Trains.com

The Hershey plant in Pa- Who if anyone, serves it?

4445 views
16 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Reedsburg WI (near Wisconsin Dells)
  • 3,370 posts
The Hershey plant in Pa- Who if anyone, serves it?
Posted by Noah Hofrichter on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 1:15 PM
I was watching the travel channel a few days ago, and they were at the Hershey theme park in Hershey Pa. They had a comera on one roller coaster there, and on one turn I noticed a double track mian going right by the park. What railroad owns this track, and do they serve the Hershey company at all? If so, how often do the switch the place. It's kind of interesting really.

Noah
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 2:15 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Noah Hofrichter

I was watching the travel channel a few days ago, and they were at the Hershey theme park in Hershey Pa. They had a comera on one roller coaster there, and on one turn I noticed a double track mian going right by the park. What railroad owns this track, and do they serve the Hershey company at all? If so, how often do the switch the place. It's kind of interesting really.

Noah


Noah-

The main Hershey plant is served by the Norfolk Southern (former Conrail) and has a switch job assigned to serve that plant. There are huge silos for the cocoa beans on site asnd the beans and I believe also bulk sugar also arrives at the plant in covered hoppers. Last time I was there they were using a couple of ex-CR SW1500s on that job.

LC
  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
  • 592 posts
Posted by 88gta350 on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 2:31 PM
I can tell you the line that runs to Hershey runs adjacent to my in-laws house (which I will be buying this fall) and earlier this year a train made it's way there about once a day with about half a dozen covered hoppers on average. Lately they've told me the fequency has increased to about 3 times a day, but the line also serves other business, so I'm not sure which portion of that is Hershey. We're at the Park several times a year, live only a short distance from it and have season passes [:D], so I'll try to get pics of the area next time I'm there and post 'em.
Dave M
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 2:55 PM
They still use 2 SW1500's on the Hershey job, when I last saw them one was in Cornail paint, one NS, I have any shots of stuff at Hershey but I hope to get soem the next time I'm out there, BTW you can see NS trains from the Hershey Zoo and can here (and sometimes see them) all over Hershey Park.
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: L A County, CA, US
  • 1,009 posts
Posted by MP57313 on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 2:59 PM
We went on the Hershey tour in the summer of '02. One of the dioramas shows a boxcar on a siding; probably dates back to before they used covered hoppers. But they do mention trains in the tour!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 3:13 PM
The ex-Conrail line is really the old Reading. They were the Philadelphia & Reading when Milton Hershey opened his chocolate plant at Londonderry, Pa, which soon was renamed Hershey.
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: North Carolina
  • 1,905 posts
Posted by csxns on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 3:14 PM
Saw tank cars leased to Hershey on a NS freight in Spencer NC.

Russell

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 3:16 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by MP57313

We went on the Hershey tour in the summer of '02. One of the dioramas shows a boxcar on a siding; probably dates back to before they used covered hoppers. But they do mention trains in the tour!


For those who haven't been to Hersey, you can't get a real tour, they have a ride that gives a description of how they make the candy.
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
  • 1,482 posts
Posted by adrianspeeder on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 7:14 PM
A goofy ride at that.

Adrianspeeder

USAF TSgt C-17 Aircraft Maintenance Flying Crew Chief & Flightline Avionics Craftsman

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 7:38 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

They still use 2 SW1500's on the Hershey job, when I last saw them one was in Cornail paint, one NS, I have any shots of stuff at Hershey but I hope to get soem the next time I'm out there, BTW you can see NS trains from the Hershey Zoo and can here (and sometimes see them) all over Hershey Park.


That must be one sweet switching job. [swg]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 8:06 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by macguy

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

They still use 2 SW1500's on the Hershey job, when I last saw them one was in Cornail paint, one NS, I have any shots of stuff at Hershey but I hope to get soem the next time I'm out there, BTW you can see NS trains from the Hershey Zoo and can here (and sometimes see them) all over Hershey Park.


That must be one sweet switching job. [swg]


LOL!!! [:D]
  • Member since
    May 2015
  • 5,134 posts
Posted by ericsp on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 8:43 PM
Go to the Pictures and text tour. They have a picture of some boxcars being unloaded at the plant (presumably).

http://www.hersheys.com/tour/index.shtml

I have also seen boxcars going to Hersheys's Oakdale, CA. plant.

"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: L A County, CA, US
  • 1,009 posts
Posted by MP57313 on Thursday, August 5, 2004 1:22 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianspeeder

A goofy ride at that.



[8D] ok it is a bit goofy, but you do get a free (small) chocolate bar at the end, and the fact that trains are mentioned at all is rare these days!

MP
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 5, 2004 7:31 AM
Many, many moons ago, when I was a kid, you actually went into the real factory for the tour .... got close to the chocolate.

During the little mock tour of today, they have that aroma of chocolate in the ventilation system as you ride ....the ride ends and thay give you one Hershey kiss, and then you exit through that gigantic candy store with gigantic prices.

Aaahhhh...capitalism.

Jim
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Reedsburg WI (near Wisconsin Dells)
  • 3,370 posts
Posted by Noah Hofrichter on Thursday, August 5, 2004 1:13 PM
Thanks for the answers guys, it's pretty interesting. The tour sounds exactly like the one for the Jelly belly plant in SE WI, I forget exactly where, but there you go through the wear house on a "train" and there's video screens around the walls. It's okay, but not anything special.

Noah
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Antioch, IL
  • 4,371 posts
Posted by greyhounds on Thursday, August 5, 2004 6:29 PM
What's really sad about this is that NS is not trying to get any of the outbound product business.

Railroads and truckers are always looking for loads out of the Northeast back Chicago way. Hersey produces a lot of such loads. But it seems even with Triple Crown, NS has now interest in hauling chocolate bars.
"By many measures, the U.S. freight rail system is the safest, most efficient and cost effective in the world." - Federal Railroad Administration, October, 2009. I'm just your average, everyday, uncivilized howling "anti-government" critic of mass government expenditures for "High Speed Rail" in the US. And I'm gosh darn proud of that.
  • Member since
    May 2015
  • 5,134 posts
Posted by ericsp on Thursday, August 5, 2004 8:40 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by greyhounds

What's really sad about this is that NS is not trying to get any of the outbound product business.

Railroads and truckers are always looking for loads out of the Northeast back Chicago way. Hersey produces a lot of such loads. But it seems even with Triple Crown, NS has now interest in hauling chocolate bars.



Try to change it.
http://railretrievers.com/contest/

"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy