MUDDY CREEK FORKS, Pa. – The Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad Preservation Society, which operates the Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage Village in southern York County, Pa., announced that it plans to buy 6.67 acres along it railroad right of way and has begun fund-raising. The closing on the purchase is planned for late April.

The property, at High Rock, is about half a mile north of society headquarters at Muddy Creek Forks. Craig Sansonetti, president of the society, told Trains there are three reasons the group wants this site. The property is the only suitable place along the railroad to build a shop and storage yard out of the flood plain of Muddy Creek, as well as the only location where equipment can be loaded and unloaded from road vehicles.

The High Rock site was once the location of a general store that housed the village post office and railroad station, as well as an adjacent creamery. There was also a cannery and a freight station nearby, Sansonetti said. There is a two-bay building on the site that was used for motor vehicle repairs that can be adapted for use. The society plans to lay track onto the site as soon as it is able to and eventually erect a pole barn to shelter some of its equipment.

The museum is raising funds to complete the purchase of the property, bolstered by two anonymous society members who will match donations dollar for dollar up to $100,000. With that amount raised, the property can be acquired without a mortgage with enough money on hand to make initial improvements to the site.

For additional information, go to www.maandparailroad.com.