how short is short?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Several paper railroads which are primarily bridges or tunnels are quite short. Examples would be Southern Illinois & Missouri Bridge Co over the Mississippi River and the St. Clair Tunnel Co. between Port Huron and Sarnia. St. Clair Tunnel had its own electric locomotives prior to dieselization in the 1950's.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Several paper railroads which are primarily bridges or tunnels are quite short. Examples would be Southern Illinois & Missouri Bridge Co over the Mississippi River and the St. Clair Tunnel Co. between Port Huron and Sarnia. St. Clair Tunnel had its own electric locomotives prior to dieselization in the 1950's.

[jsanchez]

The Strasburg Railroad in PA is under 5 miles, their main business is tourists, but they do haul plastic pellets. They also haul equipment and parts for the State Railroad of Pennsylvania. This is also the oldest shortline in the USA, started in the 1840's. They run mostly steam. A new rail operation in Mount Union , PA will only be a few miles long it will run on old Pennsy and East Broad Top tracks to serve customers, some of the trackage will be dual gauge which is very rare nowadays. Many industrial parks have their own railroads to better serve customers and eliminate the hassles involved with class ones. It is a lot easier to get new sidings built off a shortline and to get cars spotted exactly how they are needed.

[jsanchez]

The Strasburg Railroad in PA is under 5 miles, their main business is tourists, but they do haul plastic pellets. They also haul equipment and parts for the State Railroad of Pennsylvania. This is also the oldest shortline in the USA, started in the 1840's. They run mostly steam. A new rail operation in Mount Union , PA will only be a few miles long it will run on old Pennsy and East Broad Top tracks to serve customers, some of the trackage will be dual gauge which is very rare nowadays. Many industrial parks have their own railroads to better serve customers and eliminate the hassles involved with class ones. It is a lot easier to get new sidings built off a shortline and to get cars spotted exactly how they are needed.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by sd452

There is a railroad in Wisconsin that is very short. It is called the Tomahawk Railroad. I know its head quarters are in Tomahawk Wis. But I'm not sure exactly how short it is but it is under 10 miles. And only has one engine.

Sir, I believe that railroad was purchased by Wisc. Cntrl. Correct me if I'm wrong!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by sd452

There is a railroad in Wisconsin that is very short. It is called the Tomahawk Railroad. I know its head quarters are in Tomahawk Wis. But I'm not sure exactly how short it is but it is under 10 miles. And only has one engine.

Sir, I believe that railroad was purchased by Wisc. Cntrl. Correct me if I'm wrong!!

[sd452]

There is a railroad in Wisconsin that is very short. It is called the Tomahawk Railroad. I know its head quarters are in Tomahawk Wis. But I'm not sure exactly how short it is but it is under 10 miles. And only has one engine.

[sd452]

There is a railroad in Wisconsin that is very short. It is called the Tomahawk Railroad. I know its head quarters are in Tomahawk Wis. But I'm not sure exactly how short it is but it is under 10 miles. And only has one engine.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

Whats your ridership per week? Frieght load? and I dont mean laundry...:-)

Well it's an Ho scale, i could use the flat bed car to put my socks on for the washing.. it would save me 12 feet! [;)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

Whats your ridership per week? Frieght load? and I dont mean laundry...:-)

Well it's an Ho scale, i could use the flat bed car to put my socks on for the washing.. it would save me 12 feet! [;)]

[mudchicken]

About 1/2 mile ((2640 feet)....A lead track, a switch to nowhere and a switch to an industrial building.....All well hidden east of town (There really isn't any tail room to get an engine out of the way of a revenue load in there...has expansion plans, but no takers so far)

[mudchicken]

About 1/2 mile ((2640 feet)....A lead track, a switch to nowhere and a switch to an industrial building.....All well hidden east of town (There really isn't any tail room to get an engine out of the way of a revenue load in there...has expansion plans, but no takers so far)

[cabforward]

how many miles does it have?

[cabforward]

how many miles does it have?

[mudchicken]

Kathi:

EFRR's sister railroad, Illinois Western at Greenville, IL is shorter. Charlie Barenfanger runs a really neat operation!!

-mc

[mudchicken]

Kathi:

EFRR's sister railroad, Illinois Western at Greenville, IL is shorter. Charlie Barenfanger runs a really neat operation!!

-mc

[Kathi Kube]

Here's one for you: Effingham Railroad in Effingham, IL.

