Images of Rail Wilmington And Western Railroad By Gisela Vazquez Soft Cover
Images of Rail
Wilmington And Western Railroad By Gisela Vazquez 127 pages soft cover
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1.The Early Years: 1872-1959
2.Leasing of the Line: 1960-1982
3.Ownership of the Line: 1982-2007
4.Steam Locomotive Restoration: 1998-20049:
5.Floods and Devastation: 1999-200310'
6.Reopening of the Line: 2007121
7.7
INTRODUCTION
The history of the Wilmington and Western Railroad as a historic railroad began in 1958 when Thomas C. Marshall Jr. presented for the first time the idea of an educational and historic Red Clay Valley railroad. It was not as easy to bring the project to life as it was to envision the existence of a tourist railroad. It took patience, diplomacy, perseverance, confidence, financial support, and a group of enthusiastic, determined, and dedicated people to create what is today one of Delaware's finest tourist attractions.
The Wilmington and Western Railroad was chartered in 1867 to move goods between the mills along the Red Clay Creek and the port of Wilmington and officially opened for freight and passenger service on October 19, 1872. Three passenger trains and a mixed freight train operated six days a week on nearly 20 miles of track between downtown Wilmington, Delaware, and Landenberg, Pennsylvania. Much of the line ran through the Red Clay Valley, bustling in the late 19th century with farms, small villages, and water-powered mills. Excessive construction debts and poor management caused the line to fall into foreclosure in 1877. The new owners reorganized the line as the Delaware Western Railroad, which became highly profitable moving kaolin clay, vulcanized fiber materials, snuff, iron, and coal to and from the mills.
In the 1880s, the line was purchased by the Baltimore and Philadelphia Railroad (B&P), a subsidiary of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad. Purchase of the line by the B&P provided the B&O with an access route to compete with the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) for passengers and freight traveling between Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, Maryland; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and New York City. The line became known as the Landenberg Branch and was for a time the B&O's most profitable branch line.
Passenger business flourished in the late 1880s when a resort opened at Brandywine Springs; by 1930, service was discontinued as a consequence of the Great Depression. Shortly thereafter, the Pennsylvania Railroad discontinued its connecting service to Landenberg. With trucks and automobiles gaining in popularity, the Landenberg Branch saw a sharp decrease in freight traffic, and the line was shortened to Southwood, Delaware, in the early 1940s. In the late 1950s, after the demolition of the large Broad Run Trestle and the growth of residential development after World War II, the line was shortened to Hockessin, Delaware.
In the mid-1960s, Historic Red Clay Valley (HRCV), Inc., was formed and incorporated as a nonprofit organization chartered under the laws of Delaware. The organization worked endtessly and with determination to restore and preserve steam- and diesel-powered locomotives, coaches, historic buildings, and sites with the intention to preserve part of the rich history of the Red Clay Valley. From the beginning, it was agreed that the organization should encompass those who had an interest in steam railroads and those that were interested in the history of the Red Clay Valley. Thomas C. Marshall Jr., Alto J. Smith, John Gotwals, Peter Steele, Melvyn E. Small Jr., Weldin Stumpf, and Willard Crossan became charter members; the first board of directors included C. A. Weslager, Luther D. Reed, Leroy J. Scheuerman, and Emile Pragoff Jr. Weekend steam-powered tourist trains began to offer regular train rides three times a day between Greenbank Station and Mount Cuba. The Wilmington and Western Railroad was officially dedicated a historic steam railroad on June 23, 1966. The objectives, as outlined in its charter, were and still are "to promote interest in and engage in the operation of early transportation (particularly railroads); to preserve and restore historic sites and buildings; to establish and operate museums; and to issue such publications relating to the Red Clay Creek Valley as the members deem fitting and proper; all for the public welfare and for no other purpose."
In the mid-1970s, the line's new owner, the Chessie System, determined that the line had become a financial burden and filed for abandonment of the Landenberg Branch. With the line due to be demolished, fund-raising began. Finally, in August 1982, the remaining 10.2 miles of the Lindenberg Branch were purchased by HRCV, Inc., owners and operators of the Wilmington and Western Railroad.
For three days in September 1999, Hurricane Floyd pounded the East Coast, destroying two trestles, damaging six others, and causing numerous washouts along the rail line. Volunteers and contractors repaired the damage between Greenbank and Hockessin, and on November 25, 2000, the first revenue train again made its way westbound to Mount Cuba. Complete restorations were finalized in 18 months, but the railroad would soon discover that another natural disaster was in store.
On September 15, 2003 (just one day short of the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Floyd), the remnants of Tropical Storm Henri stalled over southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, and produced record amounts of rainfall in the Red Clay Creek watershed. The rushing waters tore through the Red Clay Valley, destroying six historic wooden trestles and reducing the railroad's usable track from 10 miles to 2. While rebuilding of the bridges and tracks were underway, the railroad continued to operate over the shortened line.
On June 30, 2007, the Wilmington and Western Railroad's royal blue coaches, behind a gleaming Locomotive No. 98, proudly entered Hockessin for the first time in almost four years. The Wilmington and Western once again overcame the threat of discontinuing passenger service along the Landenberg Branch. Wilmington and Western Railroad's executive director, David S. Ludlow, drove the ceremonial golden spike, and the line was officially reopened.
Much has changed over the years in the life of the Wilmington and Western Railroad, yet much remains the same. Today the Wilmington and Western Railroad continues to offer steam- and diesel-powered tourist train excursions along its scenic right-of-way and provides an educational and entertaining glimpse back in time while preserving part of the rich history of the Red Clay Valley. Just as in its early years, all this would not be possible without the continuous dedication of its members. The board of directors, staff, and volunteers are paramount to its existence. Without their talents and commitment, the Wilmington and Western Railroad could not fulfill its purpose to the public, just as it would not exist without the support of the community, visitors, and guests who come to ride the trains and enjoy the marvelous beauty and rich history of the historic Red Clay Valley.
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