Since 2013 the Northern Central Railway of New Freedom PA, formerly known as Steam Into History, has operated the old mainline from New Freedom, northward to Glen Rock and Hanover Jct using a brand new built 4-4-0 American type steam locomotive, the 'York' 17. This majestic 4-4-0 was built in 2013 in Elgin Illinois by the Kloke Locomotive Works for use on the NCR. The 2021 season saw the return of the NCR's line beyond Hanover Jct and the town of Seven Valleys, to the famed Howard Tunnel, and station name sign 'Hyde', the end of the NCR's line at York, Pennsylvania.
In 2021, Dynamo Productions ran a photo charter to Howard Tunnel to take advantage of the newly restored line. This year, we ran yet another photo charter on the NCR to the tunnel - and beyond, using the freshly restored wooden D&H gondola for the NCR's first ever mixed train charter.
With all day rain and downpours, the foul weather made for dramatic scenes of Civil War steam charging through the Pennsylvania countryside. The 20+ photographers and cinematographers were treated to a dawn to dusk battle of 1860s steam power and the weather. The event went beyond, into the night, for a night session at both Howard tunnel and Hanover Jct where the haunting whistle of the 'York' sent chills into the night as she screamed along the old Northern Central.
We run the charters at Dynamo Productions as a public outreach program for the railfan community. We do not operate charters to make money, even when we sell an event out, we operate at a loss. These events are purely for the love of steam, cinematography, and the community of railfans we are all a part of. A huge thank you to the 30+ participants who joined us for the NCR and M&H charters in 2022!
