The Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad ( reporting mark SWP ) is a shortline railroad that operates in southwestern Pennsylvania . The SWP uses rail branches that were acquired from CSX Transportation (originally the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ) and Conrail (originally the Pennsylvania Railroad ). All of the track used by the SWP is in either Fayette or Westmoreland counties. SWP provides local service to many customers in the area, connecting them to the outside world via interchanges with Norfolk Southern , Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad , and CSX. SWP has been vital in the location of several new industries to Fayette and Westmoreland Counties in recent years.
19-712: The main line of the SWP railroad runs as far north as Radebaugh in Hempfield Township . It then passes Greensburg and Scottdale (the location of the railyard) to an interchange with NS and W&LE in Everson . The SWP mainline passes through the coal towns of Owensdale and Broadford , before reaching a junction with CSX. It operates over CSX tracks through Connellsville , where it leaves CSX to run south through Dunbar and Mt Braddock to Uniontown . The route ends after passing through Fairchance and Smithfield . Near
38-744: A large bulk transload facility, is served. This location also has a new ethanol plant under construction. The Bullskin Branch serves a small coal loadout named Bullskin Tipple which actually is in Connellsville Township, Pennsylvania. It is only used occasionally. Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad's operational headquarters are located in Oakmont, Pennsylvania . The SWP is operated by Carload Express, Inc., which also operates two other shortline railroads: The Allegheny Valley Railroad (AVR) serving
57-409: Is water. The township contains the following communities: Armbrust , Bovard , Carbon, Centerville, Darragh , Eastwood, Emmonston, Evanston, Fort Allen, Grapeville , Hannastown , Haydenville, High Park, Lincoln Heights, Luxor , Maplewood Terrace, Midway, Radebaugh, St. Clair, Stonevilla, Swede Hill, White Hill, and West Point. Hempfield Township has thirteen borders, including Salem Township to
76-532: The 2000 census there were 40,721 people, 15,997 households, and 11,597 families living in the township. The population density was 531.5 inhabitants per square mile (205.2/km ). There were 16,799 housing units at an average density of 219.2 per square mile (84.6/km ). The racial makeup of the township was 97.42% White, 1.11% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.38%. Of
95-578: The 2020 census , making it the largest suburb in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area by population. Its name is derived from Hempfield in Lancaster County , which was formed in 1729 and is named after the hemp fields in the area. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the township has a total area of 76.8 square miles (199 km ), of which 76.6 square miles (198 km ) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km )
114-643: The Hempfield Area School District , which includes Hempfield Township and the communities of Adamsburg , Armbrust , Bovard , Grapeville , Hunker , Luxor , Manor , New Stanton , and Youngwood . Students can also attend Greensburg Central Catholic High School . Hempfield Township is also the location of the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg , the Youngwood campus of Westmoreland County Community College and
133-771: The Pittsburgh area and the Delmarva Central Railroad . The current SWP roster consists of SWP 4006 GP40-2 mated with SWP 406 slug, which in combination are referred to as an HD40-2 by Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad. This combination has 3000 HP, 8 powered axles and two fuel tanks. SWP 4006 was repainted and SWP 406 was rebuilt by Metro East Industries, Inc. of St. Louis, Ill in 2015. Other locomotives from sister railroad AVR are lent to SWP from time to time as needed. The Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad began operations in June 1995 when Trimax (now Carload Express)
152-400: The 15,997 households, 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 24.3% of households were one person and 11.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.89. The age distribution was 20.4% under
171-657: The 1890s. Served by the Alexandria branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad , it employed 179 persons by 1897. By 1910 the complex included over 400 coking ovens. In the 1940s the Sekora Coal Company operated a strip mine northeast of the old No. 1 mine. Coal mining in Luxor ended in 1972. Luxor has its own post office, established in 1894, and zip code (15662). The area covered by this zip code has
190-694: The Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad commenced service to the Fayette Rail Freight terminal in Smithfield. This facility is now operated by Hi-Crush Partners and serves unit trains of sand for hydraulic fracturing. Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Hempfield Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania , United States. The population was 41,585 at
209-728: The Westmoreland satellite campus of Carlow University . Hempfield Township is a major economic player in Westmoreland County. As the retail hub for Westmoreland County and the Laurel Highlands region in particular, it is home to the popular Westmoreland Mall and the adjoining Live! Casino Pittsburgh , the second largest shopping and entertainment complex in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area. In addition, Greengate Centre serves as
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#1732802386321228-411: The age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males. The median household income was $ 42,288 and the median family income was $ 52,440. Males had a median income of $ 39,001 versus $ 25,838 for females. The per capita income for
247-469: The area's largest big-box retail center. Several smaller shopping centers, well-known national retailers and restaurants can also be found in the township. Light industry can also be found within Hempfield Township including numerous industrial parks and facilities. RIDC Westmoreland straddles Hempfield and East Huntingdon townships. On March 23, 2011, a funnel cloud briefly appeared over
266-528: The central area of Hempfield Township southwest of the city of Greensburg just around 4:45 PM and eventually touched down as an EF2 tornado, causing widespread damage to scores of homes in the West Hempfield area as well as the Fort Allen neighborhood and in neighboring Sewickley Township . Hempfield Area High School was especially impacted with major damage to the auditorium's roof and stadium, as
285-580: The end of the line in Smithfield is a new large fracking-sand facility owned by Hi-Crush Partners, which receives 40 ft covered hoppers. The railroad features several branch lines. One travels to Yukon (in South Huntingdon Township ) to serve a box and packaging facility. Another branch runs from Everson to Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania and New Stanton . Here, the Westmoreland Rail Freight Terminal,
304-611: The north, Unity Township to the east, Mount Pleasant Township to the southeast, East Huntingdon Township , Hunker and South Huntingdon Township to the south, Sewickley Township to the west and south-southwest, Madison to the southwest, North Huntingdon Township to the west-northwest, and Manor , Penn Township , the borough of Penn and the city of Jeannette , all to the northwest. The city of Greensburg and six separate boroughs - Southwest Greensburg , South Greensburg , Youngwood , New Stanton , Arona , and Adamsburg - are entirely situated within Hempfield Township. At
323-515: The township was $ 21,839. Six percent of the population and 4.1% of families were below the poverty line . Out of the total population, 7.8% of those under the age of 18 and 7.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. The township uses the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) as the sole form of law enforcement. As of 2016 it is the most populous Pennsylvania municipality to do so. Public school students attend
342-606: Was nearby Harrold Middle School. 40°20′00″N 79°29′29″W / 40.33333°N 79.49139°W / 40.33333; -79.49139 Luxor, Pennsylvania Luxor is an unincorporated community and coal town in Hempfield Township , Westmoreland County , Pennsylvania , United States. The town was established by the Jamison Coal and Coke Company to provide housing for employees of its nearby coal mining complex. Jamison's underground bituminous coal mine, known as Luxor or No. 1 Mine, began operations in
361-907: Was selected to operate 66 miles (106 km) of railroad by the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation and the Fay-Penn Industrial Development Corporation. In May 2000, the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad started service to the Westmoreland Rail Freight terminal near New Stanton. The railroad began service to the Hunter Panels plant in the Fayette Business Park in Fairchance in 2006. In 2011,
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