Enola Yard
Encyclopedia
Enola Yard is a large rail yard
located in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania
, along the western shore of the Susquehanna River
at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
. It was the world's largest freight
yard through 1956. The yard continues to operate today at lower traffic levels.
(PRR) in 1905 with two hump classification yard
s. Initially the yard processed 7,000 cars per day. The westbound complex had a receiving yard with 20 tracks, and a 25-track classification yard. The eastbound complex had a 21-track receiving yard and 17 classification tracks. There were no separate departure yards.
The PRR rebuilt the yards and installed automatic retarders
, starting with the eastbound hump in 1938. The westbound complex was rebuilt in 1944 with 16 receiving tracks and 35 classification tracks, followed by the eastbound complex, reconfiguring to 15 receiving tracks and 33 classification tracks. The average daily traffic load in 1939 was 11,207 cars, and this average increased during the approach of World War II
, with 14,100 daily cars in October 1941. The record traffic level at the yard was 20,660 cars in one day during June 1943.
In 1953 the yard handled 11,000 cars per day, and the yard comprised 145 miles of track and 476 switches
.
Conrail took over operation of Enola Yard in 1976. Traffic levels at the yard declined as more trains were routed by Conrail over nearby tracks of the former Reading
and Lehigh Valley
rail lines. Conrail removed electrification equipment
and closed the eastbound hump yard in 1983, and closed the westbound hump yard in 1993.
(NS), which has operated a flat classification yard and increased operations since taking over from Conrail in 1999. In 2003 NS announced plans to resume hump yard operations. As of 2005, the yard was operating 79 tracks and handled 275,000 tons of freight a day.
Rail yard
A rail yard, or railroad yard, is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading/unloading, railroad cars and/or locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic....
located in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania
East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania
East Pennsboro Township is a township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,254 at the 2000 census. In 1990 the township had a population of 16,588. East Pennsboro is the second largest municipality in Cumberland County. The township is located along the...
, along the western shore of the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
. It was the world's largest freight
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
yard through 1956. The yard continues to operate today at lower traffic levels.
History
The yard was built by the Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(PRR) in 1905 with two hump classification yard
Classification yard
A classification yard or marshalling yard is a railroad yard found at some freight train stations, used to separate railroad cars on to one of several tracks. First the cars are taken to a track, sometimes called a lead or a drill...
s. Initially the yard processed 7,000 cars per day. The westbound complex had a receiving yard with 20 tracks, and a 25-track classification yard. The eastbound complex had a 21-track receiving yard and 17 classification tracks. There were no separate departure yards.
The PRR rebuilt the yards and installed automatic retarders
Retarder (railroad)
In rail transport, a retarder is a device installed in a classification yard used to reduce the speed of freight cars as they are sorted into trains. Each retarder consists of a series of stationary brakes surrounding a short section of each rail on the track that grip and slow the cars' wheels...
, starting with the eastbound hump in 1938. The westbound complex was rebuilt in 1944 with 16 receiving tracks and 35 classification tracks, followed by the eastbound complex, reconfiguring to 15 receiving tracks and 33 classification tracks. The average daily traffic load in 1939 was 11,207 cars, and this average increased during the approach of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, with 14,100 daily cars in October 1941. The record traffic level at the yard was 20,660 cars in one day during June 1943.
In 1953 the yard handled 11,000 cars per day, and the yard comprised 145 miles of track and 476 switches
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
.
Conrail took over operation of Enola Yard in 1976. Traffic levels at the yard declined as more trains were routed by Conrail over nearby tracks of the former Reading
Reading Company
The Reading Company , usually called the Reading Railroad, officially the Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road and then the Philadelphia and Reading Railway until 1924, operated in southeast Pennsylvania and neighboring states...
and Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.It was authorized April 21, 1846 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and incorporated September 20, 1847 as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad...
rail lines. Conrail removed electrification equipment
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
and closed the eastbound hump yard in 1983, and closed the westbound hump yard in 1993.
Current operation
The yard is currently owned by the Norfolk Southern RailwayNorfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
(NS), which has operated a flat classification yard and increased operations since taking over from Conrail in 1999. In 2003 NS announced plans to resume hump yard operations. As of 2005, the yard was operating 79 tracks and handled 275,000 tons of freight a day.
Facilities (at peak operation, mid-20th century)
- Engine house with 46 stalls and 2 turntables
- East-bound classification yard: hump yard with 2,668 car capacity
- West-bound classification yard: hump yard with 2,668 car capacity
- East-bound receiving yard: 1,948 car capacity
- West-bound receiving yard: 1,721 car capacity
- Container yard: 140 car capacity