New York, Norfolk & Philadelphia Railroad Company 1882 - 1958
February 13, 1882 - Trunk Line Commissioners Allen G. Thurman, Elihu B. Washburne and Judge Thomas M. Cooley meet in Albert Fink’s office for the first time and organize; then hold hearings at New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston and St. Louis. (MB, NYT)
September 19, 1882 - Peninsula Railroad Companies of Md. and Va. formally merge to form New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad Company (NYP&N); William Painter, Pres.; the Peninsula Railroad Company (Md.) has not yet filed its articles with the Secretary of State. (MB, Val, C&C)
October 5, 1882 - Uriah Hunt Painter (1837-1900) elected Pres. of NYP&N, replacing brother William Painter (1838-1884), appointed VP and General Manager. (MB)
October 1882 - A. J. Cassatt orders inauguration of PRR horse-drawn cab service for patrons of PRR stations in New York, Philadelphia and Washington; inspired by the hansom cabs and victorias of London; cabs are owned by PRR and leased to drivers; have 20 hansom cabs and 10 four-wheelers; charge 25 cents for first 1.5 miles; drivers wear green livery with gilt trimmings. (RyW, Outlaw)
1882 - NYP&N makes a through traffic contract with the PRR and PW&B, the NYP&N to send all traffic north by that route, but the PRR to have the option of sending traffic via Richmond; however, at this time the RF&P is generally closed, as it wants only high-class freight. (AJC/Keystone)
April 27, 1883 - PW&B Board authorizes New Castle Cut Off; changes name of Woodland to Markham, Street Road to Westtown, and Baltimore Central Jct. to Wawa, all on Central Division; Pres. Hinckley announces Maryland courts have approved purchase of Dorchester & Delaware Railroad; modifies through traffic contract with Peninsula Railroad, now New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad; extends time for completion between Cherrystone Inlet to Pocomoke City to July 1, 1884 and for completion between Pocomoke City and Delmar to Jan. 1, 1885, unless NYP&N opts to buy Eastern Shore Railroad instead of building a direct line. (MB)
December 24, 1883 - NYP&N contracts with John Keller of Lancaster to build line between Kings Creek and Cape Charles. (MB)
1883 - PRR and PW&B make a traffic contract to promote the construction of the NYP&N. (AR)
January 21, 1884 - William L. Scott and J. Gardner Cassatt (1849-1911) elected directors of NYP&N. (MB)
January 25, 1884 - William L. Scott of Erie, Pa., elected Pres. of NYP&N, replacing Uriah Hunt Painter. (MB)
March 10, 1884 - NYP&N stockholders approve merger with the Eastern Shore Railroad Company, As Reorganized. (PenEntprs)
April 1, 1884 - NYP&N appoints James McConkey, formerly of the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad, as Superintendent. (MB, Lewis)
April 4, 1884 - NYP&N adopts PRR-style bylaws and organization; J. Gardner Cassatt (1849-1911) elected Treasurer. (MB)
May 3, 1884 - Gen. William Painter (1838-1884), VP of NYP&N, dies suddenly of a stroke at his home in Philadelphia; had just returned from a rail trip through the South scouting for extensions and connections south of Norfolk. (PubLdgr)
May 9, 1884 - Drawbridge over the Pocomoke River completed on the NYP&N. (Lewis)
May 24, 1884 - NYP&N contracts with John Keller to rebuild old Eastern Shore Railroad south of Peninsula Jct.; Clement A. Griscom elected a director; A.J. Cassatt’s assistant William A. Patton elected VP, replacing William Painter, deceased (MB)
May 24, 1884 - First NYP&N work train crosses the Pocomoke River Bridge; contractors employ many Italian laborers. (PenEntprs. Lewis)
May 1884 - William T. Walters and Benjamin F. Newcomer purchase 6,320 shares of Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad; the owners of the RF&P have become alarmed by the construction of the NYP&N; the Atlantic Coast Line people immediately open the RF&P to all freight. (Hoffman - verify, AJC/Keystone)
June 11, 1884 - Eastern Shore Railroad Company, As Reorganized, (Delmar to Crisfield) merged into New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad (NYP&N) under articles of Mar. 15, 1884. (Val)
June 14, 1884 - Robert B. Cooke (1854-1930), formerly with the Baltimore Steam Packet Company (Old Bay Line), appointed General Passenger & Freight Agent of NYP&N. (Guide, PRRBio)
August 3, 1884 - NYP&N runs first passenger train from Kings Creek to Accomac for officials. (PenEntrprs, Lewis)
August 15, 1884 - First regular NYP&N passenger train arrives at Accomac. (PenEntrprs)
August 18, 1884 - NYP&N opens for regular revenue service between Pocomoke City and Accomac, Va.; stations at New Church, Hallston, and Matomkin; old line to Crisfield becomes Crisfield Branch; Peninsula Jct. renamed Kings Creek; stations at Dublin and Costen, Md., discontinued. (Guide, RyW)
September 8, 1884 - NYP&N opens to Pungoteague Station (Keller), 8 miles south of Accomac. (PenEnt, RRGaz)
September 29, 1884 - NYP&N opens between Accomac and Belle Haven, Va. (Lovell - verify - Guide shows next segment to Cape Charles in Nov - Balt Sun of 10/25 says running to Belle Haven)
October 8, 1884 - NYP&N contracts with Harlan & Hollingsworth for car ferry steamer Cape Charles and one tugboat for its Cape Charles-Norfolk ferry. (RyW)
October 8, 1884 - NYP&N Superintendent James McConkey visits Cockle Point and other points on Chincoteague Bay in order to locate the terminus of a branch from New Church. (PenslEntrprs)
October 10, 1884 - PRR agrees with International Navigation Company, now operating 9 ships between Philadelphia, New York and Antwerp, to establish a weekly line between New York, Philadelphia and Liverpool; PRR to provide two free piers at Philadelphia and one at Jersey City for $40,000 per year. (MB)
October 15, 1884 - NYP&N contracts with Baltimore Steam Packet Company (Old Bay Line) for use of its pier at Town Point, Norfolk. (MB)
October 25, 1884 - Last rail laid on the NYP&N at Cape Charles. (EstrnShrNws, Lewis)
October 1884 - NYP&N track reaches Frankstown. (RRGaz)
November 2, 1884 - New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad opens between Belle Haven and Cape Charles, Va., completing line from Pocomoke City; no connecting service to Norfolk until a steamboat can be chartered. (WilmEvrEvn - Ry Register says turned over by contractor, open 11/3, Monday)
November 3, 1884 - NYP&N opens for local traffic. (RyW)
November 7, 1884 - NYP&N leases steamer Jane Moseley, now at Georgetown, D.C., from Inland & Seaboard Coasting Company for Cape Charles-Norfolk service, effective Nov. 15. (MB)
