Baltimore, Chesapeake and Delaware Bay Railroad Company 1870-1880

Council City and Solomon Railroad in Alaska on May 19, 2011 by George Hanson (not the BC&D RR)

Baltimore, Chesapeake & Delaware Bay Railroad Company 1870 - 1880

This was one the railroads proposed to operate on the Eastern Shore, but never came to fruition.

1870 - Baltimore, Chesapeake & Delaware Bay Railroad incorporated in Md. to build from Kent Island to Harrington in direction of Lewes, Del. (RyW - must be under gen law)

January 13, 1873 - Junction & Breakwater Railroad Board authorizes applying to the Secretary of War for aid in connecting to the government pier at Lewes; appoints a committee to arrange for a boat to New York; after the meeting, the Board meets with a delegation from the proposed Baltimore, Chesapeake & Delaware Bay Railroad, who are seeking an arrangement for through rates. (MB)

March 7, 1873 - Baltimore, Chesapeake & Delaware Bay Railroad incorporated in Del. to build from Harrington to Queenstown, Md.; previously incorporated in Md. (PL)

April 29, 1873 - Baltimore, Chesapeake & Delaware Bay Railroad organized at Baltimore. (RRGaz)

1873 - Work on Baltimore, Chesapeake & Delaware Bay Railroad suspended. (RyW)

May 1874 - PW&B is negotiating to buy control of Junction & Breakwater Railroad from Pres. Thomas Baumgardner of Lancaster, who was the original contractor; Baumgardner wants $100,000; PW&B offer $90,000; rumor says Baumgardner has threatened to lease J&B to Baltimore, Chesapeake & Delaware Bay Railroad if PW&B bid fails. (RRG, USRR&MR)

January 1880 - Baltimore, Chesapeake & Delaware Bay Railroad revived; to be Kent Island to Harrington. (RRG)

May 27, 1880 - Junction & Breakwater Railroad stockholders vote to try to secure lease of Baltimore, Chesapeake & Delaware Bay Railroad. (MB)

About a third of its 40-mile route was graded, but it too came to naught. (Hayman)

Baltimore and Eastern Shore Railroad Company 1886-1894

B&ES train entering Ocean City, MD in the 1890s from William Matthews - Gregory D. Pawelski collection

Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad Company 1886 - 1894

November 25, 1845 - Joseph Bruff Seth (1845-1927), Maryland politician and future projector of the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad, born at Easton, Md.

March 2, 1886 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad incorporated under the general laws of Md. by Theophilus Tunis, Gen. Joseph B. Seth (1845-1927), and other local Easton interests to build from Claiborne to Salisbury, forming part of a through line between Baltimore and Ocean City; designed to maintain Baltimore's link with Eastern Shore, whose trade is being diverted by PW&B to Philadelphia; will connect by ferry to Annapolis & Baltimore & Short Line; Gen. Joseph B. Seth of Easton, Speaker of House of Delegates, is Pres. (Val, RRGaz, RyW, Hayman)

April 1, 1886 - Maryland act grants enlarged powers to the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad, including the right to own land and develop resorts, to own steamboats and wharves, and to merge or lease railroads outside of the state. (PL)

April 7, 1886 - Maryland act authorizes Baltimore City and Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester and Wicomico Counties to guarantee the bonds of the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad up to a total of $500,000. (PL)

July 9, 1886 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad completes survey between Broad Cove (Claiborne) and Salisbury. (Truitt/Salisbury)

September 4, 1886 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad Chief Engineer W.H. Eichelberger begins securing right-of-way in Wicomico County. (RyRegister)

October 6, 1886 - Supporters of Col. Joseph B. Seth’s Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad meet at the Carrollton Hotel in Baltimore to try to get the city to guarantee $500,000 bonds and the counties $200,000; present engineer W.H. Eichelberger's estimate of $727,000 for Claiborne-Salisbury, including train ferry. (BaltAm, RRGaz)

c. July 1888 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad has acquired the Wicomico & Pocomoke Railroad. (RyW)

December 17, 1888 - Wicomico & Pocomoke Railroad sold at foreclosure to Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad interests. (Val - this is date of subsequent deed!)

