"Railroads played key role in York County during the" Topic

…Civil War

"The Civil War saw the first mass use of railroads in America to move troops, supplies, horses, and equipment to places of need. The Northern states had about 21,000 miles of track (and 45,000 miles of telegraph wires). Pennsylvania boasted the most railroad tracks on the continent, with 2,600 miles completed and in use by 1860.

Three railroads ran through York County (and, no, the Maryland and Pennsylvania, or Ma and Pa, was not yet in existence). The mainline was the Northern Central Railway, which stretched north from Baltimore to Williamsport. Key stops in YorkCo included New Freedom, Railroad/Shrewsbury Station, Glen Rock, Hanover Junction (where the NCR connected with the Hanover Branch Railroad that ran west to Gettysburg), York (another spur in York ran eastward to Wrightsville where it connected to Columbia and Philadelphia), Emigsville, Manchester, Mount Wolf, and York Haven, among others…"
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Armand

This may be a bit picky. During the ACW the Northern Central was still operating not only its own mainline from Baltimore through York to Harrisburg and points north, but also the Wrightsville, York and Gettysburg's line from Wrightsville to York. The only other operating railroad in York County during the war was the Hanover Branch.

Another ACW connection, Herman Haupt cut his teeth working on the WY&G when it was operated and controlled by the Northern Central's predecessor.

Thanks Bill!

Armand