November 17, 1884 - New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad opens for through service to Norfolk with the former LIRR steamboat Jane Mosely chartered from the Washington & Norfolk Steamboat Company; one overnight passenger train with sleeping car from New York; company issues $1.25 million in stock to A.J. Cassatt; approves contract with Harlan & Hollingsworth for train ferry Cape Charles and tugboat Norfolk and with Jackson & Sharp for car float No. 1. (MB, PRR AR, RyW, Lewis)
November 21, 1884 - PRR officials from Philadelphia arrive in Norfolk on Jane Moseley after inspecting the NYP&N; return via C&O. (RyW, NYT)
December 28, 1884 - Hallston renamed Hallwood; Matomkin renamed Parksley; Accomac renamed Tasley; Pungoteague renamed Keller; and Belle Haven renamed Exmore on NYP&N. (Guide)
December 29, 1884 - NYP&N Board approves contract for station and float bridge at Cape Charles. (MB)
December 30, 1884 - Future Superintendent Randolph Bolling Cooke (1884-1962) born at Norfolk; son of NYP&N official Robert Bruce Cooke (1854-1930). (ancestry.com)
1884 - With the completion of the NYP&N, the southern railroads entering the Norfolk-Portsmouth area contract with the steamship lines to divert all through traffic from the railroads. (AJC/Keystone)
January 15, 1885 - NYP&N train ferry Cape Charles launched at Harlan & Hollingsworth; carries four passenger cars with bow loading only. (RyW)
January 19, 1885 - A.J. Cassatt elected a director of NYP&N. (MB)
February 17, 1885 - A.J. Cassatt elected Pres. of NYP&N, replacing William L. Scott. (MB)
March 1, 1885 - James McConkey resigns as Superintendent of NYP&N. (MB)
March 10, 1885 - NYP&N tug Norfolk and 12-car car float leave Wilmington, Del., for Cape Charles. (RyW)
March 12, 1885 - Freight car-float service begins between Cape Charles and Norfolk with tugboat Norfolk and Carfloat No. 1, carrying 12 cars; crossing takes 3:30; NYP&N floating equipment has been planned by Philadelphia shipbuilder William B. Reaney. (Hayman, RyW)
March 17, 1885 - NYP&N car ferry Cape Charles built by Harlan & Hollingsworth tested at Wilmington, Del., meets specification of 17 MPH in still water. (RyW, EvryEvng)
March 28, 1885 - Train ferry Cape Charles makes first crossing from Cape Charles to Norfolk on NYP&N; loads from bow only and carries four passenger cars; makes two round trips daily; day train carries a parlor car and the night train a sleeping car; advertised as saving 5 hours over the route via Washington and Richmond. (PubLdgr, Hayman)
April 1, 1885 - NYP&N appoints Henry W. Dunne (1856-1894) Superintendent at Cape Charles, replacing James McConkey, resigned for health; Dunne had worked in PRR Engineering Department and as Superintendent & Engineer of A.J. Cassatt’s Lancaster Avenue Improvement Company. (MB, PenEnt)
May 13, 1885 - PRR Board orders two car floats for NYP&N built at South Amboy. (MB)
May 13, 1885 - PRR and NYP&N hold two-day press excursion from Philadelphia to Cape Charles and Old Point Comfort. (RyW)
May 1885 - Altoona Shops completes 150 freight cars equipped with Westinghouse brakes and Janney couplers for NYP&N fast freight service. (RRGaz)
June 1885 - NYP&N obliged to employ an additional steamer and barge to cope with heavy freight traffic; delivers up to 60 cars of produce a day to PRR at Delmar. (RyW)
June 30, 1885 - PRR loans NYP&N $105,000. (MB)
July 29, 1885 - NYP&N places its second tugboat, Portsmouth, in service. (MB)
December 9, 1885 - NYP&N Board approves contract with Harlan & Hollingsworth for new steamboat Old Point Comfort. (MB)
December 19, 1885 - NYP&N places second car float in service. (MB)
January 1, 1886 - NYP&N creates the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Floating Equipment Trust; vessels are leased back to railroad. (MB)
March 17, 1886 - NYP&N begins operating steamer Old Point Comfort under lease from NYP&N Floating Equipment Trust; built by Harlan & Hollingsworth. (MB, BethStl)
March 1886 - NYP&N receives the tugboat Portsmouth. (Lewis)
April 1886 - NYP&N discontinues through Pullman cars to the Seaboard & Roanoke via the train ferry Cape Charles. (Lewis)
May 10, 1886 - NYP&N places third car float in service. (MB)
May 15, 1886 - Last run of Jersey City-Portsmouth, Va., sleeping car, carried on the NYP&N train ferry Cape Charles. (NYT/tt)
May 17, 1886 - NYP&N discontinues carrying sleeping car between Cape Charles and Portsmouth, Va.; through express service reduced to one overnight train. (NYT/tt)
November 1, 1886 - NYP&N begins connecting steamboat service between Cape Charles and Richmond, Va., using the Old Point Comfort; later replaced by chartered Samuel M. Felton; route competes with Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad. (RyRegister, Lewis, Hayman)
January 1887 - NYP&N Railroad acquires terminal property at Pinners Point, Portsmouth, Va. (MB)
March 1, 1887 - "Eastern Carolina Despatch" fast freight line begins operation; joint venture of NYP&N, Norfolk Southern Railroad, Wilmington Steamship Company of Delaware and Atlantic & North Carolina Railroad formed under agreement of Jan. 3, and Feb. 23; includes railroad connections and steamer operating on Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds between Elizabeth City and New Berne, N.C.; serves perishables traffic to northeastern cities. (MB, Pam)
May 1, 1887 - NYP&N moves from old Norfolk wharf at Town Point to new wharf at Granby Street leased from A.A. McCullough and C.W. Grandy under agreement of Jan. 26; includes new warehouse, float bridge, etc. (MB)
May 9, 1887 - NYP&N occupies McCullough’s Wharf at Granby Street, Norfolk, and abandons use of Town Point Wharf; new depot has float bridge, freight house and space for 100 freight cars. (MB)
May 1887 - NYP&N Railroad signs a traffic contract with the Norfolk & Western Railroad and will reroute some traffic away from the Hagerstown interchange. (RyW)
June 27, 1887 - NYP&N accepts offer of CNJ to lease train ferry Cape Charles for three months with option to buy; it has proved unsuitable for the Chesapeake crossing; used by CNJ on its summer service between New York and Sandy Hook; NYP&N appoints R.B. Cooke as General Agent at Norfolk in charge of ferry service, in addition to his duties as General Passenger & Freight Agent. (MB)
July 29, 1887 - VP Frank Thomson holds interviews with managers of major southeastern railroads seeking establishment of three cooperative fast freight lines: one via Virginia Midland and Richmond & Danville system, one via Atlantic Coast Line, and one via NYP&N and Seaboard & Roanoke (the future Seaboard Air Line) system. (NYT)
July 1887 - PRR is hauling a large traffic in produce from the NYP&N to Jersey City in open lattice cars; about 75 cars of potatoes and 20 cars of watermelons daily; will enlarge facilities for perishables at Jersey City. (RyW)
August 1, 1887 - PRR, Wilmington & Weldon Railroad, and Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad establish fast freight line Atlantic Coast Despatch, particularly for southern fruits and vegetables; cars operate via both the NYP&N and Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad routes; PRR furnishes 30 cars and other parties 70 cars; causes freight on Petersburg Railroad to double. (Hoffman, Dozier)
August 21, 1887 - Delmarva farmers are upset that they are subject to short-haul rate discrimination; the NYP&N has spurred development in Northampton and Accomac Counties, Va., but produce from Norfolk and North Carolina gets preferential long-distance rates. (NYT)
December 15, 1887 - PRR and NYP&N establish "Seaboard Despatch" and "Atlantic Coast Despatch" freight lines via Cape Charles and Portsmouth. (NYPN MB)
December 27, 1888 - NYP&N sells train ferry Cape Charles to New England Terminal Company for train ferry service between South Norwalk and New York. (MB)
January 15, 1889 - NYP&N contracts for replacing single-track float bridges at Cape Charles and Norfolk with double-track bridges; purchases the old PRR float bridge at the foot of Washington Avenue, Philadelphia, for use as a second float bridge at Cape Charles. (MB)
February 4, 1889 - NYP&N contracts to increase capacity of car floats from two tracks carrying 12 cars to four tracks carrying 20 cars. (MB)
February 11, 1889 - Because of growing traffic, NYP&N places second-hand tugboat W.H. Jackson in service between Cape Charles and Norfolk. (MB)
February 27, 1889 - Charles W. Reiff appointed Immigrant Agent of NYP&N at New York. (Guide)
March 13, 1889 - PRR Board authorizes sale of train ferry Canton to the NYP&N, which coverts it into a car float. (MB, Keystone)
April 21, 1889 - NYP&N engine house at Cape Charles destroyed by fire, along with two locomotives and a passenger car. (MB)
June 11, 1889 - NYP&N borrows $100,000 from Cassatt & Co. (MB)
July 20, 1889 - NYP&N screw steamboat New York launched at Harlan & Hollingsworth in Wilmington. (BethStl)
September 1, 1889 - Princess Anne station of NYP&N destroyed by fire. (MB)
September 25, 1889 - NYP&N contracts for new engine house at Cape Charles. (MB)
October 25, 1889 - NYP&N contracts for new station at Princess Anne. (MB)
November 2, 1889 - Harlan & Hollingsworth delivers the screw steamboat New York to the NYP&N. (BethStl)
November 6, 1889 - NYP&N places passenger steamer New York in service on Cape Charles-Norfolk run; first propeller boat on this run; permits reestablishing two round trips, adding a day train with parlor cars. (MB - Hayman RyW has 11/11 not right - verify last part)
November 11, 1889 - NYP&N places steamboat New York in service between Cape Charles and Norfolk, permitting restoration of two daily round trips on the railroad. (Lewis)
December 23, 1889 - NYP&N reports that it has purchased old PW&B train ferry Canton and converted it to four-track car float carrying 22 cars. (MB)
1889 - NYP&N replaces old iron rails with steel on Crisfield Branch. (MB)
1889 - NYP&N builds a turntable at Crisfield. (C&C)
1889 ¬- NYP&N enlarges Cape Charles Yard. (MB)
July 5, 1890 - NYP&N and Norfolk Southern Railroad form an equipment trust to finance the purchase of the Pamlico Sound steamboat Neuse; bonds are to be guaranteed jointly by both railroads; trust is paid off in 1892 and boat becomes joint property of both railroads. (MB)
April 18, 1891 - ICC decides case of Delaware State Grange vs. PRR, PW&B, Delaware Railroad and NYP&N; finds rates for perishable excessive and rates on Delmarva Peninsula higher than those from Norfolk; orders rates reduced by 20-25%. (NYT)
September 16, 1891 New York & New England Railroad begins Boston-New York service using the New England Terminal Company to establish a train ferry between Oyster Bay and Wilson Point near Norwalk, Conn.; first passenger train, consisting of a combine, 2 sleeping cars, a diner, a coach and a freight car, leaves Boston at 10:00 AM over New York & New England Railroad via Danbury, Hartford, and Willimantic; arrives at Long Island City at 7:18 PM; crossing of Long Island Sound in former NYP&N train ferry Cape Charles of New England Terminal Company takes 50 minutes. (NYT, )
September 19, 1891 - William Lawrence Scott (1828-1891), Erie, Pa., entrepreneur, Pres. of the Erie & Pittsburgh Railroad of Lines West and NYP&N director, dies suddenly of a heart attack at Newport, R.I.., where he had gone to recuperate. (MB, AR, NYT, RyW)
September 28, 1891 - John Keller elected director of NYP&N, replacing William L. Scott, deceased. (MB)
May 8, 1893 - First expedited perishable freight from NYP&N arrives at West Philadelphia at midnight, having made the run from Cape Charles in 12 hours. (RyW)
August 18, 1893 - NYP&N purchases the underwater telegraph cable between Cape Henry and Cape Charles from the U.S. Agriculture Dept. (MB)
1893 - NYP&N lays a submarine cable between Cape Charles and Cape Henry across the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. (C&C)
August 26, 1894 - Henry W. Dunne (1856-1894), Superintendent of NYP&N, dies at Philadelphia. (MB)
December 17, 1894 - R.H. Nicholas appointed Superintendent of NYP&N, replacing H.W. Dunne, deceased. (Guide)
1895 - The New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad operates two passenger steamboats and a fleet of three tugs and four carfloats between Cape Charles and Norfolk; the carfloats hold 24 cars on 4 tracks and take 4:30 to 5:30 to make the crossing. (RRGaz)
January 23, 1896 - Va. act authorizes NYP&N to build a belt line between Norfolk and Portsmouth for better connections with railroads leading to the South. (MB)
May 12, 1896 - NYP&N appoints Joseph U. Crawford to survey Norfolk Belt Line. (MB)
September 2, 1896 - NYP&N buys land at Pinners Point from Portsmouth Water Front Land Company. (MB)
October 1, 1896 - NYP&N purchases 38.6 acres at Port Norfolk, Portsmouth, from the Port Norfolk Land Company. (MB)
October 27, 1896 - NYP&N Board approves location of Norfolk Belt Line. (MB)
1896 - New Haven sells former NYP&N steam car ferry Cape Charles. (AR)
July 7, 1897 - NYP&N, Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad, N&W, Norfolk Southern Railroad, Atlantic & Danville Railway, Southern Railway, C&O and Norfolk & Carolina Railroad sign joint ownership agreement for Southeastern & Atlantic Railroad (Portsmouth-Norfolk belt line).