June 1889 - Syndicate formed to build Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad to Salisbury if local residents subscribe $50,000. (RyRegister)

November 30, 1889 - Former Thames River train ferry Groton burns and sinks off Chincoteague, Va.; Groton and Thames River had been bought by B&O and were being towed to Baltimore for use between Canton and Locust Point and between Thomas Point and Claiborne on Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad. (RRGaz, ETFrncs)

December 1889 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad opens between St. Michaels and Easton, Md. (wk. pre 12/13? - Guide has 1/1/90)

January 1, 1890 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad opens between Easton and St. Michaels, Md.; stations at Riverside, Royal Oak, Kirkham, Bloomfield, Easton. (Guide? - Sta fm RRG - verify date - prob. 12/89)

January 1890 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad lets contract for connection with Baltimore & Annapolis Short Line on the Western Shore. (RRGaz)

February 1890 - Contract let for connecting terminal between Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad and Annapolis & Baltimore Short Line Railroad. (RyRegister)

March 1890 - Maryland passes law allowing Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Wicomico Counties to subscribe $20,000 each to Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad; all counties later refuse. (RRGaz, Hayman)

April 7, 1890 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad opens between St. Michaels and Claiborne, Md.; stations at Claiborne, Harpers, St. Michaels. (BaltAm, Guide, RRGaz - see above)

June 30, 1890 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad acquires property of former Wicomico & Pocomoke Railroad (Salisbury-Ocean City) from purchasers at foreclosure in 1888. (Val)

July 2, 1890 - Meeting in Baltimore arranges the consolidation of the Annapolis & Bay Ridge Railroad, the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad and the Wicomico & Pocomoke Railroad. (NYT)

August 25, 1890 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad opens for revenue service between Easton and Vienna, Md., with the steamboat Tockwogh between Bay Ridge and Claiborne (projected to be “Bay City”); bridge over the Nanticoke Railroad and train ferry slips are not yet done; first train leaves Camden Station at 8:30 AM.; stations at Turner, Bethlehem, Preston, Thomsen, Hurlock, Ennals, Rhodes and Vienna. (RyW, RRGaz, BaltAm, NYT)

September 6, 1890 - Last rail of Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad laid, completing line from Claiborne to Ocean City. (RyW)

September 11, 1890 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad holds opening excursion to Ocean City after the rebuilding of the old Wicomico & Pocomoke Railroad. (NYT, RyW)

September 29, 1890 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad opens for revenue service between Vienna and Salisbury, Md.; completes line between Claiborne and Ocean City, Md., with train ferry to Bay Ridge near Annapolis and through trains to Camden Station; company has a traffic contract with the B&O; projected merger of B&ES with Bay Ridge & Annapolis Railroad, and others not consummated, and ferry terminal changed to Annapolis. (BaltAm, RyW, B&O AR)

October 1, 1890 - Train ferry Thames River delivered to Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad. (Hayman - verify)

November 11, 1890 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad starts transbay service between Claiborne and Bay Ridge with train ferry Thames River; carries 8 freight cars on its first trip; later adds the Olive for passenger service. (Harwood, Hayman, Simmons - check BaltAm - NYT says was excursion to Salisbury for Baltimore merchants; says Thames River has been renamed William Claiborne)

November 17, 1890 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad extends revenue service from Salisbury to Ocean City after rebuilding the old Wicomico & Pocomoke line; service runs through from Camden Station, Baltimore. (BaltAm)

December 15, 1890 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad resumes through service to Ocean City, Md., running twice a week in off-season. ( , Guide)

Feb.? 1891 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad has proved unable to compete with PRR for freight traffic and has been forced to sign a traffic contract with it. (NYTrib)

April 11, 1891 - Scranton Steel Company files for a receiver for the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad; owed $80,000 for rails. (NYT)

April 21, 1891 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad enters receivership; Capt. Willard Thomson, Superintendent of Harlan & Hollingsworth, named receiver. (AR, RRGaz)

May 1891 - Future Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway Pres. Turnbull Murdoch (1869-1927) becomes clerk to the receiver of the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad. (PRRBio)

October 5, 1891 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad train ferry Thames River makes last crossing and is laid up at Claiborne. (SlsbryAdvrt)

October 5, 1891 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad begins operating the steamboat B.S. Ford directly between Pier No. 10, Light Street, Baltimore, and Claiborne, in place of the old ferry between Claiborne and Bay Ridge. (Guide - this is Mon.)

October 6, 1891 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad switches western terminal of its connecting steamboat service from Bay Ridge near Annapolis to Baltimore using steamboat B.S. Ford; abandons freight connection with B&O and Annapolis & Baltimore Short Line Railroad in favor of PRR; B&O abandons Bay Ridge & Annapolis Railroad at end of 1903 season. (AR, SlsbryAdvrt, Harwood, Hayman)

November 10, 1891 - U.S. Marshall seizes the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad train ferry Thames River at Claiborne and tows it to Baltimore. (SlsbryAdvrt)

January 1, 1892 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad leaves receivership. (AR - runs through end of 1891)

1892 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad charters the Tangier for ferry service between Baltimore and Claiborne. (Burgess)

February 8, 1893 - New York Times reports that the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad is trying to borrow $700,000 to enable it to lift the receivership and buy the Maryland Steamboat Company and Choptank Steamboat Company to end competition. (NYT)

April 1893 - Rumors that New York, Baltimore and Washington capitalists are to consolidate the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad with the Maryland Steamboat Company and the Choptank Steamboat Company. (RyW)

December 1893 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad completes breakwater on the north side of the pier at Claiborne. (RRGaz)

March 1894 - Bondholders reorganization committee of the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad are reported negotiating for the Choptank Steamboat Company as a link to Baltimore. (RyW)

July 19, 1894 - New York syndicate headed by John Ennis Searles (1840-1908), Pres. of the Western National Bank of New York and Secretary of the American Sugar Refining Company (aka, the Sugar Trust), closes a contract to buy the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad, the Choptank Steamboat Company, the Eastern Shore Steamboat Company, and the Maryland Steamboat Company. (NYT - check BaltAm)

August 29, 1894 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad sold at foreclosure at Salisbury for $400,000 to Nicholas P. Bond for bondholders; syndicate headed by John E. Searles of New York has already bought majority of the three steamboat lines. (Val, RRGaz)

August 29, 1894 - Henry P. Scott of Wilmington banking house of Elliott, Johnson & Co. closes purchase of Maryland Steamboat Company, Choptank Steamboat Company and Eastern Shore Steamboat Company to be consolidated with Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad; total 15 steamboats and 112 wharf properties. (RyW)

August 30, 1894 - Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway incorporated as reorganization of Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad; John E. Searles, Secretary of the American Sugar Refining Company (aka the “Sugar Trust”), elected Pres.; other major directors are William F. Havemeyer of the Bank of North America, J.S. Ricker of Portland, Maine, Pres. of the Baltimore & Annapolis Short Line, and Nicholas P. Bond of the Baltimore house of Morrison, Nuuikhuysen & Bond; acquires property of Baltimore & Eastern Shore for $1.5 million in preferred stock and $1 million common. (MB, Val, RyW)

October 20, 1894 - Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad Company property deeded to Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway Company. (B&K)

December 1, 1894 - Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway Company begins operation of property of former Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad and steamboat lines. (GO, Guide)

May 1, 1895 - Bay Ridge & Annapolis Railroad, running from Short Line Jct. to dock at Bay Ridge, becomes part of B&O system; is to form link with Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad/BC&A. (B&O AR)

Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad Company 1881-1902

Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad Pass from 1886

Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad Company 1881 - 1902

June 1881 - Kent County Railroad informally reorganized as Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad under control of Jay Gould, but without filing articles of association, Colonel John F. Bingham (1845?-1891), for Gould, sells both the Kent County and Smyrna & Delaware Bay Railroads to the CNJ. (Baer/Coxey, RyW)

May 17, 1882 - Property of former Kent County Railroad deeded to Richard Hynson and John W. Sterling, trustees, who in turn convey it to Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad; controlled by CNJ. (Val)

May 10, 1883 - Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad organized at Baltimore; Robert Garrett elected President (C&C)

May 12, 1883 - Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad, formerly Kent County Railroad, reorganized at Baltimore under control of CNJ; Robert Garrett elected President, reflecting B&O interest in CNJ; CNJ counsel Robert W. DeForest (1848-1931) and John F. Bingham (1845?-1891) named an Executive Committee; no further Board meetings until 1889. (MB, Val)

May 29, 1883 - CNJ settles with Income bondholders and injunction against Reading lease is removed; Franklin B. Gowen leases CNJ after courts dissolve injunctions secured by dissident Income bondholders, giving Reading complete control of the New York-Philadelphia line; the CNJ lease also includes the Smyrna & Delaware Bay Railroad and Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad on the Delmarva Peninsula. (RyW, Rdg, NYT)

November 26, 1883 - Articles of Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad filed. (C&C)

March 25, 1889 - Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad Board declares President Robert Garrett non compos mentis; John F. Bingham (1845?-1891) named President pro-tem. (MB)

May 1, 1889 - New lessee Emil Thielens of Philadelphia begins rebuilding Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad between Chestertown and Bombay Hook. (RyW)

May 11, 1889 - New Board elected for Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad, adding new CNJ men, including President J. Rogers Maxwell and lessee Emil Thielens, and eliminating B&O men; Robert W. DeForest conveys to the B&DB 74,998 shares of the Smyrna & Delaware Bay Railroad, $100,000 Purchase Money bonds, and all real estate in return for $250,000 of a new $375,000 B&DB bond issue; no interest is ever paid on these bonds. (MB)

May 14, 1889 - Frank L. Hall elected President of the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad, replacing John F. Bingham; Board approves a traffic contract with the CNJ; announce that the company will spend $100,000 to extend to Tolchester Beach and reopen the car float to the New Jersey Southern Railway at Bayside for fruit traffic; various moves to “boom” the property is designed to entice the PRR into buying the line at a good price. (MB, RRGaz)

May 15, 1889 - Colonel Frederick Gerker (1833?-1889), former lessee of the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad and Collector of Internal Revenue, dies at Philadelphia of a stroke. (PubLdgr, findagrave)

May 1889 - Rumors that the CNJ will extend the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad to Tolchester Beach, opposite Baltimore. (RyRegister)

August 10, 1889 - Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad completes new long pier at Bombay Hook, Del., and a 17-car car float arrives. (RyW)

August 17, 1889 - Rebuilt Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad reopens between Chestertown and Bombay Hook; locomotive and private car of President __ Mills met at Bombay Hook by Emil C. Thielens, owner (?) of road, who comes down from Philadelphia with press corps on tug Macauley; tug take the party across to Bayside, where the new transfer boat (234 x 25 with capacity of 19 cars) is waiting; crosses with 14 cars to Bombay Hook, then runs to Nicholson, MD, and back; revenue passenger service begins August 18. (RyW, NYT - nb Mills must be President S&DB, President of B&DB was Frank L. Hall)

1889 - E.P. Thielens of N.J. buys the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad for $375,000, of which the CNJ puts up $250,000; Thielens is to manage the road for two years using his one-third interest, after which it will revert to the CNJ. (Usilton)

1895 - Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad discontinues operations over Nicholson Branch between Worton and Nicholson. (Val)

May 1, 1897 - PW&B begins operating B&DB under its lease of Delaware Railroad as part of the Delaware Division.

June 9, 1900 - All-PRR Board elected on the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad, formalizing its transfer from CNJ control. (MB)

June 16, 1900 - H. F. Kenney elected President of the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad, replacing Frank L. Hall; Edward P. Stacey continued as Superintendent. (MB)

June 16, 1900 - Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad stockholders transfer property to PRR. (RRGaz)

June 27, 1900 - PW&B Board authorizes purchasing the securities of the Baltimore & Delaware Bay and Smyrna & Delaware Bay Railroads. (MB)

August 1900 - PW&B purchases 390 shares of preferred stock of the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad from Emile C. Thielens. (MB)

May 17, 1901 - At the request of the PW&B, which owns all of its securities, the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad extinguishes its $375,000 in bonds, upon which no interest has ever been paid. (MB)

May 28, 1901 - PW&B Board authorizes change of line at Claymont, Del.; committee reports on sale of Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad and Smyrna & Delaware Bay Railroad securities to the Delaware Railroad. (MB)

June 1, 1901 - Effective date of PW&B sale of its stock of the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad and Smyrna & Delaware Bay Railroad to the Delaware Railroad; includes the Nicholson Branch. (AR)

June 25, 1901 - PRR purchases Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad and its subsidiary Smyrna & Delaware Bay Railroad (Bombay Hook, Del.-Chestertown, MD) from CNJ; PW&B begins operating B&DB under its lease of Delaware Railroad dated May 1, 1897, as part of the Delaware Division. (Val - MB indicates this day PW&B sells interest to Del RR - B&DB MB shows sale before 6/22/01)

October 24, 1901 - President H. F. Kenney reports to Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad Board that he has sold all of the company’s old equipment, including 3 locomotives, 3 passenger cars, 2 freight cars and all materials. (MB)

March 20, 1902 - Maryland Act authorizes the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad to sell its road and franchises to the Delaware Railroad and to abandon its road east of Massey. (MB)

April 24, 1902 - Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad, as assignee of Robert W. de Forest holds $100,000 in bonds of the Smyrna & Delaware Bay Railroad upon which no interest has ever been paid, now votes to have this mortgage foreclosed. (MB)

April 1902 - PRR announces it will build six new station buildings on former Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad between Massey's and Chestertown, MD (WEJ)

May 27, 1902 - PW&B agrees to permanently employ all employees of the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad. (MB)

June 4, 1902 - Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad Board authorizes abandonment of its road east of Massey. (MB)

June 25, 1902 - Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad authorizes removing the rails from its line east of Massey. (MB)

July 1, 1902 - Baltimore & Delaware Bay abandons track between Massey and the Delaware state line; Smyrna & Delaware Bay Railroad abandoned over entire length, Maryland state line to Bombay Hook. (MB, Val, C&C)

July 5, 1902 - Smyrna & Delaware Bay Railroad sold at foreclosure to John T. Dyer of Norristown, Pa., as agent of the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad for $15,150 or scrap value; most rails east of Clayton removed a number of years ago. (MB, WEJ)

October 2, 1902 - Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad conveys all property to Delaware Railroad for $126,809; operation by PW&B ceases; unsold real estate from abandoned right of way is conveyed to the Manor Real Estate & Trust Company. (MB, Val)