It's a Class III line haul common carrier that connects with CSX and CN/IC. The business was started in 1999 to serve customers in an industrial park who didn't want to build a spur to either Class I. The major roads would only pick up and set out cars. Effingham services customers 24/7.

In addition, Agracel's Total Quality Warehouse leases storage space, has a rail dock and eight truck docks, and serves as a garage for Effingham's locomotive.

Effingham's customers include such big names as International Paper and Krispy Kreme.

Check out the railroad's Web site: www.efrr.com.

It's a little railroad, but legitimate in every sense.

Kathi

[Kathi Kube]

Here's one for you: Effingham Railroad in Effingham, IL.

It's a Class III line haul common carrier that connects with CSX and CN/IC. The business was started in 1999 to serve customers in an industrial park who didn't want to build a spur to either Class I. The major roads would only pick up and set out cars. Effingham services customers 24/7.

In addition, Agracel's Total Quality Warehouse leases storage space, has a rail dock and eight truck docks, and serves as a garage for Effingham's locomotive.

Effingham's customers include such big names as International Paper and Krispy Kreme.

Check out the railroad's Web site: www.efrr.com.

It's a little railroad, but legitimate in every sense.

Kathi

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

Kevin's Railroad: 12 feet max.
Located: in his basement, In Quebec Canada.

Whats your ridership per week? Frieght load? and I dont mean laundry...:-)

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

Kevin's Railroad: 12 feet max.
Located: in his basement, In Quebec Canada.

Whats your ridership per week? Frieght load? and I dont mean laundry...:-)

[Anonymous]

Kevin's Railroad: 12 feet max.
Located: in his basement, In Quebec Canada.

[Anonymous]

Kevin's Railroad: 12 feet max.
Located: in his basement, In Quebec Canada.

[Anonymous]

One possibility could be the CRANDIC(Cedar Rapids and Iowa City). It can not be more than 20-30 miles, but I am sure there are many more shorter than this. I once talked to a guy that worked for ADM transportation, and when I asked him for a map of the CRANDIC, he told me to give him an 3 by 5 index card, and that would leave him plenty of room!

[Anonymous]

One possibility could be the CRANDIC(Cedar Rapids and Iowa City). It can not be more than 20-30 miles, but I am sure there are many more shorter than this. I once talked to a guy that worked for ADM transportation, and when I asked him for a map of the CRANDIC, he told me to give him an 3 by 5 index card, and that would leave him plenty of room!

[vsmith]

Only if its 1:1 scale and is a paying non-tourist line.

I would have included Ward Kimballs "Grizzly Flats" railroad, its only 900 feet from the engine house to the wild wilderness of the orange groves but it was a private RR in Kimballs backyard therefore not a paying line.
Angels Flight is a paying commercial line operated by a private company for the City of Los Angeles, just like the Metro.

[vsmith]

Only if its 1:1 scale and is a paying non-tourist line.

I would have included Ward Kimballs "Grizzly Flats" railroad, its only 900 feet from the engine house to the wild wilderness of the orange groves but it was a private RR in Kimballs backyard therefore not a paying line.
Angels Flight is a paying commercial line operated by a private company for the City of Los Angeles, just like the Metro.

[Anonymous]

Do model Railraods count...??

[Anonymous]

Do model Railraods count...??

[vsmith]

Sorry guys your all wrong...

The worlds shortest officially recognized railway is right here in Smoggy LA.

Angels Flight, a vernicular RR at a whooping 278 long feet is the worlds smallest railroad. It opened in 1901 and climbed from 3rd and Hill up to Bunker Hill. It operated until the late 60's, carrying pedestrian up the steep hill. The cars pass each other at the middle on seperate tracks then rejoin a common track at top and bottom. for almost 70 years it functioned without a single accident, then was dismantled with the promise of being reinstalled in a future downtown development.

Well in one of the biggest boneheaded miscalculations in world history the Bunker Hill Redevelopment Project got derailed by a bad real estate market and terrible planning, this was of course after they demolished one of the oldest historical parts of the city then shaved off the top of the hill. 27 years later a highrise project was finally started on Bunker Hill and Surprise, Surprise, Surprise, Angels Flight was brought out of storage and restored a block south from its original location. It ran for about a year and a half before there was an accident that has stopped operation until they can replace the horribly designed spindle mechanism (the design engineer has a warrent out for his arrest and has fleed to Mexico). Its a huge scandel out here, but they have completely removed the old gear and are planning for new equipment by a company thats been around about as long as Angels Flight.