed a Forney "tank type” locomotive that had four driving wheels, followed by a truck with four wheels. The train consisted of the engine, a freight car, a parlor car, and a combination passenger and baggage car. Despite it size, the ERR locomotive is said to have carried up to six cars.