October 25, 1897 - NYP&N Board authorizes formation of Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad as joint terminal company; sale of terminal property at Pinners Point in Portsmouth, Va. (MB)
November 1897 - NYP&N begins work on Port Norfolk Terminal freight yard at Portsmouth, Va. (MB)
January 12, 1898 - Southeastern & Atlantic Railroad renamed Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad; NYP&N has 12½% interest. (Val, C&C)
March 10, 1898 - NYP&N Board orders sale of land at Pinners Point to Water Front Investment Company; contracts with Delaware River Iron Ship Building & Engine Works to build new passenger steamer Cape Charles. (MB)
March 10, 1898 - PRR and PW&B demand payment of $1 million overdue NYP&N interest coupons which they have been buying.
March 1898 - NYP&N issues Prospectus to the Bondholders and Stockholders ...; PRR and PW&B hold $1,005,330 in unpaid coupons; plan calls for a foreclosure sale, a 15% assessment on stock, and funding debts into a new $3 million bond issue. (MB)
April 1898 - NYP&N agrees on reorganization without foreclosure. (RRGaz)
May 10, 1898 - NYP&N purchases Norfolk pier at Brooke Avenue, leased from McCullough Estate since 1887; contracts with Chesapeake & Ohio Railway for joint station at head of the wharf; C&O operates connecting boats to Newport News. (MB)
September 19, 1898 - NYP&N begins two days of trial runs of its new steamboat Cape Charles at Norfolk; fails to make speed and is not accepted. (MB)
September 26, 1898 - NYP&N's Port Norfolk freight yard opens on the west bank of the Elizabeth River at Portsmouth; through freight transferred there, and old Norfolk pier used for local freight only; Port Norfolk is connected to the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad, which also opens from Port Norfolk Yard on NYP&N to Berkley Avenue on N&W (5.72 miles). (MB, Val)
November 8, 1898 - NYP&N moves all through freight to Port Norfolk and relocates transfer bridge there; Norfolk wharf for local freight only.
December 16, 1898 - NYP&N Board authorizes sale of its half-interest in the steamboat Neuse used in North Carolina to the Norfolk & Southern Railroad. (MB)
December 16, 1898 - New steamboat Cape Charles, rejected by NYP&N, destroyed by fire at Pinners Point, Va. (RRGaz)
January 1, 1899 - New freight traffic agreement of PRR, PW&B and NYP&N covers northsouth business. (AR)
January 24, 1899 - NYP&N stockholders meet at Cape Charles and agree to reorganization without foreclosure; par value of stock to be cut from $100 to $50; company to issue $3 million First Mortgage bonds and $1 million Income bonds. (RRGaz)
January 25, 1899 - NYP&N Board authorizes funding overdue coupons into new $3 million, 4% First Mortgage bonds. (MB)
February 1, 1899 - NYP&N issues $3 million 4% First Mortgage bonds and $1 million Income bonds. (MB)
March 27, 1899 - NYP&N signs new traffic contract with PRR and PW&B, retroactive to Jan. 1; grants PRR an option to buy the stock of the NYP&N. (MB)
April 8, 1899 - NYP&N contracts with Delaware River Iron Ship Building & Engine Works for a twin-screw passenger steamboat that will be named Pennsylvania. (MB)
April 19, 1899 - NYP&N charters steamboat Sue from Weems Steamboat Company of Baltimore. (MB)
June 6, 1899 - William A. Patton elected Pres. of NYP&N, replacing A.J. Cassatt. (MB)
June 14, 1899 - A. J. Cassatt resigns as Pres. of NYP&N; replaced by protégé William A. Patton. (MB)
September 5, 1899 - Robert Kelso Cassatt (1873-1944), son of A. J. Cassatt, named Assistant to Pres. of NYP&N. (MB)
November 1, 1899 - PRR takes control of Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway and elects full PRR/PW&B Board; Sutherland M. Prevost Pres. and Willard Thomson, only holdover from old Board, named VP & General Manager; NYP&N takes 5,000 shares common and 3,000 shares preferred stock. (MB, AR)
December 16, 1899 - NYP&N steamboat Pennsylvania launched at John Roach's shipyard in Chester, Pa. (NYT)
1899 - NYP&N builds new steel drawbridge over the Pocomoke River. (AR)
January 1, 1900 - John G. Rodgers (1862-1923) named Superintendent of NYP&N, replacing R.H. Nicholas, resigned for health; Robert B. Cooke (1854-1930) promoted from General Freight & Passenger Agent to Traffic Manager. (MB, PRRBio)
January 23, 1900 - R. H. Nicholas (1854-1900), former Superintendent of NYP&N, dies of pneumonia at Philadelphia. (RRGaz)
March 14, 1900 - Steamboat Pennsylvania delivered to the NYP&N; Old Point Comfort becomes a relief boat. (Lewis)
March 18, 1900 - Delaware River Iron Ship Building & Engine Works delivers passenger steamer Pennsylvania to NYP&N; Old Point Comfort becomes a reserve boat. (AR, Hayman)
April 9, 1900 - NYP&N takes delivery of tug Delmar. (AR)
October 20, 1900 - Uriah Hunt Painter (1837-1900), director and former Pres. of NYP&N, dies at age 63 at West End, Long Branch, N.J. (MB, Rootsweb)
November 7, 1900 - Robert Kelso Cassatt (1873-1944), son of A.J. Cassatt, elected a director of NYP&N. (MB)
1900 - New freight station built at Crisfield, Md., on the NYP&N. (Supt AR)
January 1, 1901 - R.B. Cooke promoted from General Passenger & Freight Agent of NYP&N to Traffic Manager; post of General Agent at Norfolk abolished, and ferry placed under control of Superintendent. (MB)
January 1, 1902 - Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway leases rights to the Crisfield, Md., wharf from the NYP&N for its steamboats. (MB)
January 1, 1907 - Private funeral held for A.J. Cassatt at his town house on West Rittenhouse Square; old-fashioned funeral procession follows for interment in the churchyard of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer at Bryn Mawr; PRR officials attend, but not as an official delegation; no funeral trains run, nor service stopped. (NYT)
Spring 1902 - NYP&N Railroad oils its roadbed between Delmar and Cape Charles to keep down dust. (Supt AR)
December 1, 1902 - NYP&N, Cincinnati & Muskingum Valley Railroad increase wages 10%. (MB)
1902 - NYP&N begins relaying the main line with 85-lb. steel rails. (Lewis)
April 7, 1903 - NYP&N Board authorizes purchase of tugboat Abram Minis now at Savannah, Ga. (MB)
1903 - NYP&N purchases the second-hand tugboat Abram Minis from the Propeller Tow Boat Company of Savannah; renamed the Salisbury; also receives the tugboat Crisfield from the Maryland Steel Company. (Supt AR)
April 5, 1904 - NYP&N Board authorizes purchase of 165 acres and half the harbor at Cape Charles from the William L. Scott Estate. (MB)
October 11, 1904 - Electric light placed in service at Cape Charles on the NYP&N. (Lewis)
June 6, 1905 - NYP&N Board authorizes lengthening steamboat Pennsylvania by 30 feet and installing new boilers. (MB)
October 25, 1905 - NYP&N steamboat Pennsylvania destroys a portion of the Cape Charles dock while trying to dock in a gale. (Lewis)
1905 - NYP&N completes an electric light plant at Cape Charles. (Supt AR)
February 6, 1906 - NYP&N subscribes $9,493 to Jamestown Exposition Company. (MB)
November 7, 1906 - NYP&N Board authorizes sale of steamboat Old Point Comfort. (MB)
December 4, 1906 - NYP&N Pres. William A. Patton reports that he has contracted with the Maryland Steel Company for a new steamboat equal to the Pennsylvania, to be named Maryland. (MB)
1906 - NYP&N builds new stations at Parksley and Keller. (AR)
1906 - NYP&N replaces 60-lb. rail with 85-lb. rail. (C&C)
Summer 1907 - BC&A purchases steamer Old Point Comfort from NYP&N for potato business. (MB)
July 11, 1907 - NYP&N places steamer Maryland, built by Maryland Steel Company, in service for Jamestown Exposition traffic. (MB)
August 16, 1907 - NYP&N sells passenger steamer Old Point Comfort to Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway; Maryland and Pennsylvania hold down ferry with New York as relief boat (Mason); BC&A buys light-draft steamer Old Point Comfort for potato trade. (AR)
October 1, 1907 - Virginia State Corporation Commission imposes 2 cents-per-mile maximum fare, down from 3 cents, on all but seven roads that have received injunctions against it; goes into effect on Washington Southern Railway and NYP&N. (RRG, Mordecai)
May 26, 1908 - PRR special committee on Delmarva Peninsula railroads recommends that PRR acquire stock of the NYP&N. (MB)
June 10, 1908 - PRR special committee on acquisition of railroads on Delmarva Peninsula recommends purchase of stock of NYP&N. (MB)
June 24, 1908 - PRR offers $150 for NYP&N par $50 shares, payable in 4% trust certificate; PRR acquires 90% of stock.
November 5, 1908 - PRR installs its officers and four directors on NYP&N, turning it into a de facto Division; James Gardner Cassatt (1849- ) and Robert Kelso Cassatt (1873- ) resign as officers and directors.
March 5, 1909 - NYP&N steamer Maryland takes hours to cross to Cape Charles and enter harbor against gale winds. (WEJ)
March 24, 1909 - J.G. Rodgers (1862- ) from Superintendent of NYP&N to Assistant to General Manager & Elisha Lee (1870-193 ) named Superintendent of NYP&N. (MB, AR) (Snyder has all these eff. 4/1)
1910 - Double track opens on NYP&N: Loretto-Princess Anne, TasleyOnley, Eastville-Birds Nest. (AR)
March 3, 1911 - J.G. Rodgers to G.S. of Buffalo & Allegheny Grand Division replacing R.L. O'Donnel; Elisha Lee promoted from Supt. of NYP&N to Asst. to G.M, replacing Rodgers.(AR)
June 16, 1917 - NYP&N brought under PRR organization for Southern lines; Elisha Lee to General Manager and Gamble Latrobe to General Superintendent.
1917 - NYP&N completes extension of receiving yard at Cape Charles.
January 1, 1918 - Cape Charles Railroad merged into NYP&N under agreement of November 13, 1917.
December 31, 1918 - William A. Patton (1849-1927), Assistant to President and President of NYP&N, retires for health after 54 years of service; was protege of A.J. Cassatt. (NYT, )
1918 - Automatic block signals installed, Delmar-Pocomoke, Md. on NYP&N. (AR)
1918 - NYP&N completes car shop and additional tracks at Cape Charles; extra tracks at Port Norfolk Yard. (AR)
April 13, 1920 - New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad Board approves designation as Norfolk Division. (ATO)
July 1, 1920 - PRR leases New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad and Cumberland Valley & Martinsburg Railroad.
December 14, 1920 - PRR leases New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk retroactive to July 1, 1920.
April 1, 1921 - Peninsula Auto Express Company incorporated in Del. to operate trucking service in Wilmington area and down Delmarva Peninsula as far as Chincoteague, Va. (MB)
August 4, 1922 - NYP&N Cape Charles-Norfolk car ferry sets new southbound record of 592 cars. (RyAge)
August 20, 1922 - NYP&N Cape Charles-Norfolk car ferry sets a new northbound record of 620 cars. (RyAge)
November 1, 1922 - PRR assumes operation of New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk under lease; operated as Norfolk Division.
December 30, 1922 - NYP&N modifies its Norfolk joint station agreement so that it and Chesapeake & Ohio Railway have separate ticket and baggage facilities, ending joint office established by USRA. (MB)
September 20, 1926 - Motor Transit Corporation incorporated in Delaware as holding company for a nationwide bus system that later becomes Greyhound.
