maryland pennsylvania railroad maryland pennsylvania railroad reporting mark known american short line railroad york pennsylvania operating passenger freight trains original line york baltimore maryland 1950s popular 1930s 1940s antique equipment curving picturesque right way hills rural maryland pennsylvania reflecting origin product merger 19th century narrow gauge railways line took miles connect baltimore york cities miles apart straight line passenger service discontinued august section baltimore maryland south mason line pennsylvania maryland border abandoned june remaining original railroad line abandoned maryland acquired mile branch line york 1980s operated successor corporation history 19th century predecessors maryland pennsylvania railroad formed earlier 19th century narrow gauge railways later york peach railway later construction baltimore delta railway started passenger trains baltimore maryland began april later year company merged line extended northward maryland june following january line completed delta pennsylvania pennsylvania peach railway incorporated railway laid narrow gauge track york august completed line southward delta went bankrupt reorganized york peach railway merged successor baltimore new company operated trains combined track york baltimore railroads struggled light freight traffic financial difficulties 1890s narrow gauge construction interchange freight cars lines companies finally converted standard gauge subsequently merged form maryland pennsylvania railroad february result mile route baltimore york compared competing pennsylvania railroad direct mile distance cities division completed line grades percent sharp curves degrees mainline railroads seldom exceed degrees denver mainline rocky_mountains exceed degrees 20th century following merger operated passenger freight trains york baltimore local trains end line hauling mail express slate marble coal lumber furniture agricultural products market particularly delta york slate delta manufactured goods york railroad freight traffic early years coal deliveries accounted significant volume milk dairy farms area early morning train boarded gallons milk daily dubbed way line profitable traffic volume additional locomotives necessary acquired baldwin pictured called engines respects attractive road writer year baldwin added roster providing powerful locomotives baltimore york peak railroad locomotives pieces rolling stock employees increasing competition trucks automobiles 1920s passenger volume began decline freight milk dairy farms pastoral route substituted economical self propelled gas electric passenger cars steam powered passenger trains freight volume increased 1920s industries located line earnings strong company declare relative prosperity ended economic great depression cut railroad gross revenues half mid-1930s early favorite attracted hilly curving line rural maryland pennsylvania railroad offered popular fan pulled elderly steam locomotives following end world war acquired diesel locomotives economical operations traffic declined significantly mail contract cancelled postal service railroad discontinued passenger service august person passenger train recalled riders came far away boston massachusetts washington participate historic event members picturesque line steam engine dropped fire final time november lack traffic railroad mile baltimore 1950s particularly acute major shipments occur indiana limestone construction baltimore baltimore segment maryland finally abandoned altogether june leaving stone tracks crossed york road steel bridge local group history placed bronze plaque west commemorating departed railroad place history 1960s railroad continued business line remaining mile york segment entirely pennsylvania added siding feet long near serve new cigar box factory maryland pennsylvania railroad acquired primarily hauling slate quarry delta furniture factory continued operation june line reduced mile york section freight station closed november pennsylvania town furniture manufacturer doors section railroad abandoned currently controlled maryland acquired miles branch line york pennsylvania 1980s december merged subsidiary area short line forming york railway wyoming gained control mile including york currently serves online rail customers connects csx railroads small mile fragment original railroad line exists laurel pennsylvania maintained maryland founded enthusiasts employees group restored station small collection rolling stock preserved station museum operated section old right way converted rail trail maryland miles long hiking baltimore near pennsylvania station track remnants old freight shed yard shed extant operates area muddy creek bridge delta bridge added national_register_of_historic_places
Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad