In the late 1990s and early 2000s. the former Middletown and Humelstown Railroad spur that runs through Columbia was to be turned into a greenway, a walking/hiking path that was to run from Front Street to the Malleable Road into the township.
The little 2.4 mile tract of land became a hot bed issue in our town. In the end, instead of hte planned greenway, the fight ended with the re-establishment of the railroad. And after many years of planning, it looks like there will soon be trains running again to serve businesses in the area such as Sahd Salvage Center.
The new owners of the railroad, Freedom Railroad recently purchased the 2.4 mile stetch of railroad from the Columbia and Reading Railroad Company.
The sales price was not disclosed.
Based in Schuylkill Haven and a long-time operator of railroads in northern New England, Freedom Rail plans to upgrade the Columbia tracks.
Sahd Salvage had acquired the railroad and then sold it to the Columbia and Reading RR ub 2002. Freedom Rail purchased the short line in January.
All that's left today is the short stretch from the Mill Street crossing in Columbia to its tie-in with the Norfolk Southern line near the Susquehanna River.
Freedom Rail will mark its arrival here with a brief outdoor ceremony Friday, April 9 at 2 p.m. at the South Fourth Street rail crossing, followed by a reception at A Taste of Styles, 237 Locust St.
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