December 6, 1927 - William A. Patton (1849-1927), former assistant to Pres. Cassatt and Pres. of NYP&N, dies of heart attack at home in Radnor. (NYT, )
August 20, 1928 - NYP&N and Norfolk Southern Railroad begin operating parallel tracks between St. Julian Avenue Yard and Norfolk Yard as one double-tracked railroad. (C&C)
December 7, 1928 - Railway Express Agency, Inc. incorporated in Delaware. (Moodys)
January 1, 1929 - NYP&N acquires trackage rights over Norfolk Southern Railroad between St. Julian Avenue Yard and Norfolk Yard under agreement of Aug. 20, 1928.
January 18, 1930 - 60 former Empire Line, Anchor Line and NYP&N Railroad employees have a 20th anniversary dinner at Mosebach’s in Philadelphia. (PaNews)
January 1930 - Scott Brothers, Inc., acquires control of Peninsula Auto Express Company (incorporated April 1, 1924), a small truck operator on Delmarva Peninsula.
April 2, 1930 - NYP&N sells tugboat Pocomoke to the American Dredging Company. (MB)
April 16, 1930 - Delaware and Norfolk Divisions consolidated to form Delmarva Division with headquarters at Cape Charles; lines north of Porter ceded to Maryland Division. (MB)
April 16, 1930 - Superintendent of Delaware Division W.R. Davis to Superintendent of Delmarva Division; Superintendent of Norfolk Division George W. Curtiss to General Agent at Trenton. (MB, PR)
1930 - NYP&N completes grade crossing elimination at Salisbury, Md. (C&C)
April 20, 1931 - PRR places New York harbor steam lighter Bucyrus in service as container ship between Baltimore and Love Point, establishing container service between Baltimore and Delmarva points; containers carried by boat to Love Point, by rail to Salisbury and then by truck. (A-sheet, PaNews, NYT)
May 26, 1931 - PRR begins experimental "demountable truck body" container service between Baltimore and points on Delmarva Peninsula; 20-foot containers can be carried on truck chassis or railroad cars; are carried by ferry to Love Point and rail to Salisbury, from which they are distributed by road; New York ferryboat Philadelphia placed on Baltimore-Love Point ferry, replacing steamer New York, to facilitate movement of vehicles and eliminated two transfers of containers necessary with the lighter Bucyrus; Philadelphia is leased to Baltimore & Eastern Railroad; new slips built at Pier 5, Light Street, and at Love Point, to accommodate the New York type of double-end, double-deck ferry; the Philadelphia is designed to operate in ice and is never locked in by freezes. (PaNews, Mutual, MB, Burgess)
June 8, 1931 - PRR inaugurates two new fast freight trains between Cape Charles and Wilmington for Delmarva Peninsula produce, with second morning delivery in Boston.
June 1931 - PRR begins operating solid “Strawberry Specials” from Painter, Va., on the Delmarva Peninsula to Jersey City on an 11:00 schedule, with connections to New England and western points; the fastest such service yet offered. (Mutual)
1931 - Telephone dispatching circuits extended from Delmar to Cape Charles on NYP&N. (AR)
April 6, 1932 - NYP&N sells passenger steamboat New York to William A. Mills. (MB)
May 16, 1932 - E. R. Vought named Superintendent of the Delmarva Division, replacing W. R. Davis. (MB)
July 18, 1932 - Former NYP&N steamboat New York burned at Staten Island, N.Y. (Burgess)
January 16, 1933 - PRR and NYP&N agree with Virginia Ferry Corporation for dock facilities at Cape Charles and Little Creek. (MB)
March 9, 1933 - PRR announces it will begin store-door pick-up and delivery between Camden, Philadelphia and Baltimore and points on Delmarva Peninsula on March 20. (NYT, RyAge)
March 20, 1933 - PRR begins store-door pick-up and delivery truck service between Philadelphia/Baltimore and points on the Delmarva Peninsula as far south as Crisfield and Pocomoke City. (PR)
April 1, 1933 - Virginia Ferry Corporation begins auto ferry service between Cape Charles and Little Creek with old NYP&N steamboat Pennsylvania, one tug and a barge chartered from PRR; Pennsylvania makes three round trips; large trucks have to be carried on car floats, which make two round trips; VFC needed to establish a makeshift service because the Peninsula Ferry Corporation’s option on its ferry Pioneer was set to expire; Peninsula Ferry Corporation discontinues service; Virginia court awards franchise to Virginia Ferry Corporation, but with fixed low fare originally applied to Peninsula Ferry Corporation. (BdF, CCW, CMP)
August 20, 1933 - Two days of heavy rains and gales strike the Delmarva and N.J. coast as a hurricane approaches directly from the vicinity of Bermuda. (Schwartz)
November 2, 1934 - New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad Ferry Company incorporated in Va. under articles dated Oct. 27 to assume steamer operations of the NYP&N Railroad between Cape Charles and Norfolk. (MB)
December 21, 1934 - New York, Philadelphia & New York Railroad Ferry Company organized at Philadelphia; John F. Deasy, Pres.; leases terminals and two steamboats from NYP&N. (MB)
May 1, 1935 - NYP&N and Chesapeake & Ohio Railway establish joint baggage and ticketing office at Brooke Avenue station, Norfolk. (MB)
September 1, 1935 - New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad Ferry Company assumes operation of Cape Charles-Norfolk steamers from NYP&N Railroad; Cape Charles-Norfolk fare cut from $1.30 to $0.90. (AR, PR)
September 6, 1935 - The remnants of the “Great Labor Day Hurricane” move out to sea off Norfolk, where they briefly regain hurricane strength; heavy rains hit the Delmarva Peninsula; locomotive of freight train falls into a stream at an undermined culvert north of Harrington, Del., killing the engine crew; through passengers detoured via Washington and Richmond, and local passengers bused between Harrington and Dover. (Schwartz, NYT)
September 9, 1935 - NYP&N leases passenger steamboats Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia Lee to New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad Ferry Company, retroactive to September 1. (MB)
1936 - NYP&N opens a branch between Norfolk and Camden Heights (2.73 miles). (C&C)
April 1, 1939 - K.R. Vought to Assistant to the General Manager Eastern Region; J.A. Schwab to Superintendent of Delmarva Division and Baltimore & Eastern Railroad, replacing Vought. (MB
April 1939 - J.A. Schwab named Superintendent of the Delmarva Division. (RyAge - verify cards, MB)
September 1, 1940 - Thunderstorms, blocked by a hurricane out at sea, stall over the northern Delmarva Peninsula and southern New Jersey centered in a belt lying east of and parallel to the Delaware River as far north as Hightstown; maximum rainfall of 22.4 inches in 24 hours recorded at Ewansville; many low-head water power dams in southern New Jersey fail. (Schwartz)
