The Baltimore Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway

The Baltimore Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway was a combined railway and steamship operator in the Delmarva region, operating a route from Balitmore, MD to Ocean City, MD, using ferries from Baltimore to Claiborne, MD, and using a railway from Claiborne to Ocean City, MD. (Right of way)

Commercial, Anon. - Standard & Poor 1906, digitized by Library of Congress

The line was the successor to the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad, who in 1889 began constructing the route between Claiborne (on the Chesapeake Bay) and Salisbury, MD, 30 miles south. In 1890, they purchased the Wicomico & Pocomoke Railroad to reach Ocean City.

Image via Star Democrat

By 1902, the Pennsylvania Railroad became the majority owner of the company, but it nonetheless operated separately from the rest of the PRR system. 

During the 1920's, the railroad grew unprofitable, and faced with insurmountable debts, attempted to reorganize to no avail. In 1928, the name was reverted to the Baltimore and Eastern Railroad, wholly owned by the PRR. 

Baltimore Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway 1000. April 1938, by George F. Nixon.


The line began abandonment in the early 1950's, although some segments survived through the PRR merger that created the Penn Central Railroad. In 1982, Penn Central's successor, Conrail would abandoned all segments of road that were not purchased by the Maryland Department of Transportation.

The las surviving section of the line operated between Hurlock, MD and Preston, MD by the Maryland & Delaware Railroad, but it appears that in the last few years this stretch of the road is no longer in service, even if it hasn't officially been abandoned yet.


Thanks as always for reading!

Location: Claiborne, MD 21624, USA

Comments

  1. PigletApril 19, 2021 at 8:04 PM

    When I last looked some years ago, the section between Preston and Hurlock was not only out of service, its condition was so bad that even running small track cars on it was not advisable. By now I think some sections may have been pulled up. Certainly the MDDE is not running over it and hasn't for many years.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FRRandPApril 19, 2021 at 8:30 PM

      Thank you for the heads up. Looking at Google Street View, I would say you're right. I've updated the abandoned railroad map and this blog accordingly.

      Delete
    2. UnknownFebruary 23, 2022 at 10:14 AM

      As of 2/23/2022: Track removed north of Preston, but still present from Preston south to Hurlock. Trees up to 6" diameter growing between the rails in various places. Northbound track is impassable from immediately north of Hwy 307 in Hurlock. I have photos from Monday, 2/21/2022 of each road crossing on that segment from Preston to Hurlock. Literally thousands of trees would have to be grubbed out and almost all ties replaced before traffic could pass.

      Also, rails are still in place for much of the way from Hurlock, MD south towards Vienna, MD., even though not shown on Google Maps. But, likewise, completely impassable.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Underwater Water Slide: Fly Over at Durinrell TikiBad

Image
Have you ever wished to experience being transferred from one pool of liquid to another via a pipe? Had you visited the Dutch water park known as Durinrell , also known as Tikibad before 2010, you would have had the chance. Half water slide, half war crime, this was a unique water slide that was filled to the brim with water, leaving riders completely submerged throughout the journey. Image:  XtremeRidesNL Known as the Fly Over was an underwater water slide, which is exactly how it sounds, and transported riders from one pool to another using the water as propulsion. Built in 1994, riders dove underwater to access the slide, using gravity to transport them upwards via the Communicating Vessels Principle . Riders would be completely underwater for about 15-20 seconds. This is how I imagine those 15-20 seconds felt like while riding the slide. The slide was built to drain water in five seconds or less in case a rider got stuck in the slide or had a medical emergency, but the threat...
Read more

The Abandoned Route 66 in McCook, IL

Image
Route 66, the iconic "Main Street of America," weaves through the heart of the United States, connecting communities and embodying the spirit of adventure. However, not all sections of this historic highway have stood the test of time. While much of the former US 66 is drivable in one way or another, especially in Illinois, there are some parts are not.  One of the first such roadblocks for would-be travelers heading from Chicago to Los Angeles via the Mother Road, now known as Joliet Road, comes just outside of Chicago in McCook, IL, where the former highway is closed between 55th St and East Ave, and has been for over two decades. (Link to the location on our Ghost Towns Map ) Image: Google Maps at 55th and Joliet Rd in McCook, IL The land that the quarry would eventually take over was part of Stinson Airport in the early days of Route 66, dating back to before 1930. ( Abandoned Airports map ). 1938 USGS Aerial Imagery The quarrying on the south side of the road would...
Read more

The Famine Roads of Ireland: Pathways to Nowhere

Image
Across the rolling hills and rugged landscapes of western Ireland, one can find peculiar relics of a dark chapter in the island’s history. These are the Famine Roads—routes that climb into the hills, twist through valleys, and often end abruptly, leading nowhere. Their haunting presence is a testament to the desperation and suffering endured by countless Irish peasants during the Great Famine of 1845–1852. "One of the many roads to nowhere built during the Famine" (Image via sboins on Reddit ) The Great Famine , or Án Gorta Mór, was a catastrophic period in Ireland’s history, marked by mass starvation, disease, and emigration. Over one million people perished, and another two million fled the country, profoundly altering Ireland’s demographic and cultural landscape. In an era dominated by the rigid doctrines of laissez-faire economics, relief efforts were minimal, and assistance often came with cruel conditions. Under the Poor Law and its amendments, relief programs were esta...
Read more