1940 - NYP&N steamboat Pennsylvania sold for scrap. (Hayman)
September 10, 1941 - PRR Board approves the retirements of passenger stations at Hallwood and Bloxom, Va., on the NYP&N. (MB)
February 16, 1942 - H.C. Hostetter to Superintendent of Middle Division, replacing E.C. Geggenheimer (1893-1964); Paul W. Triplett (1904- ) to Superintendent of Delmarva Division and Baltimore & Eastern Railroad, replacing Hostetter. (MB)
June 24, 1942 - PRR board authorizes purchase of all equipment of New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad Company for $2.5 million. (MB)
July 9, 1942 - War Shipping Administration takes possession of NYP&N Ferry steamer Virginia Lee; replaced by Maryland, sole surviving steamer; ODT suggests PRR use the surplus CNJ steamer Sandy Hook, but its main deck is too low for trucks and buses; military also requisitions 14 PRR car floats. (MB, CMP)
July 14, 1942 - NYP&N Board authorizes the sale of all equipment, including floating equipment, to PRR for $1.5 million in partial cancellation of debts owed PRR. (MB)
September 21, 1942 - A convoy of U.S. bay and sound steamboats begin set to Britain sails from St. Johns, Newfoundland; it includes the President Warfield and Yorktown of the Old Bay Line, the Washington-Norfolk steamboats Northland and Southland, the New York-Boston New York and Boston, and the Nantucket steamboats Naushon and New Bedford; the NYP&N’s Virginia Lee is held back because of a defect; the Ericsson Line’s John Cadwalader burns before it can go. (Burgess)
April 1, 1943 - Lester E. Gingerich named Superintendent of the Delmarva Division and Baltimore & Eastern Railroad, replacing P.W. Triplett. (MB)
November 5, 1943 - New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad Ferry Company leases one vessel from U.S. Government for five years. (C&C - what?)
May 16, 1944 - L. G. Walker, Jr., named Superintendent of the Delmarva Division and Baltimore & Eastern Railroad, replacing Lester E. Gingerich. (MB)
September 14, 1944 - Hurricane moves up about 50 miles off the east coast causing heavy damage along the Delmarva Peninsula; PRR’s Norfolk-Cape Charles steamboats suspended because of high winds and trains detoured via Washington. (RyAge, Gregory, Schwartz, Butler)
October 31, 1944 - NYP&N Board approves sale of steamboat Virginia Lee to U.S. government for $490,000. (MB)
January 24, 1945 - PRR Board authorizes extensions to the 37th Street Freight Station at New York; approves retirement of the station at Hallwood on the NYP&N. (MB)
December 16, 1945 - R.W. Grigg named Superintendent of the Delmarva Division and Baltimore & Eastern Railroad, replacing L.G. Walker, Jr. (MB)
July 1, 1948 - Thomas M. Goodfellow named Superintendent of the Delmarva Division and Baltimore & Eastern Railroad, replacing R.W. Grigg. (MB)
June 1, 1949 - First RDC demonstrator No. 2960 leaves the Budd Company plant at Red Lion for a test on the PRR’s Delmarva Division. (Crouse – or August below?)
August 1949 - Budd RDC prototype demonstrator No. 2900 tested on Delmarva Division. (Mutual - or 2960 & on June 1 above?)
June 1, 1951 - M.H. Lingenfelter to Superintendent of Delmarva Division and Baltimore & Eastern Railroad, replacing Thomas M. Goodfellow. (MB, Mutual - are other supts.)
June 21, 1951 - Virginia Ferry Corporation Board authorizes purchase of steamer The Holiday from B.B. Wills; is the former NYP&N ferry Virginia Lee rebuilt with diesel engines. (MB)
October 16, 1951 - NYP&N sells wharf, freight shed and office over water at Crisfield, Md., to town. (MB)
April 9, 1952 - NYP&N modifies Norfolk joint station agreement to relieve Chesapeake & Ohio Railway from maintaining a navigable depth of water in the ferry slip adjacent to the station. (MB)
December 31, 1953 - Penndel Company absorbs Delaware River Railroad & Bridge Company; Englewood Connecting Railway; Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway; Indianapolis & Frankfort Railroad; Ohio Connecting Railway; Pittsburgh, Ohio Valley & Cincinnati Railroad; South Chicago & Southern Railroad; Southern Pennsylvania Railway & Mining Company, Wheeling Terminal Railway, York, Hanover & Frederick Railway, and Youngstown & Ravenna Railway under agreement of Dec. 1; ICC rejects application to also merge New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad and Cumberland Valley & Martinsburg. (MB)
March 21, 1954 - NYP&N Board reports that ICC has denied its application to merge into Penndel Company on complaint of Virginia Corporation Commission. (MB)
April 28, 1954 - PRR Board authorizes single-tracking with manual block between “CAPES” and “CASSATT” Interlockings on the Delmarva Division. (MB)
June 14, 1954 - NYP&N Board authorizes substitution of single track with manual block and telephone booths at sidings between “CASSATT” and “CAPES” and between “TASKER” and “CHARLES.” (MB)
August 23, 1954 - Single-tracking with CTC completed between Cape Charles and Parksley on Delmarva main line. (CE)
October 18, 1954 - Single-tracking with CTC completed between Parksley and Pocomoke on Delmarva main line. (CE)
June 22, 1955 - PRR Board approves the dissolution of the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad Ferry Company. (MB)
August 21, 1955 - The Cavalier makes last run between Philadelphia and Cape Charles, Va.; last sleeping car service on old Delmarva Division. (tt - is last run of sleeping car!! - see 1956)
June 22, 1955 - PRR Board approves the retirement of the following tracks and lines, all to be done by December 31, 1958: single-tracking with manual block between Wilmington and Pocomoke. (MB)
November 1, 1955 - General reorganization adopting a decentralized corporate structure recommended by Robert Heller & Associates; three regions and all divisions replaced by nine regions without divisions (New York, Philadelphia, Chesapeake, Northern, Pittsburgh, Lake, Buckeye, Northwestern, Southwestern), each with a full complement of operating and traffic officers; Treasury Dept., Accounting Dept., Insurance Dept,, Pension Dept., Voluntary Relief Dept., and Tax Dept. all consolidated to form Financial Dept.; Research & Development Dept. created to develop new generation of lightweight passenger trains and piggyback transportation; duties of Vice President-Operations divided between a Vice President and Vice President Transportation & Maintenance; Personnel Dept. made responsible directly to President instead of Vice President-Operations; Pension and Voluntary Relief Depts. consolidated into Employee Benefits Dept. reporting to Vice President-Personnel; Women's Aid formally abolished; Traffic Dept. divided into Freight Sales & Services and Passenger Sales & Services. (MB, Pennsy)
December 30, 1955 - New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad Ferry Company dissolved. (MB)
June 20, 1956 - NYP&N Board authorizes abandonment of Port Norfolk Yard in Portsmouth, Va. (MB)
June 1956 - Double-track and automatic block signals removed between Delmar and “CASSATT” near Princess Anne on the Delmarva Branch; replaced by single track and sidings with manual block. (PRR-FAX)
January 1, 1958 - Camden & Burlington County Railway; Cumberland Valley & Martinsburg Railroad; Freehold & Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad; New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad merged into Penndel Company; Belvidere Delaware Railroad; Perth Amboy & Woodbridge Railroad; and Rocky Hill Railroad & Transportation Company merged into United New Jersey Railroad & Canal Company. (Moodys)
May 27, 1959 - Penndel Company terminates its May 10, 1898, agreement with the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway for the joint pier station at Brooke Avenue, Norfolk, and provides for razing it. (MB)
December 17, 1959 - Penndel Company revises trackage rights agreement with the Norfolk Southern Railway to be a single instead of a double track between Camden Heights and North Jct., Norfolk, Va. (MB)
December 30, 1959 - Old Bay Line’s City of Richmond makes the last stop at the government pier at Old Point Comfort, once used by the NYP&N Cape Charles-Norfolk steamboats; the Army no longer uses the pier and does not want to repair it; it is demolished in 1961. (Burgess)
July 17, 1961 - Penndel Company authorizes the abandonment of the track rights agreement on the Norfolk Southern Railway between Camden Heights and Coleman Place in Norfolk, Va. (MB)
March 1, 1964 - General reorganization; nine regions replaced by three (Eastern, Central, Western), each divided into four divisions (New York, Philadelphia, Chesapeake & Harrisburg - Allegheny, Northern, Pittsburgh & Lake - Buckeye, Fort Wayne, Chicago & Southwestern); decentralization at regional level limited to Operations, Sales, Personnel, Accounting, Industrial Engineering, and Police; Medical, Industrial Development, Real Estate, Material Management, Public Relations, and Claims Depts. all recentralized; PRR claims reorganization saves $2.5 million per year in office and personnel costs. (MB, Org)
February 1, 1968 - Regional reorganization: PRR Regions retained with minor changes: Eastern Region at Philadelphia (New York, Philadelphia, Chesapeake & Harrisburg Divisions), Central Region at Pittsburgh (Allegheny, Pittsburgh & Northern Divisions), Western Region at Chicago (Chicago & Fort Wayne Divisions); ex-PRR Lake Division placed in ex-NYC Lake Region; ex-NYC Western Division placed in ex-PRR Western Region; ex-PRR Buckeye Division moved from Western Region to Southern Region; ex-PRR Southwest Division moved from Western Region to Southern Region. (Spodobalski/RNE)
November 14, 1969 - Henry W. Large in a memo to Stuart Saunders explains Price/Cost Management Information System (MIS) developed by George R. Wallace and the Market Research Group; recommends a pilot study on the Delmarva Peninsula.
February 2, 1973 - Freighter strikes Penn Central bridge over Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, cutting all service to the Delmarva Peninsula; one sailor killed; some traffic is detoured over the Cape Charles-Little Creek ferry. (PhlInq, PCPost)
February 9, 1973 - Penn Central establishes special run-through detour freight service between Enola and Portsmouth and Cape Charles, Va., via Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad and Seaboard Coast Line Railroad to serve the Delmarva Peninsula due to the bridge over the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal being damaged on February 2 after a boat collides with it. (PR)
July 14, 1973 - Fourteen Penn Central subsidiaries file for Chapter 77 bankruptcy after Penn Central stops rental payments: Beech Creek; Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway ("Big Four"); Cleveland & Pittsburgh; Connecting Railway; Delaware Railroad; Erie & Pittsburgh; Michigan Central; Northern Central; Penndel Company, Philadelphia & Trenton; Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington; Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago; Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtabula; Union Railroad of Baltimore. (PR)
March 22, 1976 - Southern Railway and 12 of 20 unions reach accord on Southern taking over Conrail’s Delmarva line between Cape Charles and Wilmington. (NYT)
March 23, 1976 - Brotherhood of Railway & Airline Clerks refuses to accept labor conditions demanded by Secretary of Transportation William T. Coleman, blocking Southern Railway’s acquisition of the Delmarva line. (NYT)
March 27, 1976 - Conrail agrees to continue Delmarva service, including Cape Charles-Little Creek car ferry, after Southern Railway withdraws from purchase. (NYT)
April 1, 1976 - Conrail arranges with State of Virginia to keep Cape Charles-Little Creek car float service and line from Cape Charles to Pocomoke City operating; also agrees to keep most Light Density Lines on Delmarva Peninsula operating.
July? 1976 - Pa. Rep. Fred Rooney (1925-2019), Chairman of the House Transportation & Commerce Subcommittee, has deleted a provision from the “Son of Conrail” aid bill sought by New York State that would allow it to purchase the ex-Erie Lackawanna Southern Tier main line and lease it to a competitor of Conrail; Eastern Shore Railroad Management Associates is lobbying to take over Delmarva lines. (Cinders)
September 1976 - Pres. Gerald Ford signs the Railroad Transportation Improvement Act; authorizes $350 million in guaranteed loans to pay claims against Conrail by the estates of the bankrupt railroads; requires government studies of the future of rail transportation on the Delmarva Peninsula. (Cinders)
March 1977 - Virginia & Maryland Railroad becomes the designated operator of the ex-PRR Delmarva Division between Pocomoke City, Md. and Cape Charles, Virginia including the car ferry to Little Creek, Virginia. (Railpace)
December 31, 1979 - Erie & Pittsburgh Railroad Company, Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtabula Railway Company, Connecting Railway Company, Penndel Company, Penndiana Improvement Company, New York Central Development Company merged into Penn Central Corporation. (MB, Moodys)
Source: "PRR Chronology," by Christopher T. Baer, PRR Technical & Historical Society.
"Rails Along the Chesapeake," John C. Hayman, Marvadel Publishers, 1979.
